Much of the Detroit Lions' offseason has had to do with the fan base defending their team against the likes of Chicago Bears fans ranting and raving about their new head coach.
But, if ESPN has anything to say about the Lions' future, then Bears fans can relish in their Ben Johnson glory all they want. It still won't matter, because Detroit is the team that's still getting the love.
Per ESPN's latest FPI rankings and 2025 season-long odds, the Lions currently have the fifth-best odds to win the Super Bowl behind the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens.
It doesn't stop there, however. The Lions are also featured in some of the most-likely Super Bowl matchups. Tell us again, Chicago, how much are we missing Ben Johnson right now?
The Lions are still a top NFC contender, and the national media knows it
Also from the above piece, the Lions are involved in three of the top six most-likely Super Bowl matchups. Those include Detroit taking on the Bills, Ravens and Chiefs, which all have a three percent chance of happening.
Now, that sounds low, but the highest likelihood out of any matchup checks in at four percent.
Out of all narratives written this offseason, about the Lions losing not only Johnson but several other coaches from their staff, this should prove that, once and for all, Detroit is here to stay.
That's not to say Johnson wasn't and isn't a good football coach. Lions fans would be fooling themselves if they believed that to be true.
But, the Lions have been built the right way over the past few years. Johnson was integral in that process, but the roster is in place. Dan Campbell is still at the helm. The Lions still have their premiere playmakers on that squad.
Sure, it's now up to the offense to strut their stuff in a post-Johnson era. But, even the national media agrees. The Lions are for real in 2025, whether or not they were given a difficult schedule, and with or without Johnson.
