The Detroit Lions fell short of expectations during the 2025 campaign, but if there is one thing that fans in the Motor City can count on, it is that Dan Campbell will have his group motivated to turn things around in 2026.
While plenty will change between Jan. 17 and the start of training camp when it comes to the makeup of this roster, Detroit appears likely to enter free agency and draft preparations knowing that one of the biggest threats to their success as an offense has moved on from the division, and more importantly, the NFC altogether.
Jeff Hafley Likely Leaving Green Bay is a Massive W for Lions Fans
Saturday afternoon, news broke that Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has emerged as the favorite to land the head coaching job with the Miami Dolphins, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
So, why should Lions fans be pleased to see this news? Despite only sticking around Green Bay for two seasons, Hafley had seemed to figure out how to make things difficult on Jared Goff and the rest of this offense during his tenure with the Packers.
Over the course of his matchups against Detroit, Hafley held the high-powered Lions offense to 23.7 points per game, with Goff and Co. only crossing the 24-point plateau against the Packers a single time, a 34-31 victory in Week 14 of the 2024 campaign. What makes that per-game average against Hafley's Packers defense so concerning is that it represented a rather significant drop from what the Lions accomplished against the rest of the league.
During the 2024 campaign, Detroit's offense averaged 33.2 points per game. While that number dipped during the 2025 season, the Lions still scored, on average, 28.3 points per contest. Naturally, lower scoring totals were brought on by per-game statistical averages dipping against Green Bay as well.
In four contests against Hafley's defense, Detroit averaged 100 rushing yards per game, noticeably down from their season-long averages of 146.4 YPG during the 2024 season and the 120.1 YPG during the Lions' 2025 campaign.
The passing game was also not as effective whenever Detroit and Green Bay squared off during Hafley's time in Wisconsin. In four games against the Packers, Goff averaged 227.2 passing yards per game, down from his season-long averages of 268.5 YPG during the 2025 season and 272.3 yards per game in 2024.
With John Morton gone, the hope is that Campbell's next hire at offensive coordinator will turn things around when the Lions have possession of the ball and make these always consequential matchups against Green Bay more favorable for Detroit.
Given the current state of the competition in the NFC North, the Lions can use any advantage that comes their way.
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