The Detroit Lions’ playoff hopes took a major hit following a controversial 29–24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, December 21, at Ford Field. With postseason aspirations hanging in the balance, the Lions needed a win to stay firmly in the NFC playoff race, but a disputed late-game call ended their chances and left Detroit facing long odds with the regular season nearing its conclusion.
A Must-Win Game Ends in Controversy
The stakes were already high for Detroit entering Week 16. After the Chicago Bears defeated the Green Bay Packers on Saturday, December 20, the NFC North standings tightened, leaving the Lions with little margin for error. A victory over Pittsburgh would have significantly boosted Detroit’s postseason chances.
Instead, the game ended in confusion and frustration.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Lions appeared to score a potential game-winning touchdown. However, officials ruled the play dead after calling offensive pass interference, negating the score and effectively ending Detroit’s comeback attempt. The ruling sparked immediate backlash from fans and analysts, with many expressing confusion over how the final sequence was handled.
“I was all kinds of confused on the final play of the Steelers–Lions game,” one fan wrote on X. Another replied, “Everyone was. And still is.”
Playoff Odds Take a Sharp Drop
With the loss, the Lions fell to 8–7 on the season, a result that severely damaged their playoff outlook. According to league projections, Detroit entered the week with roughly a 20% chance to make the playoffs. A win over the Steelers would have increased those odds to approximately 40%, but the loss caused them to plummet to around 5%.
While the Lions are not mathematically eliminated, the path to the postseason now requires multiple favorable outcomes across the league—making their situation increasingly bleak.
Talent Hasn’t Translated to Results
Despite having several top-tier players producing strong individual statistics, the Lions have struggled to find consistency throughout the 2025 season. The inability to play complete games has been a recurring issue, and that trend continued against Pittsburgh.
Detroit showed fight and urgency, but missed opportunities and costly moments ultimately defined the outcome. Losing such a critical game at home only compounded the disappointment.
Dan Campbell Emphasized Urgency Before the Loss
Head coach Dan Campbell knew how important the Steelers matchup was even before kickoff.
“We got to get better with Pittsburgh coming into town. We got to play better,” Campbell said earlier in the week. “Now you have firsthand knowledge of what probably the top of the NFC looks like right now. That’s them.”
Campbell stressed accountability and improvement, noting the Lions still had work to do despite the uphill battle.
“We don’t control our own destiny, but we need to win these three,” Campbell said. “And it starts with Pittsburgh at home.”
Unfortunately for Detroit, that first step didn’t go as planned.
What’s Next for the Lions?
The Lions must now win out and rely on help from other NFC teams to keep their playoff dreams alive. While the odds are slim, Detroit will look to regroup and finish the season strong, even as frustration lingers from a game that may ultimately define their year.
For now, the Lions remain alive—but barely—in the 2025 NFL playoff race.
