A sharp decline for two NFL franchises

The NFL is renowned for its unpredictability, but few seasons illustrate this reality as vividly as the one experienced by the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions.

Barely a year ago, the two franchises were dominating the league with authority, each racking up 15 regular-season wins and finishing top of their respective conferences. These performances naturally made them Super Bowl favorites.

Twelve months later, however, neither Kansas City nor Detroit made the playoffs.

A resounding absence that raises many questions about the sustainability of success in the NFL and the factors that can cause such a regression.

The Chiefs, long considered a safe bet thanks to their stability and experience, have suffered from a combination of key injuries, questionable tactical choices, and increasingly fierce competition in their conference.

For their part, the Lions, symbols of a long-awaited revival, failed to confirm their progress. Increased pressure, opposing adjustments, and a lack of consistency all weighed heavily in the balance.

This double setback is a reminder that finishing number one in a conference offers no long-term guarantees. In the NFL, every season is a new cycle, where the slightest detail can topple a nascent or established dynasty.

A stern warning for title contenders

The simultaneous failure of these two teams sends a clear message to the rest of the league: domination is fragile. Squads change rapidly, opponents adapt, and the relentless schedule leaves no room for error.

For the Chiefs, as for the Lions, the offseason promises to be crucial in understanding the causes of this downturn and rebuilding on more solid foundations.

In a league with a short memory, only the ability to bounce back will turn this failure into a mere bump in the road rather than the beginning of a lasting decline.