The Lions have alternated between elite run defense and pass rush for years, but Super Bowl winners need both at the same time with a simple formula Detroit keeps getting halfway right.
Jahmyr Gibbs is poised to become the Lions' bell-cow back with the rushing title, All Pro honors, and even Offensive Player of the Year within reach if he can handle the increased workload.
After a disappointing season that saw the Lions miss the playoffs, Alim McNeill's return to health could be the key to turning everything around for Dan Campbell's team.
Four Lions players cracked the NFL's top 50 jersey sales despite missing the playoffs, proving the brand transformation under Holmes and Campbell has real staying power beyond just Michigan.
Former Lions cornerback Darius Slay's retirement party turned into a Ford Field reunion with Jim Caldwell, Glover Quin, Quandre Diggs, and other Detroit alumni showing the lasting bond of Lions culture.
Jahmyr Gibbs is about to become the highest-paid running back in the NFL, but his agent Todd France loves to push contract negotiations right to the edge while Atlanta's Bijan Robinson creates a high-stakes game of chicken.
A new quarterback grading model scores Jared Goff an 86 out of 100 as a "high-end starter," placing him just below elite tier with strong marks for consistency and durability but questions about his ability to take over games.
Which Lions player kept you from walking away when the team broke your heart for the hundredth time, and why Barry Sanders made magic feel real for kids who spent hours in their backyard trying to shimmy like him.
Four former Lions players including Cam Gill, Jahlani Tavai, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, and Ifeatu Melifonwu remain available as free agents who could provide depth and familiarity to Detroit's roster.
Dan Campbell's decision to make Jahmyr Gibbs the Lions' bell cow back could be genius or a recipe for disaster given his size compared to other workhorse running backs.
