While there’s no official bad blood over former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson leaving the Detroit Lions for the rival Chicago Bears, it’s only natural for there to be some lingering emotions. Johnson played a major role in the Lions’ recent offensive success, so seeing him join a division foe is bound to spark a little bitterness especially if the Bears benefit at Detroit’s expense.
That said, the Lions aren’t dwelling on the past. With Jared Goff still under center and a strong core of offensive weapons, Detroit is in great shape heading into the 2025 26 NFL season. And now, they’ve received news that might just make Johnson regret his move at least a little.
Lions Climb to No. 2 in ESPN’s Offensive Rankings
In a July 8 ESPN feature, analyst Bill Barnwell ranked the NFL’s top offenses using advanced stats that evaluate player performance on a per-snap basis. The result? The Lions jumped from No. 7 in 2024 to No. 2 behind only the Philadelphia Eagles.
Barnwell praised wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in particular, highlighting his impressive catch rate (81.6%) and success rate (70.2%)—among the best for any wideout with 100+ targets in decades. He also credited the Lions’ entire offensive lineup, calling it one of the most complete in the league.
NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice went a step further, ranking the Lions as the league’s No. 1 offense.
The One Concern: Ben Johnson’s Departure
Despite the optimism, Barnwell did acknowledge the loss of Johnson as a potential hurdle. He called Johnson one of the NFL’s top schematic minds and suggested that the Lions’ creative play-calling might take a step back under new coordinator John Morton.
Still, with Detroit sitting near the top of the league offensively and Chicago ranked just 25th it’s clear which team currently holds the upper hand. If the Lions can maintain their momentum without Johnson, it’ll be all the more satisfying if they can beat him and the Bears this season.
