The Detroit Lions finished last in the NFC North last season despite a 9-8 winning record. Now, with this one prediction coming true, Detroit could be on the edge of one of the league's biggest comeback seasons in 2026.

In Sports Illustrated's annual list of bold NFL predictions, Conor Orr predicted major achievements for the Lions, including a return to the top of the NFC North and a league-leading regular-season record.

"If the Lions can bank four wins from their opening stretch against the Saints, Bills, Jets, Panthers, and Cardinals, they will be in a much better position to lose ground later in the season in Green Bay or Chicago," wrote Conor Orr on Sports Illustrated.

According to Orr, Detroit's favorable early-season stretch could help the team build confidence and win before going through the more challenging part of the schedule.

Detroit's road back to the playoffs appears far less demanding on paper. The Lions enter 2026 with their opponents combined for just a .467 winning percentage in 2025, the sixth-easiest mark in the NFL.

The schedule also works in their favor from an environmental standpoint. Detroit will play 12 games indoors, while its outdoor contests largely avoid harsh late-season conditions. They have early trips to places like Buffalo and warmer-weather games later in the year.

Detroit's offense remains one of the franchise's biggest strengths. Moreover, GM Brad Holmes used draft capital to build the defensive line and secondary, with high hopes for 44th overall pick Derrick Moore.

Meanwhile, playmakers like Sam LaPorta and safeties like Brian Branch and Kirby Joseph are returning from surgeries.

Detroit is also aggressively retooling its roster and coaching staff to make a comeback. However, this is not the only thing Orr predicted regarding the Lions.

SI Predicts Huge Payday for Lions Star, Jahmyr Gibbs

After predicting the Lions' win, Conor Orr predicted that running backs Jahmyr Gibbs (RB) and Bijan Robinson (RB) will reset the market when extension talks begin.

"Both will surpass the $20.6 million average per year salary threshold set by Saquon Barkley, but neither will touch the more than $50 million guaranteed that was funneled into Love’s bank account by virtue of the NFL’s preestablished rookie contract rates," Orr wrote.

Barkley's last contract extension was not just lucrative, it was historic. The Eagles rewarded their star running back with a two-year, $41.2 million extension featuring $36 million guaranteed, making him the first running back in NFL history to eclipse the $20 million-per-year mark.

Now, this mark could very well be crossed, according to Orr, with the running back talent that the Lions possess.

However, Orr noted that neither contract is expected to approach more than $50 million guaranteed received by Jeremiyah Love from the NFL's QB pay scale.

What are your views on these predictions? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Hetal Moleshri

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote