8+ Official Detroit Lions Calendar 2025 Schedules


8+ Official Detroit Lions Calendar 2025 Schedules

A schedule of Nationwide Soccer League video games particularly for the Detroit Lions throughout the 2025 season supplies followers, media, and the staff itself with an important organizational instrument. This schedule sometimes consists of dates, occasions, opponents, and venues for every sport, together with pre-season, common season, and probably playoff video games. It serves as a roadmap for all the season.

Such a useful resource permits for superior planning and preparation. Followers should purchase tickets, prepare journey, and manage viewing events. The media can schedule protection and evaluation. The staff can coordinate coaching, journey logistics, and promotional actions. Traditionally, NFL staff schedules have advanced from easy printed handouts to interactive digital calendars accessible via web sites and cellular purposes, reflecting the rising significance of accessibility and real-time info. This evolution emphasizes the growing demand for handy and up-to-date scheduling info.

This info is important for understanding the upcoming season’s challenges and alternatives for the staff and varieties the idea for discussions relating to potential outcomes, participant efficiency, and total staff success. Additional exploration into particular features of the schedule, similar to key matchups, divisional rivalries, and primetime video games, will present a extra detailed perspective.

1. Sport Dates

The 2025 Detroit Lions schedule’s basis lies in its sport dates. These dates dictate the rhythm of the season, influencing staff preparation, fan engagement, and media protection. Understanding the association of those dates affords essential context for analyzing the season’s trajectory.

  • Common Season Construction

    The NFL common season sometimes follows a standardized timeframe, beginning in early September and concluding in late December or early January. The precise dates for the Lions’ 2025 video games will fall inside this era, forming the core construction of the season. These dates are essential for long-term planning, impacting the whole lot from participant coaching schedules to ticket gross sales.

  • Preseason Schedule

    Preseason video games often happen in August, previous the common season. These dates enable the teaching employees to judge gamers, refine methods, and solidify the staff roster earlier than the aggressive season commences. Figuring out these dates is essential for assessing participant efficiency and projecting potential common season success.

  • Bye Week

    The bye week, per week with out a scheduled sport, supplies essential relaxation and restoration time for gamers throughout the demanding common season. The bye week’s placement throughout the schedule can considerably influence staff efficiency, providing a possibility to recuperate earlier than essential late-season matchups. Its strategic significance makes it a key date throughout the total schedule.

  • Potential Postseason Dates

    Whereas contingent on common season efficiency, potential playoff sport dates characterize the fruits of the season. These dates carry vital weight, figuring out the staff’s championship aspirations. Understanding the potential timing of playoff video games permits followers and the group to organize for prolonged season play and the heightened depth of postseason competitors.

The strategic placement of those dates all through the calendar yr considerably impacts the Detroit Lions’ 2025 season. Analyzing these dates along side opponent matchups supplies a complete understanding of the staff’s challenges and alternatives all through the season. Additional examination of particular person sport dates and their implications affords a granular perspective on the staff’s journey.

2. Opponent Groups

The Detroit Lions’ 2025 opponents represent a important ingredient of the staff’s schedule. Analyzing the particular groups the Lions face supplies important context for evaluating the season’s problem and potential outcomes. Every opponent presents distinctive challenges and alternatives, shaping the narrative of the Lions’ season.

  • Divisional Rivals

    NFL groups play their divisional rivals twice a yr. For the Detroit Lions, this consists of the Inexperienced Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and Minnesota Vikings. These matchups carry vital weight because of established rivalries and implications for divisional standings and playoff competition. Historic efficiency towards these rivals supplies a benchmark for evaluating potential success within the upcoming season.

  • Convention Opponents

    Past divisional video games, the Lions will face different groups throughout the NFC. These matchups characterize a various vary of enjoying types and staff strengths. Analyzing these opponents permits for an evaluation of the Lions’ aggressive standing throughout the broader convention panorama and impacts their total convention file, a key think about playoff seeding.

  • Interconference Opponents

    The NFL schedule additionally consists of video games towards groups from the opposing convention, the AFC. These interconference matchups provide a novel problem, pitting the Lions towards groups with completely different enjoying types and strategic approaches. Efficiency in these video games contributes to the general season file and supplies a measure of the staff’s competitiveness towards a broader vary of opponents.

  • Energy of Schedule

    Assessing the mixed profitable proportion of all scheduled opponents supplies a metric for evaluating the general problem of the Lions’ 2025 schedule. A stronger schedule, that includes opponents with excessive profitable percentages, presents better challenges and probably impacts the staff’s remaining file and playoff prospects. This evaluation supplies essential context for understanding the staff’s anticipated efficiency.

Understanding the composition of opponent groups and their respective strengths and weaknesses is essential for evaluating the Detroit Lions’ potential for achievement in 2025. This evaluation, mixed with an understanding of sport dates and areas, supplies a complete framework for projecting the season’s trajectory and potential outcomes. Additional investigation into particular person opponent matchups and historic efficiency supplies a deeper, extra nuanced perspective.

3. House and Away Video games

The distribution of residence and away video games throughout the Detroit Lions’ 2025 calendar considerably influences staff efficiency and fan engagement. A balanced schedule ideally options an equal variety of video games at Ford Discipline and at opponents’ stadiums. Nonetheless, variations can happen, creating stretches of consecutive residence or away video games that current distinctive challenges and alternatives. House video games provide the benefit of a supportive crowd and acquainted surroundings, probably boosting staff morale and efficiency. Conversely, away video games require groups to adapt to completely different enjoying circumstances, journey logistics, and probably hostile crowds, testing their resilience and adaptableness. The strategic placement of residence and away video games all through the season can considerably influence the staff’s total trajectory.

As an illustration, a cluster of consecutive away video games towards robust opponents throughout a important level within the season may pose a considerable hurdle, whereas a collection of residence video games towards weaker opponents may present a possibility to construct momentum and enhance their standing. Within the 2021 season, the Lions confronted a difficult stretch of away video games within the latter half, contributing to their total struggles. Conversely, a positive distribution of residence video games within the 2011 season allowed them to capitalize on home-field benefit, aiding their playoff push. These examples illustrate the influence of residence and away sport distribution on a staff’s season.

Analyzing the 2025 schedule’s residence and away sport distribution affords priceless insights into potential efficiency peaks and valleys. This understanding permits for a extra knowledgeable evaluation of the staff’s possible successes and challenges. The interaction between venue, opponent power, and scheduling sequence varieties an important narrative throughout the broader context of the Detroit Lions’ 2025 season. Understanding this dynamic enhances predictive evaluation and informs strategic concerns for each the staff and its followers.

4. Preseason Schedule

The Detroit Lions’ 2025 preseason schedule, a important element of the general yearly calendar, supplies an important preparatory interval earlier than the common season commences. These video games provide priceless alternatives for participant analysis, strategic refinement, and staff cohesion growth. Inspecting the preseason schedule supplies insights into potential common season efficiency and permits for knowledgeable predictions concerning the staff’s trajectory.

  • Participant Analysis

    Preseason video games enable coaches to evaluate participant efficiency in stay sport conditions, informing roster selections and figuring out potential starters and backups. This analysis interval is especially essential for rookies, undrafted free brokers, and gamers competing for particular positions. Robust preseason performances can elevate a participant’s standing throughout the staff, whereas poor performances can result in roster cuts. The preseason serves as a proving floor for gamers in search of to solidify their roles throughout the staff.

  • Strategic Refinement

    The preseason affords a possibility for coaches to implement and refine offensive and defensive methods with out the excessive stakes of standard season competitors. Coaches can experiment with completely different formations, play calls, and personnel groupings to determine the best approaches. These video games present priceless knowledge and insights that inform strategic changes for the common season. The preseason represents a interval of experimentation and refinement, shaping the staff’s strategic strategy for the upcoming aggressive video games.

  • Workforce Cohesion Growth

    Preseason video games present priceless alternatives for gamers to develop chemistry and construct rapport on the sphere. These video games simulate game-day eventualities, fostering communication and coordination amongst gamers. The preseason is very necessary for integrating new gamers into the staff dynamic and establishing a cohesive unit. A powerful sense of staff unity established throughout the preseason can translate to improved efficiency throughout the common season.

  • Damage Danger

    Whereas the preseason serves important developmental functions, it additionally carries the inherent threat of participant damage. Accidents sustained throughout preseason can considerably influence a staff’s common season prospects. Balancing the necessity for participant analysis and strategic refinement with the chance of damage is a vital consideration for teaching staffs. The preseason represents a fragile stability between preparation and participant well being.

Evaluation of the Detroit Lions’ 2025 preseason schedule, together with opponent power and sport dates, affords a preliminary glimpse into the staff’s potential. Understanding the outcomes of those preseason video games, contemplating participant efficiency and strategic growth, supplies priceless context for projecting common season success. The preseason serves as an important bridge between the offseason and the aggressive season, shaping the staff’s trajectory and informing expectations for the upcoming yr. The insights gleaned from the preseason contribute considerably to a complete understanding of the Detroit Lions’ 2025 calendar and the staff’s total outlook.

5. Common Season Schedule

The common season schedule varieties the core of the Detroit Lions’ 2025 calendar. This schedule dictates the staff’s aggressive journey all through the autumn and winter, shaping their file and figuring out their playoff prospects. An intensive understanding of the common season schedule is important for assessing the staff’s challenges and alternatives, offering a framework for analyzing their potential success. The next aspects provide an in depth examination of key parts throughout the common season schedule.

  • Opponent Energy and Sequencing

    The common season schedule outlines the particular opponents the Lions will face and the order wherein these matchups happen. Dealing with a collection of robust opponents early within the season presents a unique problem than dealing with those self same opponents later within the season. The sequencing of opponents can considerably influence staff momentum and total efficiency. As an illustration, a difficult early-season schedule may result in a sluggish begin, whereas a extra manageable late-season schedule may present a possibility for a robust end. The association of opponents throughout the calendar is a important think about evaluating the staff’s potential success.

  • House and Away Sport Distribution

    The stability between residence and away video games throughout the common season considerably influences staff efficiency. A cluster of consecutive away video games, particularly towards robust opponents, presents logistical and aggressive challenges. Conversely, a collection of residence video games can present an important benefit, leveraging fan help and a well-known surroundings. The distribution of residence and away video games all through the common season calendar requires cautious evaluation to know its potential influence on the staff’s total file.

  • Primetime Video games

    Nationally televised primetime video games add a layer of complexity to the common season schedule. These video games usually draw elevated media consideration and fan curiosity, inserting extra stress on the staff to carry out. The scheduling of primetime video games can influence the staff’s publicity and nationwide notion. Performing effectively in primetime video games can enhance staff morale and improve their nationwide profile. Primetime video games additionally contribute to the general narrative surrounding the staff’s efficiency and trajectory in a season.

  • Divisional Video games

    Video games towards divisional rivals maintain specific significance throughout the common season schedule. These matchups contribute on to divisional standings and playoff seeding. Efficiency throughout the division is a key indicator of a staff’s total success and competitiveness. The timing and distribution of divisional video games all through the common season are essential elements in figuring out the Lions’ possibilities of securing a playoff berth. Late-season divisional video games usually carry heightened significance as groups compete for playoff positioning.

The common season schedule supplies a roadmap for the Detroit Lions’ 2025 marketing campaign. Analyzing the assorted parts, together with opponent power, residence and away sport distribution, primetime sport scheduling, and divisional matchups, supplies a complete understanding of the staff’s challenges and alternatives. This evaluation is essential for predicting potential outcomes, assessing the staff’s strengths and weaknesses, and in the end evaluating their potential for achievement within the upcoming season. The common season schedule supplies the framework for all the narrative of the 2025 Detroit Lions season.

6. Potential Playoff Video games

The Detroit Lions’ 2025 calendar extends past the common season to embody the opportunity of playoff video games. Whereas contingent on common season efficiency, potential playoff video games characterize the fruits of the staff’s efforts and the last word measure of success. Analyzing the potential implications of playoff video games throughout the context of the 2025 calendar supplies a complete understanding of the staff’s aspirations and the importance of their common season efficiency.

  • Incomes a Playoff Berth

    The first determinant of playoff inclusion is the staff’s common season file and standing inside their division and convention. A powerful common season efficiency is important for securing a playoff spot. The 2025 schedule, with its particular opponents and challenges, will immediately affect the Lions’ capability to attain a playoff berth. The common season serves because the qualifying stage for postseason competition, and the schedule’s problem performs an important function in figuring out playoff eligibility.

  • Playoff Seeding and Matchups

    Common season efficiency dictates playoff seeding, which in flip determines playoff opponents. A better seed affords home-field benefit and probably simpler matchups in early rounds. The 2025 common season schedule, by influencing the Lions’ remaining file, will not directly form their playoff seeding and potential opponents. The common season’s influence extends past mere qualification to affect the strategic panorama of the playoffs themselves.

  • Affect on Workforce Calendar and Logistics

    Reaching the playoffs extends the staff’s calendar and requires changes to journey schedules, apply routines, and total staff logistics. The potential for playoff video games necessitates flexibility and adaptableness throughout the staff’s organizational construction. The 2025 calendar should accommodate the opportunity of prolonged play, recognizing the logistical calls for of postseason competitors.

  • Heightened Significance and Scrutiny

    Playoff video games carry considerably larger stakes than common season video games. Media consideration intensifies, fan expectations escalate, and each sport carries the potential to finish the season. Efficiency in playoff video games turns into a defining ingredient of a staff’s legacy and shapes perceptions of their total success. The stress and scrutiny of playoff competitors necessitate heightened focus and resilience from gamers and training employees alike.

Potential playoff video games characterize the last word goal throughout the Detroit Lions’ 2025 calendar. Analyzing the elements influencing playoff qualification, seeding, and the general influence on the staff’s schedule supplies a complete understanding of the importance of postseason play. The potential for playoff video games provides a layer of complexity and pleasure to the 2025 season, shaping the staff’s total narrative and influencing their long-term objectives. The common season, as outlined by the 2025 schedule, serves as the inspiration for potential postseason success, underscoring the interconnectedness of the common season and playoff aspirations.

7. Broadcast Info

Broadcast info performs an important function throughout the framework of the Detroit Lions’ 2025 calendar. Realizing the place and when to observe video games is important for fan engagement and accessibility. Broadcast particulars, together with community affiliations, streaming choices, and worldwide availability, considerably influence viewership and total fan expertise. The combination of broadcast info into the staff’s calendar enhances its utility as a complete useful resource for followers. For instance, throughout the 2021 season, elevated availability of streaming choices expanded entry for followers unable to observe conventional broadcasts. This demonstrates the evolving significance of various broadcast platforms in reaching a wider viewers. Moreover, the inclusion of worldwide broadcast particulars caters to the worldwide fanbase, reflecting the NFL’s increasing worldwide attain. Broadcast info immediately influences how followers join with the staff and expertise the season.

The connection between broadcast info and the 2025 calendar operates on a number of ranges. Firstly, it supplies sensible utility, permitting followers to plan their viewing expertise. Secondly, it serves as a income stream for the staff and the league via broadcasting rights agreements. Understanding these agreements and their influence on scheduling selections supplies additional context for analyzing the calendar. For instance, a staff’s recognition and market measurement can affect the variety of nationally televised video games, impacting broadcast attain and potential income. The strategic placement of video games inside particular broadcast home windows maximizes viewership and promoting income. The interaction between scheduling, broadcast platforms, and income technology underscores the industrial significance of broadcast info.

In abstract, broadcast info represents a important element of the Detroit Lions’ 2025 calendar. Its inclusion enhances the calendar’s performance as a complete useful resource for followers, offering important viewing particulars and facilitating international entry. Moreover, the connection between broadcast info, scheduling selections, and income technology highlights the industrial significance of broadcasting throughout the broader context of the NFL. Understanding these interconnected components supplies a richer understanding of the 2025 calendar and the assorted elements influencing its construction and accessibility. This perception enhances fan engagement and fosters a extra knowledgeable appreciation of the enterprise dynamics shaping the NFL panorama.

8. Ticket Availability

Ticket availability is intrinsically linked to the Detroit Lions’ 2025 calendar. The schedule, with its particular dates, occasions, and opponents, immediately influences demand and dictates the timing of ticket releases and potential worth fluctuations. Understanding the interaction between ticket availability and the 2025 schedule affords priceless insights for followers in search of to attend video games. This understanding encompasses not solely the timing of ticket releases but in addition the assorted elements influencing worth and availability. Traditionally, high-demand video games, similar to these towards divisional rivals or playoff contenders, have seen fast sellouts and elevated costs on the secondary market. Conversely, video games towards much less widespread opponents or these scheduled throughout much less fascinating occasions might expertise better ticket availability and probably decrease costs. Analyzing ticket availability throughout the context of the 2025 schedule supplies a strategic benefit for potential attendees.

  • Single-Sport Tickets

    Single-game tickets, sometimes launched in phases all through the offseason and main as much as the common season, characterize the commonest methodology for followers to attend particular person video games. The 2025 schedule launch date serves as a key marker for the graduation of single-game ticket gross sales. Demand for these tickets usually correlates with opponent power and sport timing. Excessive-profile matchups are likely to promote out shortly, requiring proactive buying methods. Monitoring ticket availability for particular person video games all through the season permits followers to adapt to dynamic pricing and availability fluctuations.

  • Season Tickets

    Season tickets provide assured entry to all common season residence video games at Ford Discipline. These tickets are sometimes bought effectively prematurely of the season, offering devoted followers with a secured seat for each residence sport. Season ticket holders usually obtain extra advantages, similar to preferential parking, entry to unique occasions, and playoff ticket precedence. The 2025 schedule’s launch permits season ticket holders to plan their attendance for all the season, contemplating potential journey preparations and different commitments. The schedule’s construction influences the general worth proposition of season tickets, impacting renewal charges and new gross sales.

  • Secondary Market

    The secondary market, encompassing ticket resale platforms and particular person sellers, supplies another avenue for buying tickets. Ticket availability and costs on the secondary market fluctuate based mostly on demand, which is usually influenced by staff efficiency, opponent power, and sport timing. Monitoring the secondary market along side the 2025 schedule permits followers to determine potential offers or premium tickets based mostly on real-time demand. The secondary market’s dynamics replicate the interaction between the fastened schedule and the fluid nature of ticket availability.

  • Group Tickets and Packages

    Group ticket choices and packages cater to bigger teams attending video games collectively, similar to company outings or fan golf equipment. These choices usually present discounted pricing and specialised facilities. The 2025 schedule’s construction, together with sport dates and occasions, influences the planning and coordination of group outings. Understanding the schedule permits teams to pick video games that align with their availability and price range, optimizing their collective sport day expertise. The schedule serves as an important reference level for group ticket purchases, facilitating coordinated attendance.

Ticket availability, in all its varieties, represents a dynamic ingredient intertwined with the Detroit Lions’ 2025 calendar. Understanding the assorted ticket acquisition strategies, the timing of releases, and the elements influencing worth and availability empowers followers to strategically plan their sport attendance. The 2025 schedule serves as an important useful resource for navigating the ticket panorama, enabling followers to safe their most well-liked seats and totally interact with the upcoming season. By analyzing ticket availability throughout the context of the schedule, followers can optimize their sport day expertise and take part within the pleasure of Lions soccer.

Continuously Requested Questions

This part addresses frequent inquiries relating to the Detroit Lions’ 2025 schedule.

Query 1: When will the official 2025 Detroit Lions schedule be launched?

The NFL sometimes releases the whole common season schedule for all groups within the spring, often round Might. Particular dates can differ barely from yr to yr, and the league will make an official announcement nearer to the discharge date.

Query 2: How can one entry the Detroit Lions’ 2025 schedule?

The schedule will likely be accessible on the official Detroit Lions web site, the NFL web site, numerous sports activities media shops, and devoted sports activities apps. Digital variations usually present interactive options and real-time updates.

Query 3: Does the printed schedule embrace preseason video games?

Sure, the whole schedule sometimes consists of preseason, common season, and potential playoff sport dates. Preseason video games are often performed in August, previous to the common season’s graduation.

Query 4: Are there variations or modifications doable as soon as the schedule is launched?

Whereas uncommon, the NFL might regulate sport dates and occasions because of unexpected circumstances, similar to climate occasions or broadcasting conflicts. Any modifications are communicated via official channels.

Query 5: How does the schedule influence ticket availability and pricing?

Sport dates, occasions, and opponents affect ticket demand. Excessive-demand video games, particularly towards widespread rivals, can promote out shortly and command larger costs on the secondary market. Early buy is usually advisable for widespread matchups.

Query 6: The place can one discover info relating to ticket purchases?

Info relating to ticket purchases, together with single-game tickets, season tickets, and group packages, will likely be accessible on the official Detroit Lions web site and thru licensed ticket distributors. These sources present particulars on pricing, availability, and buying procedures.

Understanding the Detroit Lions’ 2025 schedule is essential for followers, media, and the staff itself. This FAQ part supplies important info for navigating the schedule and anticipating the upcoming season.

Additional exploration into particular features of the schedule, similar to key matchups, divisional rivalries, and primetime video games, will present extra in-depth insights.

Suggestions for Using the 2025 Detroit Lions Schedule

Maximizing engagement with the Detroit Lions’ 2025 season requires strategic utilization of the schedule. The following tips present sensible steerage for leveraging schedule info successfully.

Tip 1: Safe Tickets Early

Excessive-demand video games usually promote out shortly. Early ticket buy, particularly for widespread matchups or fascinating sport occasions, secures most well-liked seating and avoids potential worth will increase on the secondary market. Planning forward ensures entry to desired video games.

Tip 2: Plan Journey and Lodging in Advance

For away video games, advance reserving of journey and lodging secures most well-liked choices and probably mitigates value will increase nearer to sport day. Early planning streamlines logistics and enhances the general sport day expertise. Coordinating journey preparations effectively prematurely minimizes potential disruptions and permits for a smoother, extra pleasing journey.

Tip 3: Make the most of Schedule Integration Options

Digital calendars and sports activities apps provide integration options, permitting synchronization with private calendars and offering reminders of upcoming video games. Leveraging these instruments ensures well timed notifications and facilitates environment friendly scheduling administration. Integrating the Lions’ schedule with private calendars optimizes time administration and prevents missed video games.

Tip 4: Monitor Workforce Information and Updates

Staying knowledgeable about staff information, together with damage stories and potential lineup modifications, enhances sport day preparation and permits for extra knowledgeable evaluation. Understanding participant availability and potential strategic changes supplies context for evaluating sport outcomes and staff efficiency. Connecting staff information with the prevailing schedule supplies a complete perspective on the upcoming season.

Tip 5: Discover Broadcast Choices

Understanding accessible broadcast choices, together with native tv networks, streaming providers, and radio broadcasts, ensures handy entry to video games no matter location. Exploring numerous broadcast platforms expands accessibility and accommodates various viewing preferences, enabling wider engagement with the season’s occasions.

Tip 6: Interact with the Fan Group

Connecting with different Lions followers via social media, on-line boards, or native fan golf equipment enhances the general fan expertise. Shared enthusiasm and collective dialogue enrich sport day anticipation and foster camaraderie. Collaborating within the fan group amplifies the enjoyment of the season and builds connections amongst fellow supporters. The schedule serves as a shared level of reference, facilitating dialogue and shared anticipation.

Tip 7: Analyze Opponent Matchups

Reviewing opponent strengths, weaknesses, and historic efficiency towards the Lions provides depth to sport day evaluation and permits for extra knowledgeable predictions. Understanding opponent matchups enriches the viewing expertise and supplies context for evaluating the Lions’ efficiency. This evaluation enhances strategic understanding and fosters a deeper appreciation for the aggressive dynamics of every sport.

Strategic use of the 2025 Detroit Lions schedule enhances enjoyment and facilitates a deeper understanding of the staff’s journey all through the season. The following tips present actionable steps for maximizing the schedule’s utility and optimizing fan engagement.

By implementing these methods, people can totally immerse themselves within the pleasure of the 2025 Detroit Lions season. The schedule serves not merely as a listing of dates however as a complete information to navigating the season’s challenges and celebrating its triumphs.

Conclusion

Evaluation of the Detroit Lions’ 2025 calendar reveals its multifaceted nature as an important useful resource for followers, the media, and the group. Examination of key componentsgame dates, opponent matchups, residence and away sport distribution, preseason and common season constructions, potential playoff implications, broadcast particulars, and ticket availabilityprovides a complete understanding of the upcoming season’s complexities. Every ingredient contributes to the general narrative, shaping expectations and influencing strategic planning.

The 2025 schedule serves as a roadmap for navigating the Detroit Lions’ journey via the upcoming season. Its strategic utilization empowers knowledgeable decision-making relating to ticket purchases, journey preparations, and sport day preparation. In the end, the schedule supplies a framework for understanding the staff’s challenges, alternatives, and potential for achievement. Cautious consideration of its intricacies permits for a deeper appreciation of the dynamic interaction of things influencing the course of the 2025 Detroit Lions season and its potential influence on the staff’s trajectory.