The Detroit Lions took a big loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15 that hurt their chances at making the playoffs.
Let’s take a closer look at the Lions’ chances of making the NFL Playoffs under Dan Campbell in 2025, and what needs to happen for them to make the cut.
What Are the Detroit Lions’ Chances of Making the Playoffs and Winning the NFC North?
According to PFSN’s NFL Playoff Predictor, the Lions have with a 3.5% chance of winning the NFC North and a 22.7% chance of making the playoffs after their Week 15 defeat.
The Lions haven’t been mathematically eliminated from winning the NFC North yet, but being swept by the Green Bay Packers has hurt their chances.
To win the division, the Lions would need the Packers to lose at least two of their last three remaining games, and they would have to win out. The Bears would have to lose at least two of their previous three, including their game against Detroit.
That said, the Bears’ final games aren’t walks in the park. Chicago faces off against the Packers and 49ers before their rematch with the Lions. If the Bears lose any of those games, it gives the Lions a window to leap them in the pecking order. The Packers lost Micah Parsons to a suspected torn ACL, which hurts their chances of taking down the Bears.
The most likely path for the Lions to make the playoffs is as one of the three Wild Card teams in the NFC, but even that will be an uphill battle. The current playoff picture has the Lions as the first team out, behind the 9-4-1 Green Bay Packers, the 10-4 San Francisco 49ers, and the 11-3 Seattle Seahawks.
Two games behind in the wild card race in Week 16 is not where the Lions envisioned themselves entering the season. Now, they have an uphill battle to sneak in.
With a head-to-head game against Chicago still on the docket, stealing the final wild card spot from the Bears is the Lions’ most linear path forward — but even then, the Lions have to position themselves effectively ahead of that season-closing showdown, and they have little margin for error left.
MORE:Â 2026 3-Round NFL Mock Draft: Jets, Raiders Trade Up for Quarterbacks in Round 1
The Lions will be regretting some of their midseason losses to key divisional opponents. Unfortunately, they can only look ahead and hope their competition can’t slam the door on their dwindling playoff hopes.
Lions’ Remaining 2025 Schedule
Detroit’s remaining schedule isn’t favorable. They have two division leaders to play in their final three matchups.
- Week 16: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
- Week 17: at Minnesota Vikings
- Week 18: at Chicago Bears
It’s not going to be easy for Detroit because their only chance is to win out and get some help. It won’t be impossible, but it’s hard to envision the Lions in the postseason.
The Bears have tough remaining games, too, — making them vulnerable to lose ground if the Lions can hold up their end of the bargain.
For Lions fans, the middle stretch of the 2025 campaign hasn’t been easy, with losses to Minnesota, Philadelphia, and Green Bay. There’s no room for error. They can’t make any more missteps.
