The Detroit Lions have taken a major step forward in the NFC North playoff race after a key result involving the Chicago Bears reshaped the division standings.

On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Bears 28–21, moving back into first place in the NFC North. That loss pushed Chicago from the No. 1 seed down to the No. 7 seed, creating a clearer path for the Lions to climb back into the NFL playoff picture.

Detroit currently owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Chicago after winning their Week 2 matchup, with a rematch scheduled for Week 18. If the Lions win out, they can leapfrog the Bears in the standings regardless of Chicago’s results in the remaining games.

Week 15 presents a critical opportunity for Detroit. The Bears face the Cleveland Browns, while the Lions travel to SoFi Stadium to take on the NFC’s top seed, the Los Angeles Rams. A Lions win combined with a Bears loss would push Detroit back into playoff position.

Lions fans now have even more motivation to root against the Bears, who are led by former Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Every Chicago loss increases Detroit’s postseason chances and gives the Lions more margin for error in the tight playoff race.

Detroit’s recent victory over the Dallas Cowboys also proved crucial. The win created separation between the Lions and other teams fighting for a wild-card spot and strengthened Detroit’s tiebreaker advantage in potential late-season ties.

While the Lions also trail the San Francisco 49ers, catching them will be more difficult. San Francisco owns an 8–2 NFC record compared to Detroit’s 5–4 mark, giving the 49ers a strong tiebreaker edge. The Lions would need help, including losses by San Francisco to Chicago and Seattle, plus wins in their own NFC matchups.

Winning the NFC North remains a difficult but possible task. Detroit was swept by the Packers this season, which means Green Bay owns the head-to-head tiebreaker. As a result, the Lions must finish at least two games better than the Packers over the final four weeks to claim the division.

A win over the Rams in Week 15 would be massive for Detroit. It would give the Lions the head-to-head tiebreaker over Los Angeles and close the gap in the NFC race with just three games left.

Updated NFC Playoff Standings (Heading Into Week 15)

Division Leaders

Los Angeles Rams (10–3)

Green Bay Packers (9–3–1)

Philadelphia Eagles (8–4)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7–6)

Wild Card Teams

Seattle Seahawks (10–3)

San Francisco 49ers (9–4)

Chicago Bears (9–4)

In the Hunt

Detroit Lions (8–5)

Carolina Panthers (7–6)

Dallas Cowboys (6–6–1)