It was the last time for fans to watch football at Ford Field this season. With fun activities, but broken playoff dreams, the energy was bittersweet.

NFL season is over, and the Philadelphia Eagles are Super Bowl champions. With a mix of defensive dominance and opportunistic offense, the Eagles stopped Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs' pursuit of a three-peat in a 40-22 victory.

The Detroit Lions are one of the early favorites to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the next postseason. Coming off a 15-2 record and getting several injured key contributors back makes Detroit a popular pick to be the best team in 2025.

"The Lions are not there. The teams who are there, I couldn't care less if they win or lose. ... I'll be doing laundry," one fan said.

Here are my thoughts on why the Lions are not playing in Super Bowl 59. It's true. The injuries along the defense were piling up. What made it challenging for the front office to take a big swing at the deadline was the team was still competing and winning games.

Aug 28, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubiski (10) is brought down by Detroit Lions defensive linemen Charles Harris (53) and Aidan Hutchinson (97) during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell smiles on the sideline during the first half of the NFL Divisional Round game on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025 at Ford Field in Detroit. The Washington Commanders defeated the Detroit Lions 45-31. Jake May | MLive.com

Four ex-Lions players are currently on the rosters of the teams that will appear in Super Bowl 59 from New Orleans, Louisiana.