The Detroit Lions are staring down the stretch run of the season with one goal in mind: win out. And with the way their offense has been operating lately, that’s not just wishful thinking - it’s within reach.
But as any seasoned fan knows, late-season football isn’t just about firepower. It’s about staying healthy, staying sharp, and finding ways to win when the margins get razor thin.
That’s where Detroit’s biggest challenges lie right now.
Two areas that have typically been strengths for the Lions - their secondary and their offensive line - are suddenly looking vulnerable at the worst possible time. Injuries are piling up, and with a string of tough road games ahead, the margin for error is shrinking fast.
Let’s start with the road schedule. Detroit’s final stretch includes away games against the Rams, Vikings, and Bears - not exactly a friendly slate.
Jared Goff, who’s been solid for most of the season, will need to be at his best, especially with the next game coming against his former team in Los Angeles. That matchup carries emotional weight, sure, but more importantly, it pits the Lions against a Rams team with a ferocious defensive front.
The Lions are 3-3 on the road this season, and their most concerning losses have come away from home - including a tough one in the opener against the Packers. That game exposed just how shaky Detroit’s interior offensive line could be when it’s not at full strength. And now, the same unit is dealing with more uncertainty.
Right guard Tate Ratledge has been a bright spot, steadily improving as the season progresses. But the rest of the interior line is a question mark.
Graham Glasgow is banged up, and the left guard spot remains unsettled as Christian Mahogany continues to work his way back into form. And let’s be honest - Frank Ragnow isn’t walking through that tunnel to save the day.
Without him, the cohesion and leadership up front just isn’t the same.
That’s a major concern heading into a matchup with a Rams defensive line led by Jared Verse, who’s been a disruptive force all season. If the Lions can’t protect Goff, their offensive rhythm - which has been a strength - could be thrown completely off.
Now, even if Detroit stumbles in Week 15, not all hope is lost. According to playoff projections, if the Lions lose to the Rams but then rattle off three straight wins to close the season, they’d still have a 95% chance of locking in a postseason berth. That’s the kind of math you can live with - but it also means there’s no room for error after this week.
The NFC North is still in flux. The Bears just dropped a crucial game to the Packers in Week 14 and face them again in Week 16.
If they lose that one too, it sets up a high-stakes Week 18 showdown with Detroit. That game could decide not just playoff seeding, but who’s in and who’s out altogether.
So here’s the bottom line: the Lions are still very much in control of their destiny. But that control is hanging by a thread, and it starts with this Rams game. A convincing win would stabilize everything - restore confidence, keep them in the driver’s seat, and quiet the whispers of a late-season collapse.
But if they falter? That’s when the nightmare scenario starts to take shape.
Missed opportunities, key injuries, road struggles, and questions about Goff’s big-game consistency - it could all come crashing down fast. The Lions have come too far to let that happen.
But in December, nothing is guaranteed.