If there’s one lesson the Detroit Lions should take from this year’s playoff picture, it’s this: defense still matters. A lot.
As the Lions head into a pivotal offseason, general manager Brad Holmes has to be looking at the teams still standing and noticing a clear trend. The Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, and New England Patriots didn’t just ride hot offenses or lucky breaks into the conference championship round - they brought elite defenses with them.
Three of those four teams finished top four in the league in fewest points allowed per game. That’s not a coincidence.
That’s a blueprint.
Seattle led the way, giving up just 17.2 points per game. Denver wasn’t far behind at 18.3, and New England followed closely at 18.8.
The only team in that elite group not to make the final four? Houston, which came in second at 17.4 but fell to the Patriots in the Divisional round.
The Rams, meanwhile, slotted in at tenth with 20.4 points allowed per game - still firmly in the upper tier.
And then there’s Detroit, sitting at 22nd in points allowed, giving up 24.3 per game. That’s not going to cut it if this team wants to take the next step.
The Lions have the offensive firepower to compete with anyone, but the defense? It’s not just a step behind - it’s several.
The numbers back it up. Denver, Seattle, and New England weren’t just stingy on the scoreboard - they were top ten in both passing and rushing yards allowed per game.
The Lions, on the other hand, gave up a league-worst 331.9 passing yards per game and were only slightly better against the run, finishing just inside the top half at 114.5 rushing yards allowed. That’s a defense that didn’t just bend - it broke.
Now, to be fair, injuries played a role. Losing key contributors like Marcus Davenport and relying heavily on Alim McNeill to anchor the front line put the unit in a tough spot.
But when your defense hinges on a handful of players staying healthy, you’re walking a tightrope all season. That’s not a sustainable model, especially when the standard has clearly been raised by the teams still playing.
Holmes has to be aggressive this offseason. Yes, cap space is tight.
And yes, the Lions are counting on young safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch to come back strong. But that doesn’t mean you ignore a potential difference-maker like All-Pro safety Kevin Byard, who’s expected to hit the free-agent market.
If the goal is to keep the Super Bowl window open, Detroit needs more than just hope on the back end of its defense - it needs proven playmakers.
And while we’re talking about playoff blueprints, it’s not just the defenses that are setting the tone. Take a closer look at the trenches. The teams still standing are also dominating up front.
Denver’s offensive line? Ranked No. 1 by Pro Football Focus at the end of the season.
The Rams? Fourth.
New England came in at 11th - just one spot ahead of the Lions - but that’s still a top-tier group. Even Seattle, ranked 15th, held its own when it mattered most.
Detroit’s offensive line had its moments, and Penei Sewell was a rock. But overall, the unit didn’t live up to its billing.
That makes Jared Goff’s performance even more impressive - he was efficient and poised despite inconsistent protection. But imagine what he could do behind a truly dominant line.
That’s the kind of upside Holmes needs to chase this offseason.
The NFC North race underscored the importance of line play too. Chicago - yes, Chicago - finished third in PFF’s final OL rankings. That’s a big reason they made noise in the division, and it’s a reminder that even in a league obsessed with quarterbacks and skill players, games are still won and lost in the trenches.
So here we are. The Lions have a top-tier offense, a quarterback who’s proven he can win, and a fan base starving for a deep playoff run. But to get there, Holmes has to do more than just patch holes - he has to build a defense that can hold its own against the league’s best, and an offensive line that can give Goff the time he needs to thrive.
The blueprint is right there, drawn up by the teams still chasing a ring. Now it’s on Holmes to follow it.