So, you’re looking for the Lions game stats today. I get it. We’ve all been conditioned to expect Detroit to be deep in the hunt this time of year after that massive surge they had. But if you flip on the TV right now, January 17, 2026, you won't see Jared Goff slinging it or Amon-Ra St. Brown dancing in the end zone.
The reality is a bit of a gut punch for the One Pride faithful.
The Detroit Lions aren't playing today because their season ended earlier this month. While the NFL Divisional Round is currently kicking off—with the Bills taking on the Broncos and the 49ers facing the Seahawks—the Lions are already looking toward the 2026 draft. They finished the 2025-2026 regular season with a 9-8 record.
Honest talk? It was a rollercoaster. They missed the playoffs after a heartbreaking divisional race where the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers just had a bit more gas in the tank down the stretch.
Breaking Down the Lions Game Stats Today and the Season Totals
Even though there isn't a live box score to refresh every ten seconds today, the final stats from the season tell a fascinating story of "what could have been." If you look at the raw production, this team wasn't "bad." Far from it.
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Jared Goff actually set a franchise record this year. He threw for 3,942 yards, finally eclipsing Erik Kramer’s 1995 mark of 3,838. It’s wild that it took three decades for that record to fall, but Goff did it, even if the wins didn't follow the yards as much as fans wanted.
The backfield was a legitimate two-headed monster. Jahmyr Gibbs put up 1,223 rushing yards. David Montgomery added 716. When you combine that with Gibbs’ impact in the passing game—he had 77 receptions—you realize the offense was moving the ball. The efficiency was there.
Key Season Stat Leaders
- Passing: Jared Goff (3,942 Yards, 17 Games)
- Rushing: Jahmyr Gibbs (1,223 Yards, 5.0 Avg)
- Receiving: Amon-Ra St. Brown (1,401 Yards, 11 TDs)
- Defense: Kevin Byard (7 Interceptions, League Leader)
Amon-Ra St. Brown remains the heart of this team. 117 catches for 1,401 yards is elite production in any era. In the season finale against Chicago on January 4, he was targeted 15 times. He caught 11 of those for 139 yards. Basically, if Goff was in trouble, he looked for number 14.
What Went Wrong?
If the stats look this good, why aren't we watching them in the Divisional Round today?
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Defense. Or, more specifically, the lack of consistency on that side of the ball. While Kevin Byard had a career year with those seven picks, the team struggled to get off the field on third downs. They allowed 330 first downs over the course of the season.
There’s also the "luck" factor. The Lions finished 9-8 against the spread but also 9-8 in actual wins. They weren't a team that "stole" games they shouldn't have won. They were exactly who their record said they were.
The NFC North was a meat grinder this year. Minnesota swept Detroit, which effectively killed their tiebreaker chances. Even a late-season win against the Bears (19-16 thanks to a Jake Bates 42-yarder) wasn't enough to climb out of the fourth-place hole in the division.
The 2026 Outlook
Since the Lions game stats today are officially "zeroes," we have to look at what’s next. Because they finished fourth in the NFC North, their 2026 schedule is already locked in, and it's kind of a "strength of schedule" gift.
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They’ll be playing the other fourth-place finishers from across the league next year. That means matchups against the Tennessee Titans, the New York Giants, and the Arizona Cardinals.
Fans are already debating the draft. Do they go after more secondary help? Or do they find a way to get more pressure on the quarterback? Aiden Hutchinson can’t do it all by himself, and the stats show that when the pass rush stalled, the whole defense crumbled.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're feeling the void of no Lions football today, here is how you can actually track the team's progress over the next few weeks:
- Monitor the Senior Bowl (January 31): The Lions front office will be heavily scouting in Mobile. This is where Brad Holmes usually finds those mid-round gems that turn into starters.
- Watch the Divisional Games: Pay attention to how the Rams and Bears perform tomorrow (January 18). Since Chicago is a divisional rival, their success or failure directly impacts the Lions' path back to the top in 2026.
- Salary Cap Updates: Keep an eye on the "void years" and upcoming contract negotiations for the offensive line. Maintaining that protection for Goff is the only way he hits 4,000 yards next season.
The season is over, but the work for 2026 has already started. We’ll be checking those stats again come September.