The Detroit Lions' 2024 playoff run ended in shocking fashion, as Dan Campbell's squad was completely outplayed by the Washington Commanders at home in the divisional round and will now turn their attention toward the offseason.
Detroit played one of their worst games of the season on Saturday night, as the offense committed five turnovers and looked out of sync for most of the day.
Aaron Glenn's defense struggled to contain Jayden Daniels and the Commanders' dynamic offense, and it's clear that the absurd amount of injuries the unit faced this season finally caught up to them.
Many viewed the Lions as the favorites to win the NFC and compete for a Lombardi Trophy, but a promising 2024 campaign has ended in a heartbreaking way in Detroit, and the NFL world couldn't believe it.
There's no denying the Lions are trending in the right direction, as the franchise has posted three straight winning seasons, made the NFC Championship Game in 2023, and were the No.1 seed in the conference in 2024. Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes have built a culture centered around grit and perseverance in the Motor City, and Detroit will be top-tier contenders in the NFC for years to come.
However, Saturday's loss to Washington and the 2024 season will be viewed as a missed opportunity in Lions history. Detroit was capable of making a run to the Super Bowl, but injuries and an underwhelming playoff performance at home derailed a deep and talented team.
Additionally, the Lions will likely have to replace both coordinators this offseason, as Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn are destined to receive head coaching jobs over the next few weeks.
This offseason will be interesting to watch, as the Lions are slated to have around $57 million in cap space and the No.28 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. Holmes and Co. have a pivotal offseason on the horizon.
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