The Detroit Lions had a dream regular season in 2024, going 15-2 and earning the first playoff berth, but the 2025 season hasn’t been as smooth.
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Detroit entered Week 17 on the brink of playoff elimination, as the Lions’ inconsistent play kept them out of the playoff picture. What hasn’t helped is that the Lions appear to be playing at their worst in December, having lost three straight games.
Most recently, the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Lions on Christmas Day in a game Detroit desperately needed to win. The result is a great help for the already eliminated Vikings and will only help the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers in their positioning in the playoffs.
Here’s what the NFC playoff picture looks like after Christmas Day results.
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Are the Lions out of the playoffs?
With the loss to the Vikings on Thursday, the Lions are officially eliminated from playoff contention. Detroit needs to win its two remaining games and have the Packers lose their final two games to overtake Green Bay.
Image from the Lions playoffs
The Lions have now lost three straight games to miss out on the postseason. Detroit started the season 4-1 and was 8-5 at one point, but injuries and a lack of execution ultimately did them in.
It certainly doesn’t help that the NFC is a tough conference this year. Maybe in previous years, an 8-8 Lions team could still challenge for the playoffs in Week 18, but three NFC West teams have four losses or fewer to make the Wild Card that much more difficult.
|
Range |
Equipment |
Record |
|
1. |
Seattle Seahawks |
12-3 |
|
2. |
chicago bears |
11-4 |
|
3. |
Philadelphia Eagles |
10-5 |
|
4. |
carolina panthers |
8-7 |
|
5. |
San Francisco 49ers |
11-4 |
|
6. |
Los Angeles Rams |
11-4 |
|
7. |
Green Bay Packers |
9-5-1 |
|
8. |
Minnesota Vikings |
8-8 |
|
9. |
Detroit Lions |
8-8 |
|
10. |
dallas cowboys |
7-8-1 |
|
11. |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
7-8 |
|
12. |
Atlanta Falcons |
6-9 |
|
13. |
New Orleans Saints |
5-10 |
|
14. |
Washington Commanders |
4-12 |
|
15. |
Arizona Cardinals |
3-12 |
|
16. |
New York Giants |
2-13 |
NFC Wild Card Standings
With the results from Christmas Day, six of the seven NFC teams have already clinched a playoff spot, with the only remaining spot falling to the winner of the NFC South division.
|
Range |
Equipment |
Record |
|
1. |
Seattle Seahawks |
12-3 |
|
2. |
chicago bears |
11-4 |
|
3. |
Philadelphia Eagles |
10-5 |
|
4. |
carolina panthers |
8-7 |
|
5. |
San Francisco 49ers |
11-4 |
|
6. |
Los Angeles Rams |
11-4 |
|
7. |
Green Bay Packers |
9-5-1 |
If the season ended with this classification, the first round matchups would be:
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Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers
-
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams
-
Carolina Panthers vs. San Francisco 49ers
NFC North Standings
Thursday’s loss not only keeps the Lions out of the playoffs, but also puts Detroit in last place in the NFC North. The Vikings, who swept the season series against Detroit, pass the Lions as a third-place team with a week left.
Meanwhile, the Bears are on the verge of winning the division, while the Lions’ loss secures a playoff spot for the Packers.
|
Range |
Equipment |
Record |
|
1. |
chicago bears |
11-4 |
|
2. |
Green Bay Packers |
9-5-1 |
|
3. |
Minnesota Vikings |
8-8 |
|
4. |
Detroit Lions |
8-8 |
lion calendar
The Lions will finish the season on the road in Chicago, where the Bears may be playing for the division title, or may be resting their starters to prepare for the playoffs.
|
Date |
Adversary |
Time |
television channel |
|
To be determined |
@bears |
To be determined |
To be determined |