The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks are heading to the Super Bowl, and for fans in Detroit, it’s hard not to wonder-why not us?
The Lions wrapped up their season at 9-8, a record that left them just outside the playoff picture and well short of the league’s biggest stage. And yet, when you look at the roster, the flashes of brilliance, and even the advanced metrics, it’s not hard to imagine a world where Detroit is prepping for February football instead of watching from home.
So what’s missing?
One word: consistency.
There were moments this past season when the Lions looked like a team that could beat anybody in the league. The offense, at times, was electric.
The defense, even while dealing with injuries, showed it could lock teams down. But the problem wasn’t talent-it was timing.
Detroit never quite got both sides of the ball clicking at the same time, and in the NFL, that’s the difference between a good team and a great one.
Now take a look at the two Super Bowl teams. The Patriots and Seahawks took very different roads to get here, but both found a way to build something sustainable.
New England had to hit reset after the Tom Brady era. They tried Mac Jones, and for a minute, it looked promising.
But things unraveled quickly, and the team found itself back at square one. That’s when everything changed.
They drafted Drake Maye, who emerged as an MVP-caliber quarterback, and paired him with new head coach Mike Vrabel. The result?
A return to the Super Bowl spotlight.
Seattle’s path was just as bold. They moved on from Russell Wilson, a franchise cornerstone, and turned that blockbuster trade into foundational pieces like offensive tackle Charles Cross and cornerback Devon Witherspoon.
Geno Smith gave them three competitive seasons, but when they saw a chance to upgrade, they took it-trading Smith to Las Vegas and signing Sam Darnold. That move raised eyebrows, but it’s hard to argue with the results now.
The numbers back it all up. According to Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA), a stat that measures team efficiency, both Super Bowl squads were elite.
The Patriots had the third-best offense in the league, and while their defense ranked 23rd, they were stingy when it mattered-allowing more than 30 points just once all year. Seattle, meanwhile, finished with the top overall DVOA ranking, thanks to a No. 1 defense and a top-10 offense.
That’s a formula that wins in January.
And here’s the kicker: the Lions weren’t far off.
Detroit finished with the seventh-ranked offense and the ninth-ranked defense by DVOA. That made them the third-best team in the league by that metric.
But you wouldn’t know it from their record. A 9-8 finish doesn’t scream “Super Bowl contender,” and that’s where the inconsistency rears its head.
The Lions’ season was a rollercoaster. One week, the offense would stall-like in the loss to the Chiefs.
The next, the defense would rise to the occasion-like in the win over the Buccaneers. After the bye, the defense held strong against the Vikings, but the offense couldn’t capitalize.
It was a season of missed connections, where the offense and defense rarely showed up together.
That’s what separates the Lions from the Patriots and Seahawks. Those teams found a rhythm.
They knew what they were going to get every week. Detroit?
You never knew which version would show up. Just look at the contrast between Week 10 and Week 11.
One week, they played a complete game against the Commanders, with both units firing on all cylinders. The next, they laid an egg against the Eagles, managing just nine points in a flat-out dud.
If the Lions want to make the leap from good to great, they don’t need a total overhaul. They need to figure out who they are-and be that team every single week. Whether that’s leaning into a high-powered offense, building around a lockdown defense, or finding the right blend of both, they need a consistent identity.
Because in the NFL, talent gets you in the conversation. But consistency? That’s what gets you to the Super Bowl.