The Detroit Lions (21-1) are leading the NFC and have secured a postseason spot after defeating the Green Bay Packers. It’s been a historic season for the franchise, highlighted by an 11-game winning streak, a new team record. Additionally, this marks the first time in history the Lions have achieved back-to-back 12-win seasons, according to The 33rd Team. With all the other milestones and statistics they’ve set this year, it’s clear that football fans in Detroit have a lot to celebrate.

However, Coach Dan Campbell and the team still have much work ahead to guarantee a first-round bye. This weekend, the Buffalo Bills (10-3), second in the AFC and also playoff-bound, will visit Ford Field for an exciting matchup. The challenges don’t stop there; the Lions will also face the Kansas City Chiefs (12-1) and division rivals the Minnesota Vikings (11-2) to wrap up the regular season.

Given their current form, it’s tough to see the Lions in a disadvantageous position. Nevertheless, no team is flawless, and there are scenarios that could present risks for the Michigan-based squad.

A Wild Card matchup with the Washington Commanders

For instance, if the Lions lose a couple of late-season games and finish as the NFC’s second seed while the Bills claim the top spot, they could face the seventh-seeded Washington Commanders (8-5) in the Wild Card round. The Commanders have recently faced a rough stretch. They were once 7-2 but then suffered a three-game losing streak, dropping in the standings. However, they rebounded last Sunday with a 42-10 blowout of the Tennessee Titans.

Why is this a risky scenario? It’s mainly due to unfamiliarity.

While recent matchups between the teams have favored Detroit, the Lions have never faced this newly restructured Commanders team, which has made strides under new head coach Dan Quinn and rookie star Jayden Daniels. Washington features one of the league’s top offenses, driven largely by their powerful run game. The Commanders average 156.9 rushing yards per game, ranking third in the NFL.

Despite this, the Lions are still considered the favorites. Their balanced offense, along with a fifth-ranked run defense that allows just 93.9 rushing yards per game, will pose a significant challenge to Washington. Still, given that the teams haven’t played each other since 2022, Detroit will need to be fully prepared.

A Divisional Round showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Now, consider a scenario where the NFC standings remain unchanged by the end of the regular season, giving the Lions a first-round bye. If the higher seeds win their Wild Card matchups, Detroit would face the fourth-seeded Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Divisional Round.

The Buccaneers are the only team to defeat the Lions this season, doing so back in Week 2. In that game, Detroit failed to convert multiple opportunities near the end zone, resulting in a 20-16 loss. Despite outgaining Tampa Bay in total yardage (463 yards), the Lions were just 1-of-7 (14%) in red zone efficiency, highlighting the problems the Buccaneers’ defense caused in those crucial moments. Currently, Tampa Bay ranks among the NFL’s top 10 in red zone defense, limiting opponents to a 51.02% touchdown rate from inside the 20-yard line.

Should the Lions meet Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers again, this challenge will be one they’ll need to overcome to advance further in the playoffs.