One thing is certain: The Lions face the Bears this Sunday in each team's season finale. After that matchup though, the future is not as clear for the Lions.
Once the season officially ends, owner Martha Firestone Ford, her advisory board and consultant Ernie Accorsi can really intensify their search for a permanent general manager. Whoever that person is will have a lot of decisions to make regarding the make-up of the team and coaching staff moving forward.
Head coach Jim Caldwell has made a strong case for himself the second half of the seasonn. Under Caldwell's leadership, the team fought back from a 1-7 start to 6-9 heading into the final game.
"I don't think anybody is going to ever question whether or not my desire to be here and that kind of thing," Caldwell said in an interview with 97.1 Thursday morning.
"That's not something I'm not willing to discuss. I mean I love coaching, I love what I'm doing, I love the place, I love the players, love the city.
"You have to be able to control the things that you can control. My main focus right now because it's not about me. My main focus is the guys on our team getting ready for this game that's coming up that's the most important thing. The other things will take care of themselves."
In addition to Caldwell, coordinators Jim Bob Cooter and Teryl Austin are also in limbo until a permanent general manager is in place.
"That process, it's good, it makes you think about how you would, if you ever had an opportunity to run a team, how you would run it, how you handle things, a lot of different situations," Austin said of interviewing for head coaching jobs last offseason.
"You find out a little bit about yourself, which you really think how you really feel about certain things that would go on in your program."
Cooter, who turned the Lions offense around since taking it over midway through the season, has the full support of quarterback Matthew Stafford.
"Jim Bob and I are on the same page the majority of the time, if not all the time," Stafford said.
"It's not my decision, I just know we're playing really well on offense right now and I'm having a good time. I think everyone is. He's a smart guy. It's not my decision, but I'd like to have him back, no question."
No matter what happens, it's going to be a busy and interesting offseason for the Lions.
QUIN EYEING 100TH CONSECUTIVE START
Safety Glover Quin is gearing up for his 100th consecutive start Sunday. His current streak of 99 straight starts is most among active safeties.
"Making my 100th consecutive start would mean a lot," Quin said in his latest blog entry. "It's just a sign of longevity, consistency, hard work and blessings. It's something that I never even thought about, but the closer it got, I started looking at it."
"When I got go my 100th game I was like, Oh man, just played my 100th game. Then I was like Oh snap, I'm almost to 100 consecutive starts. It's been a fun ride. When I get to walk on that field Sunday, it will be a great feeling."
View Glover Quin's top 15 memories from his 100 consecutive games started streak.
Glover Quin recorded his first, second and third career interceptions in the same game, a 20-0 win against Tennessee Week 12 of the 2010 season.
The Texans locked up a division title with a 20-19 win at Cincinnati in Week 14 of the 2011 season. They then went on to beat the Bengals again in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.
The Texans beat the Lions 34-31 at Ford Field in Glover Quin's Thanksgiving debut.
Glover Quin tied for the NFL lead in interceptions and made his first career Pro Bowl in 2014.
Glover Quin intercepted a pass in his Lions debut against Minnesota Week 1 of the 2013 season.
The Lions beat the Packers 18-16 in a dramatic win at Lambeau Field.
The Lions and Eagles battled in a blizzard Week 14 of the 2013 season.
Quin returned a Philip Rivers interception 31 yards for a touchdown during Week 1 of the 2015 season for his first career pick-six.
Quin met fellow safety Charles Woodson after the Lions' 18-13 Week 11 win against Oakland at Ford Field in 2015.
Quin played against Randy Moss Week 17 of the 2009 season, a 34-27 Texans win.
Quin and the Texans beat Gonzalez and the Falcons 17-10 Week 13 of the 2011 season.
Glover Quin intercepted Peyton Manning's pass during the Lions - Broncos Week 3 matchup during the 2015 season.
Quin intercepted Aaron Rodgers' pass during the Lions - Packers Week 13 contest during the 2015 season.
Glover Quin led the Lions with eight tackles during their dramatic comeback win against the Atlanta Falcons in London during the 2014 season.
INJURY REPORT
The Lions will be without starting center Travis Swanson Sunday in Chicago. Swanson was ruled out with a shoulder injury after missing practice all week.
The team promoted center Braxston Cave from the practice squad Wednesday to boost their numbers at the position with Swanson out.
Starting defensive end Jason Jones also missed practice all week. He's officially doubtful for Sunday's division matchup.
For the full Lions-Bears injury report, click here.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Celebrate the new year with our most popular posts of 2015
See the Detroit Lions 2015 year in review.
A controversial Wild Card loss ends the Lions' 2014 season
Lions move on from Dominic Raiola.
2015 Senior Bowl
Matthew Stafford named Pro Bowl MVP
John Bonamego is named head football coach at Central Michigan University.
Doug English is inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
Joe Marciano named Lions special teams coordinator
2015 NFL Combine
Lions release Reggie Bush.
Lions sign Don Muhlbach to a one-year deal
Lions sign Darryl Tapp and Dan Orlovsky.
Lions sign Matt Prater to a three-year deal.
Lions trade for Haloti Ngata
Lions sign Isa Abdul-Quddus and Josh Bynes.
Alex Carter toured Allen Park on a pre-draft visit. The team would later draft him in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Lions sign Tyrunn Walker
Lions sign Rashean Mathis
Lions host season-ticket holder town hall meeting
Jordan Thompson and Lomas Brown honored at Playworks luncheon
Lions sign Josh Wilson
Lions sign Brandon Copeland
Jason Jones joined other current and former NFL players at franchising boot camp at the University of Michigan.
The NFL released the 2015 schedule
The Lions select Laken Tomlinson in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft in Chicago.
The Lions hold rookie minicamp
Lions sign Lance Moore.
Ford Field hosts Taste of the Lions.
Lions hold first OTA practice
Lions rookies tour Detroit
Brad Keselowski visits practice
Team Tate beat Team Tulloch in Stephen Tulloch's annual charity softball game
Lions hold veteran minicamp
Rashean Mathis wins Tim Twentyman's annual closest-to-the-pin competition.
Detroit Lions Hall of Famer Charlie Sanders, whose career with the Lions organization spanned each of the last five decades, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.
Lions open training camp
Lions sign DeAndre Levy to a contract extension.
The Lions announced a $250,000 grant to HAVEN to help fund a leadership education program called "Redefine," aimed at domestic violence prevention.
Lions hold open training camp practice at Novi High School.
The MGM Grand Detroit Tunnel Club opened for the Lions' first preseason game.
Rookie running back Ameer Abdullah made a splash in the Lions' preseason debut with a 45-yard run against the New York Jets.
Lions hold a training camp practice open to first responders at Edsel Ford High School.
Zach Zenner finished with 81 total yards and a touchdown in the Lions' preseason game at Washington.
Golden Tate caught three passes for 91 yards including a 62-yard touchdown in the Lions' Week 3 preseason win at Jacksonville.
Lions trade for Tim Wright
The Detroit Economic Club hosted the 19th annual Detroit Lions Kickoff Luncheon at Ford Field.
Quandre Diggs makes a big tackle on special teams during the Lions' 17-10 win in the team's preseason finale vs. Buffalo.
The Lions' initial 53-man roster is announced with Zach Zenner earning a spot after leading the NFL in preseason rushing with 183 yards on 35 carries.
George Winn is one of the players that would start the season on the Lions' practice squad. He and safety Isaiah Johnson would both end up getting promoted to the active roster during the season.
Ameer Abdullah takes his first NFL carry 24 yards for a touchdown in the Lions' season opener at San Diego.
First Meet up and Eat up of the season held at Eastern Market.
Sam Martin helps host a Michigan Humane Society adoption event at the Detroit Zoo.
Ford Field hosts U.S. Women's Soccer National Team Victory Tour game.
The Lions fell by a score of 26-16 in the team's Week 2 matchup at Minnesota.
James Ihedigbo gets the team fired up for its home opener against the Denver Broncos.
The Lions fell to 0-4 after a controversial call went against them on Monday Night Football in Seattle.
Lions rookies visited Henry Ford Health System patients the week of the team's breast cancer awareness game.
Corey Fuller pulled down a 48-yard catch in the Lions' Week 5 loss vs. Arizona.
Calvin Johnson set a franchise record with his 671st career reception.
The Jim and Cheryl Caldwell Foundation opened their second Project Phoenix learning center in Detroit.
Detroit Lions alumni volunteered with Blight Busters to clean up in the Brightmoor neighborhood of Detroit as part of the team's homecoming weekend.
The Lions get their first win of the season with a 27-yard overtime game-winning field goal against the Chicago Bears.
Golden Tate rewards the elementary class that collected the most coats to donate to Michigan veterans with a visit.
Stafford Field is dedicated at the Lipke Rec Center in Detroit.
Joique Bell received the Ed Block Courage Award at the annual Courage House Dinner to benefit HAVEN and domestic violence survivors
Calvin Johnson is named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week after catching six passes for 166 yards and a touchdown against Chicago in the Lions' Week 6 win.
Eric Ebron catches a 7-yard touchdown during the Lions' Week 7 loss to Minnesota.
The Lions reorganized their offensive coaching staff, which included a change at offensive coordinator.
Lions arrive in London for the team's Week 8 game against Kansas City.
The Lions spent the week practicing in the UK before their Week 8 game against Kansas City.
Lions alumni Lomas Brown and Barry Sanders as well as DetroitLions.com's Mike O'Hara participated in the NFL UK's Fan Forum in London.
The Lions lost to the Chiefs 45-10 at Wembley Stadium in London.
The Lions placed DeAndre Levy on injured reserve.
Martha Firestone Ford announced changes to the team's executive management.
Golden Tate's Golden Future Foundation helped collect coats for Goodwill to help veterans.
Lance Moore celebrates his 4-yard touchdown catch that gave the Lions an 18-10 lead late in the fourth quarter during the team's 18-16 win against Green Bay at Lambeau Field.
Lions annoucne $150,000 grant to the Goodwill Good Jobs program to help place military veterans in the workforce.
Running back Ameer Abdullah was named NFC special teams player of the week for his performance vs. the Packers.
Martha Firestone Ford names Rod Wood team president and establishes an advisory board for the general manager search.
Ziggy Ansah recorded a sack as well as drew a penalty for a safety in the Lions' 18-13 Week 11 win vs. Oakland.
Kyle and Marissa Van Noy cooked waffles to raise money for the purchase of Christmas trees for Detroit foster families.
Lions rookies visited Orchards Children's Services to help pack Thanksgiving baskets.
Lions players helped provide 300 Thanksgiving meals to families at Starfish Family Services.
The Detroit Lions selected Ernie Accorsi to help consult them in their search for a general manager.
Calvin Johnson caught eight passes for 93 yards and three touchdowns and Matthew Stafford threw for 337 yards with five scores in the Lions' 45-14 win vs. Philadelphia on Thanksgiving Day.
Big Sean performed at halftime of the Lions' Thanksgiving Day game vs. Philadelphia.
The Lions held their annual Shop with a Lion event with children from Orchards Childen's Services at Meijer.
Sam Martin was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after registering a career-high eight touchbacks on eight kickoffs against the Eagles on Thanksgiving.
The Lions lost to the Packers 27-23 after a controversial fask mask penalty led to a Hail Mary game-winning touchdown for Green Bay.
Lions players helped Art Van Furniture deliver 60 mattresses to HAVEN as part of their #PureSleepCares campaign.
Golden Tate caught nine passes for 60 yards and two touchdowns in the Lions' 21-14 Week 14 loss at St. Louis.
Matthew Stafford becomes the fastest player to reach 25,000 career passing yards in NFL history, needing just 90 games to reach that milestone.
Golden Tate's Golden Future Foundation held a bowling event to raise funds for the Michigan veterans affairs agency and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
The Lions teamed up with Warrick Dunn Charities' Homes for the Holidays program to surprise one family with a fully furnished house, just in time for Christmas.
Golden Tate caught a pair of touchdowns for the second consecutive week in the Lions' 35-27 win against the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football.
Calvin Johnson registers his sixth-straight 1,000-yard season.
Matthew Stafford completed 22 of 25 passes for 254 yards and 3 touchdowns against the New Orleans Saints to set a franchise record with a 148.6 passer rating.
Ziggy Ansah and Calvin Johnson were both named to the 2016 Pro Bowl team.
TJ Jones caught his first career touchdown in the Lions' 32-17 Week 16 win vs. San Francisco.
Theo Riddick becomes the Lions' single-season record holder for receiving yards by a running back, passing the previous mark of 662 yards set in 1984 by James Jones.
Minnesota defeated Central Michigan 21-14 in the 2015 Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field.
OTHER NOTEWORTHY ITEMS:
- Three Lions' pass catchers are eyeing a unique reception record. Find out what it is here.
- Watch defensive coordinator Teryl Austin break down film of the Chicago Bears' offense.
- Will Calvin Johnson be back next year? Tim Twentyman answers that question and more in his latest 10 questions column.
- You asked. Watch running back Theo Riddick answer fan-submitted questions in this week's #AskALion episode.
- Catch up on all the news from Teryl Austin's and Jim Bob Cooter's Thursday press conferences.
- Read how rookie Ameer Abdullah and the Lions' run game has been steadily improving the second half of the season.
