On Friday, ESPN shared preliminary forecasts for the 2025-26 NFL season, with some analysts favoring the Detroit Lions to advance further, while others remain less optimistic.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen forecasted that the Lions would not only reach the Super Bowl but also triumph against the Baltimore Ravens. Eric Moody, Aaron Schatz, and Mike Tannenbaum each forecasted that the Lions would make it to the championship but ultimately fall to either the Bills or Ravens.
Tannenbaum additionally included in his forecast that Lions star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson would be awarded Defensive Player of the Year.
As of Saturday, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Lions at +900 odds to win next year’s Super Bowl.
ESPN analysts likewise offered predictions for MVP, offseason desires, breakout prospects, and regression possibilities. No Lions received any MVP attention, but Tannenbaum’s offseason desires advocated for the Browns to deal edge rusher Myles Garrett to Detroit.
Despite those lofty expectations, several analysts forecasted the Lions to experience a decline this season. Pamela Maldonado, Lindsey Thiry, and Field Yates each forecasted that the Lions would struggle to find the same level of success next season.
Maldonado and Thiry both pointed to the team’s substantial coaching overhaul as a main issue for achieving the same successes. Yates recognized that the Lions will remain quite strong, but maybe not as impressive as 15-2.