Lions’ Collapse Is a Harsh Reminder: In the NFL, the Fall Comes Fast
The Detroit Lions’ season came to a screeching halt on Christmas Day, with a 23-10 loss to a Vikings team that had nothing to play for but pride - and was rolling out its third-string quarterback. That loss marked Detroit’s third straight defeat, and it officially slammed the door on any playoff hopes.
For the Green Bay Packers, it was an early gift: the Lions’ stumble punched their ticket to the postseason. But the bigger takeaway?
The NFL doesn’t wait around. One minute you’re a contender.
The next, you’re watching from the couch.
Dan Campbell said it best after the game: “The tide comes in fast.” And for Detroit, it came in like a tidal wave.
Let’s rewind for a second. Just last season, the Lions were one of the NFL’s feel-good stories.
They finished 15-2, won the NFC North, and earned a first-round bye. The year before that, they won two playoff games and held a commanding 24-7 halftime lead in the NFC Championship Game.
The trajectory was clear - this was a team on the rise, with a tough, physical identity and a roster that looked built to last.
And yet, here we are. The Lions have now lost six of their last nine games.
They were touchdown favorites against a Vikings squad already eliminated from the playoffs. Instead of taking care of business, they fell flat - again.
Campbell didn’t sugarcoat it: “I’m going to be looking at a lot of things because I do not like being home for the playoffs. And I know our guys don’t either.”
He made it clear that this isn’t just on the players. “It takes a village,” he added.
“Everybody’s involved, including myself.”
That kind of accountability is what’s made Campbell so popular in Detroit. But it also underscores just how much work lies ahead.
This offseason won’t be a simple tune-up. The Lions are staring down some hard questions.
They’ve been hit hard by injuries. The salary cap is tightening.
And there are glaring holes on the roster that can’t be ignored.
It’s fair to ask - even if it feels premature - whether this version of the team has already peaked. That’s the reality of life in the NFL.
You don’t get unlimited windows. Sometimes, you only get one shot.
“Brad and I will have a lot of decisions to make,” Campbell said, referring to general manager Brad Holmes. “A lot of things to look at.
The whats, the whys, the how do we need to improve. Because we need to improve.”
And perhaps the most telling quote of all? “It doesn’t take much for things to get off-balance.
Not as much as you would think.” That’s a coach who knows how fragile success can be in this league.
Meanwhile, over in Green Bay, the Packers are preparing for their third straight playoff appearance. But don’t mistake that for comfort.
This isn’t a team riding high. It’s a team holding on.
They’ve been hit hard by injuries - season-ending ones, no less, to Tucker Kraft and Micah Parsons, two of their most dynamic playmakers on offense and defense. And they’re not alone.
The injury report reads like a roll call. Still, the expectations haven’t gone away.
If anything, they’ve only intensified.
Why? Because the Packers haven’t won the division in four years.
They’ve won just one playoff game in the last five. The fan base is restless.
The pressure is real. And head coach Matt LaFleur knows it.
This season started with big dreams. But now?
It’s more about survival. Can this team, as banged up as it is, win a playoff game?
Can they find a way to build momentum into next year? Or will they limp into the postseason and flame out early, just like the Lions?
There’s also uncertainty around the coaching staff. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is drawing interest from both college and NFL teams. If he leaves, that’s another piece of the puzzle the Packers will need to replace.
The truth is, one playoff win - even just one - would go a long way in restoring some faith. But if the Packers stumble out of the gate, if they finish the regular season flat and get bounced early, the questions will come fast.
Just ask Detroit. One moment you’re a rising power.
The next, you’re asking what went wrong.
In this league, the fall isn’t gradual. It’s sudden. And it’s brutal.