Lions Struggle With Extra Rest-And That’s a Problem Down the Stretch
When you’re a team as banged up as the Detroit Lions have been over the past two seasons, every extra day of rest feels like a gift. But oddly enough, that gift hasn’t translated into wins. In fact, it’s been quite the opposite.
After falling 41-34 to the Los Angeles Rams, the Lions dropped to 2-4 this season in games where they’ve had more rest than their opponent. That’s not a typo. Six times this year, Detroit has entered a matchup with a rest advantage-and they’ve come out on the losing end in four of them.
This latest loss came with the Lions having three extra days to prepare. Detroit played on Thursday, December 4, while the Rams didn’t take the field until the following Sunday. Yet when it came time to kick off, it was the Rams who looked sharper and more prepared.
Let’s break it down.
What the Numbers Say
The Lions’ only two wins in these rest-advantage games came early in the season: a Week 2 victory over the Chicago Bears and a Week 5 win against the Cincinnati Bengals, who were led by backup quarterback Jake Browning. Since then, it’s been a rough ride.
The four losses? They came at the hands of the Rams (11-3), Chiefs (6-8), Vikings (6-8), and Eagles (9-5). Not exactly a murderers’ row, and certainly not teams that were firing on all cylinders when they faced Detroit.
The Chiefs and Vikings were both coming off deflating losses. The Vikings game even came after Detroit’s bye week, meaning the Lions had a full two weeks to prepare.
The Eagles had just squeaked by the Packers in a 10-7 slog. These weren’t red-hot teams steamrolling into Ford Field.
These were vulnerable opponents-yet Detroit couldn’t capitalize.
A Pattern That Goes Back to Last Season
This isn’t just a 2025 issue. The trend showed up in last year’s playoffs, too.
After earning a first-round bye, the Lions were stunned by the Washington Commanders, led by then-rookie Jayden Daniels. That game wasn’t just a loss-it was a gut punch.
And it added another data point to a growing concern: When the Lions have time to rest and reset, they don’t always come out better for it.
What’s Going On?
There’s no easy answer here. Injuries have ravaged this roster for two straight years, and it’s fair to wonder whether those extra days are being used more for recovery than preparation.
The two wins with a rest edge? Both came early in the season, before the injury list started to resemble a CVS receipt.
But even with that context, the pattern is troubling. These aren’t just missed opportunities-they’re games that could have shifted the playoff picture. And now, with just three games left on the schedule, the Lions have no margin for error.
What’s Next: Steelers, Short Rest, and a Must-Win
Detroit’s next opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers, will be coming off a Monday night game against the Miami Dolphins. That gives the Lions a rest advantage once again-and another chance to flip the script.
Head coach Dan Campbell has done a solid job avoiding back-to-back losses during his tenure, but this one’s going to test that streak. The Lions are clinging to their playoff hopes, and winning out is the only real path forward.
The good news? This one’s at home, indoors, far from the cold and chaos of that infamous 16-16 tie in Pittsburgh back in 2021-the first non-loss of the Campbell-Goff era.
After the Steelers, Detroit will face the Vikings on Christmas Day, then close the regular season against the Bears. That finale will mark one more game where the Lions will have more rest than their opponent, as Chicago will be coming off a Sunday Night Football appearance.
Big Picture: Something to Fix This Offseason
If this trend continues, it’s going to raise some uncomfortable questions inside the Lions’ facility. Is it a preparation issue?
A training staff problem? A matter of mindset?
Whatever the answer, it’s something the organization will have to dig into this offseason-especially if the playoff push falls short.
For now, the only thing that matters is the next game. The Lions have a chance to make this stat line irrelevant.
But if they don’t, and if another rest-advantage loss follows, it won’t just be a weird quirk. It’ll be a red flag.