Analysts debate future of Lions' offense after new coordinator hire

On The Athletic Football Show podcast, analysts Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen expressed contrasting views on the Detroit Lions' offense ahead of the 2026 NFL season. They ranked the NFC teams based on their offensive supporting casts, arriving at a notable disagreement regarding the Lions' position. Mays placed Detroit ninth while Klassen rated them third, largely attributing the divide to the impact of new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. Klassen believes the Lions can still perform at a top level, citing the talent of players like Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown, amid concerns about play-calling and offensive line changes. Mays acknowledged his shift towards Klassen's perspective, showing a slight change in his view on the Lions' offensive potential.

• 9:18 PMYahoo Sports — Notes: 2 NFL analyst have VERY different opinions on Lions’ offense