The Lions led the league in scoring last year; they’ve been in the top 5 three years in a row. So it’s noteworthy when their offensive coordinator takes a head coaching job. It’s not easy for teams and offenses to stay on top in this league.
Not For Long, as they say
Since the NFL moved to 32 teams (in 2002), only 10 other offenses have been able to rank in the top 5 in scoring in three consecutive seasons. Of those teams, only four were able to come back and do it a fourth straight year, and all involved Hall of Fame talent – Drew Brees, Sean Payton, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning.
San Diego put together an eight-year run, and it was different in that it involved different quarterbacks (Brees and Philip Rivers) and different coaches (Marty Schottenheimer and Norv Turner). LaDainian Tomlinson was an elite back for the first half of that run, while Antonio Gates made the Pro Bowl in all eight of those seasons.
In the following chart, teams with streaks longer than 3 years are tagged with black dots. (I started with 1978 season, when the league went to 16 games.)
| TOP 5 IN SCORING (3 straight) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | Thru | Team | No |
| 2022 | 2024 | Detroit | 3 |
| 2021 | 2023 | Dallas | 3 |
| 2020 | 2022 | Buffalo | 3 |
| 2019 | 2021 | Tampa Bay | 3 |
| 2016 | 2020 | • New Orleans | 5 |
| 2012 | 2014 | Denver | 3 |
| 2010 | 2018 | • New England | 9 |
| 2007 | 2009 | Green Bay | 3 |
| 2004 | 2011 | • San Diego | 8 |
| 2003 | 2007 | • Indianapolis | 5 |
| 2002 | 2004 | Kansas City | 3 |
| 2000 | 2002 | Oakland | 3 |
| 1999 | 2001 | Indianapolis | 3 |
| 1999 | 2001 | St. Louis | 3 |
| 1998 | 2000 | Minnesota | 3 |
| 1996 | 1998 | Denver | 3 |
| 1992 | 1995 | • Dallas | 4 |
| 1991 | 1998 | • San Francisco | 8 |
| 1989 | 1992 | • Buffalo | 4 |
| 1989 | 1991 | Washington | 3 |
| 1984 | 1986 | Miami | 3 |
| 1983 | 1985 | San Francisco | 3 |
| 1979 | 1982 | • San Diego | 4 |
| 1978 | 1980 | Dallas | 3 |
| 1978 | 1980 | New England | 3 |
In the case of these Lions, they’re better situated than most to put together a fourth straight top-5 season. While they’ll need a new coordinator to replace Ben Johnson, it doesn’t look like they’ll be losing much personnel wise. Kevin Zeitler, who made the Pro Bowl a year ago – with Baltimore, is expected to sign elsewhere (perhaps following Johnson to Chicago). But Zeitler is 34; he’s not the guy powering that offense.
The Lions probably also will lose Tim Patrick (who also could stick with Johnson), but tough to get too beat up about a 31-year-old wide receiver who got released by Denver in August. Patrick spent the first few weeks of the season on Detroit’s practice squad before working his way onto the 53-man roster.
Let’s see who winds up with that offensive coordinator job, but the Lions still have Jahmyr Gibbs, Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Frank Ragnow, Sam LaPorta and Jared Goff. I expect they’ll be a top-5 offense on my board heading into the 2025 season.
—Ian Allan