DETROIT LIONS
NFC North•9-8 SU · 8-9 ATS•Ford Field
2026 Just J Football Companion profile
2026 SEASON SO FAR
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Schedule
2026 schedule
- Wk 1vs New Orleans SaintsSpread —Total —Sun 9/13 · 1:00 PM
- Wk 2at Buffalo BillsSpread —Total —Thu 9/17 · 8:15 PM
- Wk 3vs New York JetsSpread —Total —Sun 9/27 · 1:00 PM
- Wk 4at Carolina PanthersSpread —Total —Sun 10/4 · 8:20 PM
- Wk 5at Arizona CardinalsSpread —Total —Sun 10/11 · 4:25 PM
- Wk 6Bye week
- Wk 7vs Green Bay PackersSpread —Total —Sun 10/25 · 4:25 PM
- Wk 8vs Minnesota VikingsSpread —Total —Sun 11/1 · 1:00 PM
- Wk 9at Miami DolphinsSpread —Total —Sun 11/8 · 1:00 PM
- Wk 10vs New England Patriots (Munich)Spread —Total —Sun 11/15 · 9:30 AM
- Wk 11vs Tampa Bay BuccaneersSpread —Total —Sun 11/22 · 1:00 PM
- Wk 12vs Chicago Bears (Thanksgiving)Spread —Total —Thu 11/26 · 1:00 PM
- Wk 13at Atlanta FalconsSpread —Total —Sun 12/6 · 1:00 PM
- Wk 14vs Tennessee TitansSpread —Total —Sun 12/13 · 1:00 PM
- Wk 15at Minnesota VikingsSpread —Total —Sun 12/20 · 8:20 PM
- Wk 16vs New York GiantsSpread —Total —Mon 12/28 · 8:15 PM
- Wk 17at Chicago BearsSpread —Total —Sun 1/3 · 4:25 PM
- Wk 18at Green Bay PackersSpread —Total —
JustJ picks are only posted for the current week's slate — see the full sheet on the Picks page.
Schedule & market notes
- Bye: Week 6 — an early bye — a long back half of the season with no scheduled rest.
- Short-week / non-Sunday games: 2 Thursday, 1 Monday — short-rest games carry their own well-documented ATS variance, worth flagging on your calendar as they approach.
- International game(s): Week 10 vs New England Patriots (Munich); Week 12 vs Chicago Bears (Thanksgiving) — a true road game with no homefield advantage and real short-week/travel logistics even when technically the “home” team.
53-MAN ROSTER
Handicapping
Betting profile — vs. the number
2025 ATS
8-9
47.1% cover rate — 20th of 32
2025 Straight up
9-8
Point differential +68
Scoring environment
52.6
Combined points per game — 3rd highest of 32
Home venue
Turf
Ford Field
Points scored / allowed
28.3 per game scored (5th) · 24.3 allowed (22nd)
Margin & schedule
Margin of victory +4 (8th) · Strength of schedule -0.1
- Trend: Aidan Hutchinson's continued health after a broken leg is the single biggest swing factor for Detroit's defense in 2026.
- Trend: A shattered secondary (Arnold released, Amik Robertson and Alex Anzalone both departed in free agency) is a legitimate defensive downgrade to track early in the season.
Power ratings — strength against the field
SRS power rating
+3.9
9th of 32 — projected points vs. a league-average team on a neutral field
Offensive SRS
+5.2
5th of 32
Defensive SRS
-1.3
21st of 32
Points (margin of victory)
+4 · 8th of 32
Against the spread
8-9 (47.1%) · 20th of 32
Totals (combined PPG)
52.6 · 3rd of 32
Turnover differential +4 · 2025 results, Just J Football Companion / Pro-Football-Reference.
Power ratings & 2025 results
- 2025 record: 9-8-0 — Points For 481, Points Against 413 (differential +68).
- Margin of Victory: +4.0 pts/game — the average scoring margin across all 2025 games, win or lose.
- Strength of Schedule (SoS): -0.1 — Pro-Football-Reference's SRS-based measure of 2025 opponent quality; positive means a tougher slate than average.
- SRS (power rating): +3.9 — Simple Rating System score, which converts directly to a projected point spread on a neutral field against a leagueaverage team.
- Offensive SRS: +5.2 · Defensive SRS: -1.3 — the SRS power rating split into offensive and defensive components; higher offensive and higher defensive figures are both better.
- Turnover differential: +4 — total takeaways minus giveaways across the 2025 season, one of the more volatile year-to-year metrics and worth weighing against the rest of this profile rather than on its own.
League-wide unit ranks
Offensive Line
19
Defensive Line / Front Seven
10
Aidan Hutchinson healthy again (100 pressures led NFL, 92.1 grade); 2nd-round rookie Derrick Moore opposite
Linebackers
8
Jack Campbell (93.0 run-defense grade led all LBs) with Malcolm Rodriguez and Derrick Barnes
Defensive Backs / Secondary
—
Dropped sharply in one of the league's biggest declines; Brian Branch (torn Achilles) and Kerby Joseph (knee) both real injury question marks
Special Teams
—
Kicker: Jake Bates
Overall Offense
5
Offensive SRS: +5.2
Overall Defense
21
Defensive SRS: -1.3
Handicapping notes
- Turf: Ford Field — 2025: 9-8 straight-up, 8-9 against the spread.
- : Aidan Hutchinson's continued health after a broken leg is the single biggest swing factor for Detroit's defense in 2026.
- : A shattered secondary (Arnold released, Amik Robertson and Alex Anzalone both departed in free agency) is a legitimate defensive downgrade to track early in the season.
Pro Bowlers
- Offense: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, OT Penei Sewell, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
- Defense: LB Jack Campbell, Edge Aidan Hutchinson
Coaches
Coaching staff
Head Coach
Dan Campbell
6th season
Offensive Coordinator
Drew Petzing
1st season
Offensive Line Coach
Hank Fraley
Defensive Coordinator
Kelvin Sheppard
2nd season
Defensive Line Coach
Kacy Rodgers
Offense
Offensive unit ranks
Offensive Line Rank
14/32
Sharp Football Analysis, 2026 preseason
Key skill players
- QB1Jared Goff
- RB1Jahmyr Gibbs
- WR1Amon-Ra St. Brown
- WR2Jameson Williams
- TE1Sam LaPorta
- TEAM DEFENSE (D/ST)Lions D/ST
Key Offensive Line
LT Penei SewellOregon
4 yr / $112M extension (2024); ~$28M AAV, was the NFL's highest-paid offensive lineman at signing. 6th NFL season; moving from RT to LT in 2026, a position he also played in college.
C Cade MaysTennessee
3 yr / $25M free-agent signing (2026); ~$8.3M AAV. 5th NFL season; called GM Brad Holmes's biggest offseason pickup by beat reporters.
RG Tate RatledgeGeorgia
still on his rookie contract (2024 2nd-round pick). 3rd NFL season; earned the 12th-best run-blocking grade among all guards as a rookie.
Defense
Defensive unit ranks
Defensive Line Rank (front seven)
9/32
Sharp Football Analysis, 2026 preseason
Defensive efficiency
- 5.4 yards allowed per play, 18th of 32.
- 24.1% pressure rate generated (blitzed on 20.8% of dropbacks), 10th of 32.
- 40.1% opponent drive scoring rate — a below-average mark.
- 10.2% opponent drive turnover rate — roughly league-average.
- 76 missed tackles on the season.
Key Defensive Line
Edge Aidan HutchinsonMichigan
4 yr / $180M extension (2025), $141M guaranteed; ~$45M AAV, 2nd-highest-paid non-QB in the NFL. 5th NFL season; a Pro Bowler returning from a broken leg.
DT Alim McNeillNC State
4 yr / $97M extension; ~$24.3M AAV. 6th NFL season; a 2021 3rd-round pick who's developed into one of the league's better interior defenders.
DL Josh PaschalKentucky
still on his rookie-era extension window (2022 2nd-round pick). 5th NFL season; a versatile rotational piece across Detroit's front.
Key Linebackers
MLB Jack CampbellIowa
4 yr / $81M extension (2026). 4th NFL season; the new defensive signal-caller and leader of Detroit's linebacker room following Alex Anzalone's departure.
LB Derrick BarnesPurdue
returning starter; 5th NFL season, posted 78 tackles and 4 sacks in 2025.
LB Malcolm RodriguezOklahoma State
re-signed on a 1-year deal. 5th NFL season; a 2022 6th-round pick stepping into a bigger role after Anzalone's exit.
Key Defensive Backs
S Kerby JosephIllinois
signed a significant extension in 2025. 5th NFL season; a Pro Bowl-caliber ball-hawking safety and one of Detroit's defensive cornerstones.
CB D.J. ReedKansas State
veteran free-agent addition stepping in as the new outside starter after Terrion Arnold's release. 8th NFL season; a proven, well-regarded corner.
CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr.Missouri
still on his rookie contract (2024 2nd-round pick). 3rd NFL season; finally healthy after injuries limited his first two years, now in line for the nickel job. NF C N OR T H DETROIT LIONS
NOTES
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