Story byJosh Helmer, Lions WireMon, January 5, 2026 at 11:45 AM UTC·1 min readThe Detroit Lions' 2025 NFL season has come to a close. The Lions ended it on a high note, downing the Chicago Bears, 19-16, with a walk-off, 42-yard field goal from Jake Bates. For Detroit, its 9-8 finish is a disappointing one, though. The Lions' reign atop the NFC North ends after back-to-back division titles and Detroit failed in its pursuit of a third consecutive trip to the postseason. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAs the Lions look to retool ahead of the 2026 campaign, many conversations on how Detroit can improve will center upon restoring the strength of its offensive line. On Sunday, the Lions' 2026 opponents and its first-round NFL draft pick were finalized.
