It’s been quite some time since we checked in with Detroit Lions fans regarding their opinion of general manager Brad Holmes. The last time we polled our audience was almost exactly a year ago, following the team’s 2025 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, those poll results were lost to time (and a migration to a new content management system at SB Nation).
Detroit, MI
Predictions: Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers
Nolan Bianchi, John Niyo, Richard Silva and Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News offer predictions for Thursday’s Lions-Packers game at Ford Field in Detroit (8:15 p.m., Fox, Amazon Prime/97.1).
▶ Nolan Bianchi: It’s not often you see an 11-1 team in a must-win game, but if the Lions are to uphold their aspirations of capturing the No. 1 seed in the NFC, this game is as close to a must-win as it gets. Green Bay is feeling awfully good about itself after winning three straight — the last two by double digits — and the Packers believe they were the better team in a 24-14 Lions victory at Lambeau Field in Week 9. Under those circumstances, I can’t help but go with a Dan Campbell-led team. He’s had the number of Packers coach Matt LaFleur since the 2022 season, and I don’t see this being a situation where Green Bay pounces on Detroit like they did in the Thanksgiving matchup at Ford Field between these teams a season ago. Detroit will be more than ready for the challenge after a close call with the Bears last week. Pick: Lions, 30-27
▶ John Niyo: The Lions have won five of the last six against the division-rival Packers. But that loss last year came at Ford Field, when Green Bay spoiled Detroit’s Thanksgiving with a wire-to-wire victory. This time, it’s a prime-time matchup with lots at stake and plenty of injury concerns for Dan Campbell’s team. That last part explains why Vegas has it essentially a toss-up aside from the home-field advantage. This looks like a different Green Bay squad than the one the Lions faced a month ago, as the Packers’ pass rush has emerged on one side of the ball, while Jordan Love has taken care of the football on the other. Unless Aaron Glenn’s crew finds a way to reverse that trend, their streak may be in jeopardy. Pick: Packers, 31-27
▶ Richard Silva: The Lions, despite their best start in franchise history, are far from a guarantee to win the NFC North, with the Packers and Vikings breathing down their necks. This matchup with Green Bay has obvious divisional implications, but it also matters in the race for the conference’s No. 1 overall seed; with a win, Detroit’s chances of earning the top spot will rise to 84%, per the New York Times’ playoff predictor. The question is whether this team can continue to overcome injury after injury. It’ll probably be close, but given the track record — Detroit is undefeated since losing Aidan Hutchinson, a feat that can’t be overstated — I’m not picking against head coach Dan Campbell’s squad. Pick: Lions 31, Packers 30
▶ Bob Wojnowski: It’s a blockbuster Thursday night game between two of the hottest teams in the league. The Lions have won 10 straight and the Packers have won seven of eight, with their only loss to the Lions. Difference is, Packers are among the healthiest and Lions are among the ouchiest (made-up word, I know). In the first meeting — the Lions’ 24-14 victory at Lambeau — Jordan Love was playing through a groin injury. In three straight wins since, he has a 69.1 completion percentage, five TD passes and one interception. Detroit’s injury-riddled defense will need all available resources, including the Ford Field noise. It starts with stopping Josh Jacobs, who’s rushed for 987 yards with a 4.5 per-carry average. The Lions certainly can match that with Jahmyr Gibbs (973 yards, 6.0) and David Montgomery (720 yards, 4.3). Jared Goff directs the NFL’s top-scoring offense, and improved red-zone efficiency will be paramount. Montgomery punches in two touchdowns and the Lions win a wild one. Pick: Lions, 32-29
4Warn Weather – SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy skies. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. A few storms could be strong with gusty winds and hail. High: 71.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy skies, becoming partly cloudy skies late. Low: 45.
SUNDAY (MOTHER’S DAY): Mix of sunshine and clouds, cooler temperatures. High: 61.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy skies. Another chilly night. Low: 41.
MONDAY: Mostly sunny skies, remaining chilly. High: 58.
After a beautiful end to the week on Friday with sunshine and a little cloud cover, with warmer temperatures moving into the region as well, some of us are waking up to some patchy dense fog on Saturday morning. Some places south of M-59 are seeing reduced visibilities down to around a mile. If you do run into some patchy dense fog, be sure to use your low beams.
That warming trend continues into the start of the weekend on Saturday, but it also brings a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Another cold front will work through the region by Saturday afternoon and early Saturday evening and that will bring our thunderstorm chance. High temperature is warming into low 70s by Saturday afternoon.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed most of the region under a Marginal Risk (1 out of 5) on our severe weather scale for the start of the weekend. Gusty winds and hail are the primary threats as we work through the start of the weekend, but this will not be a widespread threat for severe thunderstorms.
Behind that cold front for the end of the weekend on Sunday, we will keep a mixture of sunshine and clouds into the forecast. High temperatures running about 10 to 15° cooler to end the weekend. Expect high to warm into the upper 50s to lower 60s by Sunday afternoon.
Drier weather sticks around for the start of next week, before another chance of rain moves into the region by the time we get to Tuesday. The cooler-than-average temperatures will continue into the start of next week as well. Expect high temperatures to remain in the 50s for Monday and Tuesday.
Temperature start to warm up by the middle of next week, and Drier weather moves back in by Wednesday behind another cold front moving into the region. Expect high temperatures into the lower 60s on Wednesday to warm into the upper 60s by the time we get to Thursday. Above average temperatures move back into the region as we look ahead into the end of the week, expect high temperatures back into the lower 70s by the time we get to Friday.
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But as you can see below, Holmes has been an extremely popular figure among Detroit sports fans for pretty much his entire career.
Although, if there was a time when Holmes’ popularity took a hit, it was likely during the 2025 NFL season, when the Lions took their first clear step back since he and Dan Campbell came to town.
Since last year’s data was lost to time, this is a good opportunity to check back in with Lions fans. While Holmes certainly deserves a ton of credit for getting the Lions back to relevancy and helping them produce four consecutive seasons with winning records, there are some serious blemishes on his resumé now. The 2024 NFL Draft class has not lived up to his high standards through two seasons, some of his riskiest picks over the last few years have all failed to pay off, and last year’s roster just wasn’t good enough to withstand the injuries.
But Holmes is also coming off a very crowd-pleasing draft. Detroit addressed their two biggest needs with their first two selections, and there were no crazy head-scratching picks or expensive trade ups. Many have categorized his latest draft as “back to business as usual,” which could have some fans he lost back on his side.
However, that is all up to you. Vote on your thoughts about Holmes’ time in Detroit below, and share your extended thoughts in the comment section at the bottom of the page.
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