The Detroit Lions just picked up a statement win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14, and while their path to a third straight NFC North title is narrow, it’s not entirely closed. They’re going to need some help, but after the way they handled Dallas, it’s fair to ask: could Detroit still make a late push for the division?
Let’s break it down.
Where Things Stand
At 9-3-1, the Lions sit just a game and a half behind the division-leading Green Bay Packers (8-5) thanks to that early-season tie. The challenge?
Green Bay holds the head-to-head tiebreaker after sweeping the season series. That’s a big hurdle.
But not an insurmountable one-especially with four games left and a little chaos in the mix.
Detroit’s got the best point differential in the NFC North at +90, edging out Green Bay’s +75. That tells us this team isn’t just winning-they’re winning convincingly. Even with the two losses to the Packers, the Lions have looked like a complete team in stretches, and their Week 14 performance against a playoff-caliber Cowboys squad was a reminder of their ceiling.
The Schedule Game
The rest of the season isn’t a cakewalk for anyone in this division, and that’s where things get interesting.
Detroit finishes the year with a road trip to Los Angeles to face the Rams, a home game against a physical Steelers team, and two divisional matchups: at Minnesota and at Chicago. None of those are easy, but all are winnable if Detroit plays to its potential.
Meanwhile, Green Bay’s upcoming slate is no picnic. The Packers travel to Denver, then to Chicago, host the high-powered Ravens in Week 17, and close the regular season on the road against the Vikings. That’s a stretch that could easily trip up a team-even one as disciplined and balanced as Green Bay has looked lately.
Chicago, currently sitting in second place, has its own gauntlet to run. The Bears host the Browns and Packers in back-to-back weeks, then hit the road to face the 49ers before finishing at home against Detroit. That final game could turn into a win-and-in showdown if the standings tighten up.
Real Talk: Wild Card Is the Safer Bet
As much fun as it is to imagine a late-season surge that ends with another NFC North crown, the more realistic path for the Lions runs through the Wild Card. The Packers have been solid all season, and their defense deserves more credit than it's getting.
In their three losses, they haven’t allowed more than 16 points. That’s not just good-it’s elite.
Offensively, Jordan Love has found a rhythm, and Christian Watson has emerged as the go-to guy Green Bay’s been looking for. The Packers have already taken care of business against both the Lions and Bears, and that’s why they remain the favorites in the division-and a legitimate Super Bowl threat.
So for Detroit, the focus shifts. The Bears are the team to keep an eye on.
If Chicago stumbles-especially against the Browns or 49ers-and the Lions can string together wins, that final game in Week 18 could be massive. A playoff berth could be on the line.
Bottom Line
The Lions are still very much in the postseason hunt, but their margin for error is razor thin. They’ll need to take care of business down the stretch and hope the Bears and Packers slip up.
The division might be a long shot, but the Wild Card is within reach-and in the NFL, that’s all you need. Just get in.
After that, anything can happen.