Detroit Lions playoff flop is crushing. Campbell can fix it. | Letters

You had an article titled "Detroit Lions fans should be grateful these aren't 'Same Old Lions,’" on Dec. 25, 2025. Looks like the Same Old Lions to me.

I've been a fan over 50 years. Same Old Lions. Lose the games they are supposed to lose, and lose the games they are supposed to win. Looks like they spend more time practicing individual celebration than running plays. Too much hubris and not enough effort. Last year they were good, and this year they expected the league to roll over because last year they were good.

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Same Old Lions.

Jim Sugden

Bullhead City, Arizona

Christmas loss was a gag gift, but fans shouldn't lose faith

Indictment? Failure? … in other articles’ references to Lions QB Jared Goff and coach Dan Campbell for the Lions' Christmas loss to the Vikings, this is harsh. No doubt Christmas was nothing short of a gag gift for Detroit, but Dan Campbell knows it, and he will recover. The faith he has had in this team over the recent years has delivered business, success, tourism, fun and recovery to a city that was once fallen to ash. Criticizing this dream team in a time of challenge is hardly grit.

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Campbell has his work cut out for him going forward — he knows that. But Americans are done watching the same teams win all the time. We’re tired of hearing about the sadness and decline plaguing everyone across the country. Detroit’s time is here. It’s time to show our grit. If Dan has faith, so can we. Isn’t that how this very city is persevering and coming back? America wants to see Detroit win a Super Bowl. They will. Regroup, dig deep and believe.

Aubrey Fisher

White Bear Lake, Minnesota

Detroit fans look to the Pistons, Red Wings for hope

I believe it's fair to say that Lions fans are disappointed in the way the season is ending.

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Going from two time NFC North Champions and the #1 seed in the NFC last season to missing the playoffs is a blow to our psyche. It stings. We're struggling a bit to process it all.

Some things were not within the team's control. Injuries, particularly to key players, once again hurt us, along with how the NFL has historically officiated the Lions. There are things within the team's control. Players can play better and coaches can coach better.

Some fans will understandably fall back into the malaise of "Same Old Lions." I am one that will resist that notion, but I expect that corrections will be made to assure that this still very talented team doesn't miss the playoffs next year, or it will be back to SOL.

Moving on, we are hopeful, even expectant that the first-place Pistons, and the first-place Red Wings, will have long playoff runs, and that the Tigers will make the necessary off-season moves required to have a deeper playoff run. All in all, the sports scene in Detroit remains a positive force in lifting the spirits of Michiganders. We are grateful for that, and we wish all a happy and prosperous New Year.

Earnest L. Robinson Jr.

Southfield

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions playoff flop is crushing. Campbell can fix it. | Letters