How the Lions Can Still Make the Playoffs: Ranking the 4 Required Results
After the Detroit Lions’ controversial loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, their path to the NFL playoffs has narrowed to an extremely slim margin. While the situation is simple on paper, executing it will be anything but easy.
To keep postseason hopes alive, Detroit must win its final two games against the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears, while the Green Bay Packers must lose both of their remaining games. Any Lions loss—or a single Packers win—would officially eliminate Detroit from playoff contention.
With no room for error, here’s a breakdown of the four results the Lions need, ranked from most likely to least likely, as the 2025 NFL regular season winds down.
- Lions Defeat Vikings in Week 17 (Most Likely)
Despite falling short against Pittsburgh, the Lions showed urgency and offensive capability, scoring 24 points while having two touchdowns wiped away by penalties. Even without an effective running game, Detroit moved the ball consistently and remained competitive until the final moments.
That desperation should carry over into a must-win Week 17 matchup against Minnesota. Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has struggled throughout the season, throwing for just 1,450 yards with 12 interceptions and 11 touchdowns. Even with Detroit’s defensive issues, slowing down a young and mistake-prone quarterback is well within reach.
If the Lions strike early, this matchup favors Detroit more than any other game left on the schedule.
- Ravens Defeat Packers in Week 17
This game may quietly be Detroit’s best external lifeline. Green Bay enters Week 17 battered at quarterback, with Jordan Love in concussion protocol and Malik Willis also dealing with injuries. There is a legitimate scenario where the Packers could be forced to start Clayton Tune against a desperate Baltimore Ravens team.
Baltimore is fighting to stay in the AFC North race with the Steelers and cannot afford a letdown. Meanwhile, Green Bay has already lost two straight games, and a third consecutive defeat would apply significant pressure heading into Week 18.
If Love is cleared, the matchup becomes far more dangerous—but the Ravens’ urgency still gives Detroit a fighting chance.
- Lions Defeat Bears in Week 18
This divisional matchup carries several unknowns, starting with Chicago’s playoff positioning. If the Bears are still competing for NFC seeding, Detroit will face maximum resistance from a team with far more stability on defense.
There’s also a compelling storyline involving Ben Johnson, Detroit’s offensive coordinator and former Bears assistant, potentially knocking his old team out of postseason contention. Even if Chicago has nothing tangible to play for, personal motivation and divisional pride could fuel an intense battle.
If the Lions are still alive after Week 17, this game becomes a true grind—and one Detroit must win under immense pressure.
- Vikings Defeat Packers in Week 18 (Least Likely)
This is where Detroit’s playoff hopes begin to feel unrealistic.
Even if everything breaks the Lions’ way in Week 17, they would still need Minnesota to beat Green Bay in the regular-season finale. That’s a tall order, especially with Jordan Love expected to return from concussion protocol by Week 18.
The first meeting between these teams wasn’t competitive, as Green Bay dominated the Vikings 23–6. Expecting Minnesota’s offense—led by McCarthy—to reverse that outcome in a season-defining moment is a massive leap of faith.
This is unquestionably the hardest result Detroit needs, and the one most likely to derail any late-season miracle.
Final Outlook for the Detroit Lions
While the Lions technically remain alive in the playoff race, the odds are stacked heavily against them. The margin for error is nonexistent, and the reliance on multiple outside results makes a postseason appearance increasingly unlikely.
For Detroit fans, the final two weeks may feel less like a chase for the playoffs—and more like the slow realization that 2025 expectations will fall short of reality.
Still, until the math says otherwise, hope remains.
