ALLEN PARK — There’s a long way to go in the 2025 NFL season.
But the Detroit Lions are undoubtedly behind the eight-ball following their season-opening loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Not only are the Lions a game back from first place, but Green Bay’s victory temporarily gives the Packers the tiebreaker.
Two things can be true: The Lions have time to figure things out, and the NFL schedule doesn’t allow for prolonged slumps.
In any case, the Lions are ready to turn the page to their friend-turned-foe, as the Chicago Bears and former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson are coming into town this weekend to get their own hype train back on the rails after the Bears blew a second-half lead to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football.
“Ben’s my friend. He’s always going to be my friend. But nothing about that’s going to change,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said Monday. “We’re going in, getting ready to play Chicago. We’re going to win this game. We have to.”
Johnson spent three seasons as the offensive coordinator in Detroit before accepting the head job in Chicago this offseason. During that time, the Lions ranked first in points scored (1,478), touchdowns (182), net yards (20,134) and net passing yards (13,156) while placing near the top in a whole bunch of other critical statistics.
Much was made this offseason about who stirred the drink with Detroit’s offense, but through the first week, the two parties haven’t fared well without each other.
The Lions scored just 13 points — their only touchdown came in the final minute, with the game well out of reach — in a blowout loss to the Packers. The Bears raced out to a 17-6 lead on Monday. Second-year quarterback Caleb Williams started the game 10-for-10 with a rushing touchdown and finished 21-for-35 for 210 yards and a passing touchdown. Vikings starter J.J. McCarthy, the former Michigan standout, broke hearts at Soldier Field in his NFL debut by leading Minnesota back for a 27-24 comeback win with 21 fourth-quarter points.
Neither team is off to the start they had hoped for, which heightens the stakes in this Week 2 matchup, since neither team can afford to lose at Ford Field on Sunday.
“No one’s going to feel sorry for us. This is going to be a quick turnaround here to get going for Sunday in Detroit, our first road game,” Johnson said after the loss. “We gotta turn the page here quickly.”
Originally Published: September 10, 2025 at 8:25 AM EDT