The Lions are back from their bye, and the calendar isn’t wasting any time putting them in the fire.
Detroit is heading into a stretch that could shape the rest of its season, starting with back-to-back home games against division rivals. The Packers come first in Week 7, then the Vikings follow in Week 8, giving the Lions their first two NFC North matchups of the year inside Ford Field.
That matters because the North has been brutal through six weeks. It’s one of just two divisions in football where every team has a winning record, joining the AFC North in that category. In a race this tight, every divisional game carries extra weight, and these two are especially important for a Lions team chasing its third division title in four years.
Green Bay is arriving with momentum after stringing together two wins following a rocky start. The Packers also have running back Josh Jacobs back in the fold after he was taken off the Commissioner's Exempt List. Jordan Love, meanwhile, looks to be settling in, and his chemistry with Christian Watson has become a problem for defenses.
The Vikings bring an even bigger challenge. They would be 6-0 entering the matchup if they beat the Indianapolis Colts this week, and their defense has been outstanding through five games. Minnesota, under coordinator Brian Flores, has allowed only 64 total points.
Detroit doesn’t necessarily need to sweep the next two to stay in the division hunt, but it probably can’t afford to come away empty-handed if it wants to keep pace. The NFC North is that crowded.
There’s also a path to the postseason even if the Lions stumble a bit, since the NFC East and West have started slowly and the North could send multiple teams to the playoffs. In that scenario, a Wild Card spot would still be there even if Detroit drops to 3-4.
Still, Dan Campbell’s team has made no secret of how much it values a home playoff game, and the only way to get one is by winning the division. That’s what gives this two-game home stand such clear importance.
For now, Detroit sits in the seventh and final NFC playoff spot after six weeks. Seattle is right behind at 3-3, though the Seahawks have not yet had their bye. The Falcons, Saints, Eagles, Cowboys, Cardinals and Rams are all sitting at 2-4.
There’s also another difficult closing stretch waiting later. The Lions still have all three of their divisional opponents in a four-game run to finish the season, and all three of those games are on the road. Taking care of business now would put Detroit in a much better position for that final push.
Updated NFC North standings after six weeks of the 2026 NFL season: 1.)
Minnesota Vikings (5-0) 2.)
Green Bay Packers (4-2) 3.)
Chicago Bears (4-2) 4.)
Detroit Lions (3-2)
Updated NFC playoff standings after six weeks of the 2026 NFL season: 1.)
San Francisco 49ers (6-0) 2.)
Minnesota Vikings (5-0) 3.)
Carolina Panthers (3-2) 4.)
New York Giants (3-2-1) 5.)
Green Bay Packers (4-2) 6.)
Chicago Bears (4-2) 7.)
Detroit Lions (3-2)
In Other News...
Lions May Have Found The Real Key To Containing Packers Deep Shots
The Packers deep-ball game has been one of the more revealing parts of their offense so far, and the numbers point to a pretty clear pattern. Green Bay is far more willing to take those high-risk shots when the game is already tilting in its favor, especially in comfortable down-and-distance spots, while Detroits own deep passing has not shown the same kind of situational split.
For the Lions, that makes the early minutes feel especially important. If they can get on the board first and force Green Bay out of its preferred script, they may be able to blunt one of the Packers most dangerous weapons before it starts to snowball. The challenge is easier to identify than to solve, but the path is there if Detroit can control the scoreboard and make the Packers throw with more pressure on them. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Just Got A Real Opening In The NFC North Race
The NFC North race has suddenly opened up a bit for Detroit, and the reason has as much to do with the calendar as it does with what the Lions have already done on the field. Even though Minnesota is still ahead in the standings, Tankathons strength-of-schedule rankings point to a more favorable path for the Lions down the stretch, with several upcoming games that should give them a chance to keep stacking wins after the bye week.
Detroit still has plenty of work to do, but the matchup mix ahead looks friendlier than what Minnesota is facing. The Lions have divisional games and a handful of contests against teams with losing records on the schedule, while the Vikings are set to deal with a tougher closing stretch against stronger opponents, a setup that could swing the division race before long. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Post-Bye Ceiling May Hinge On One Defensive Starter
The Lions have plenty to like after three wins to open 2026, especially on offense, where the scoring has been rolling along at nearly 33 points per game. The defense has been a different story, giving up almost 30 a night and leaving some real work for the stretch after the bye. As the conversation turns to who can help stabilize things, Jack Campbell is one of the names drawing the most attention after a breakout 2025 season raised the bar for what he can be in the middle of this unit.
Campbell is not the only player the Lions need more from, with Jameson Williams and Isaac TeSlaa also part of the broader push to keep the offense carrying its share while the defense catches up. But the spotlight on Campbell feels especially sharp because the teams post-bye ceiling may depend on a defensive starter who was supposed to be one of its tone-setters. If Detroit is going to turn a good start into something sturdier, the next few weeks should tell the story. [Read more 🡒]