For the Detroit Lions and every other team in the NFL, it’s that time in the season that while winning matters, but what also impacts the road to the postseason is how other teams perform. Going into their game on Sunday, December 14, against the Los Angeles Rams, the Detroit Lions were third in their division, the NFC North. They were only one game behind the Chicago Bears, according to the roster, and a touch more behind the Green Bay Packers.
But, everything changed on Sunday. The Detroit Lions fell to Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams in a 41-34 final score.
If the Lions had beaten the Rams, Detroit would have increased their chances of making the postseason to a 74% chance, according to NFL research. The Rams already had a 97% chance of making the postseason before they stepped foot on the field.
So, the Lions fell to the Rams, and that puts their playoff chances at 41%, according to the NFL, which may change by a few percentage points after all the Week 15 games have wrapped, but it will remain in that ballpark. What does this mean for the general NFC North and postseason picture?
Detroit Lions Need Help to Climb Up the NFC North, But It’s Possible
So, the Lions still have around a 41% chance of making the postseason. They have to win out the rest of their season to get there, which, of course, is easier said than done.
But, it wasn’t just the Lions’ game that mattered. How the Bears and Packers’ games went down also made a big difference in the chemistry of the NFC North.
The Chicago Bears were expected to beat the Browns, and they did, with a 31-3 final score. Now, Chicago has a 10-4 record going into their Week 16 game against the Green Bay Packers.
The Green Bay Packers game was expected to be a competitive one, and it was, with the Denver Broncos pulling off a close win and a final score of 34-26.
The Silver Lining for the Detroit Lions
So, what’s the silver lining for the Detroit Lions? Well, the Bears lost to the Packers last weekend, and now, the Packers have a fresh loss. The Packers falling to the Broncos helped the Detroit Lions, even though the Packers hold the tiebreaker over them. So, it’s a good thing that Packers lost, but the Detroit Lions still have their work cut out for them.
The main issue is that the Lions have to win out the season now. Imagine a scenario where the Bears crush the Lions’ chances of making it to the postseason when the two teams meet up again on January 4, 2026. Or, let’s not imagine that, because it’s too heartbreaking.
The Lions simply have to win their last three games of the season or it’s over for them. If the Lions beat the Steelers next week, that will help. If the Packers beat the Bears, the Rams have a victory over the Seahawks and the Colts beat the 49ers, that will help. But, wow, what a messy situation.
So, the Detroit Lions’ season is on life support. But, it’s not over yet. Never count Detroit’s grit out.
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