Lions’ Playoff Hopes on Life Support After Loss to Steelers
The Detroit Lions’ playoff dreams took a major hit in Week 16, falling to 8-7 after a crushing loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. And with just two games left in the regular season, Detroit’s postseason path has narrowed to the slimmest of margins.
The math isn’t impossible, but the odds? Let’s just say they’re not exactly in the Lions’ favor.
Let’s break down where things stand - in the NFC North, across the conference, and what exactly needs to happen for the Lions to sneak into the playoffs.
NFC North: From Contenders to Chasing the Pack
Detroit’s hopes of winning the NFC North are officially over. That door slammed shut with the Bears one win away from locking up their first division title since 2018. It’s a tough twist for Lions fans, especially considering how quickly Ben Johnson has turned things around in Chicago.
But the more immediate concern? Detroit is now staring down the possibility of finishing last in the division.
A loss to the Vikings on Christmas would drop both teams to 8-8, but Minnesota would hold the head-to-head tiebreaker with a season sweep. And the Lions’ final game?
A road trip to Chicago, where the Bears could still be fighting to clinch the division - hardly an easy out.
In a strange way, finishing fourth could offer a silver lining. A last-place finish would mean a fourth-place schedule next season, potentially bringing more manageable matchups against teams like the Giants, Titans, and Cardinals. But that’s a long-term consolation for a team that entered the season with playoff expectations.
NFC Playoff Picture: A Narrow Path
Here’s how the NFC playoff race looks heading into the final two weeks:
Division Leaders:
- Seahawks: 12-3
- Bears: 11-4
- Eagles: 10-5
- Panthers: 8-7
Wild Card Contenders (Top 3 Advance):
- Rams: 11-4
- 49ers: 10-4
- Packers: 9-5-1
- Lions: 8-7
- Buccaneers: 7-8
The Lions can still finish 10-7, but that’s the ceiling - and it’s not enough to catch the Rams or 49ers. San Francisco already owns the conference record tiebreaker over Detroit (8-2 vs. 5-5), so even if the 49ers stumble, the Lions can’t leapfrog them.
That leaves the Packers as the only realistic target. Green Bay sits at 9-5-1, with a half-game lead and the tiebreaker edge still up in the air. For the Lions to jump them, they’ll need to win out and hope the Packers lose both of their remaining games.
Here’s the catch: Green Bay closes the season against the 7-8 Ravens and the Vikings. Baltimore’s dealing with the loss of Lamar Jackson to a back injury, while Minnesota just saw J.J.
McCarthy go down with a throwing hand issue. Even with the Packers battling injuries of their own, it’s a tall ask for them to drop both.
What’s Left for Detroit
The Lions’ final two games are both on the road - at Minnesota, then at Chicago. There’s no margin for error.
If they want any shot at the playoffs, they need to win both. That’s the bare minimum.
But even if they do, they’ll still need help. Specifically, they’ll be scoreboard-watching in Green Bay, hoping the Packers stumble twice to close out the year.
It’s not over - not mathematically, at least. But after Sunday’s loss, Detroit’s playoff hopes are hanging by a thread.
The Lions aren’t just fighting for a spot in the postseason anymore. They’re fighting to avoid a last-place finish in a division they once looked poised to win.
And that’s the reality of December football: it’s unforgiving, unpredictable, and, for the Lions, suddenly very complicated.