Can the Lions Still Win the NFC North? Detroit’s Updated Playoff Scenarios After Tough Loss to Eagles

The Detroit Lions lost a brutal one on Sunday Night Football to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Lions’ explosive offense struggled to solve the Eagles’ defense, despite their defense holding the Eagles in check for most of the game. The Lions were given a late lifeline after a controversial decision by the Eagles to go for it in their own territory. Unfortunately, they didn’t get the ball back to try to tie or win the game after cutting the deficit to one score.

The Detroit Lions’ NFC North Chances

The Lions saw a massive drop in their chances of retaining the NFC North crown after falling to 6-4. The Chicago Bears secured a significant win against the Vikings and took sole possession of the division lead. The Lions are in third in the division after the Packers won in Week 11 as well.

The Lions took a significant hit on their playoff odds, according to PFSN’s NFL Playoff Predictor. They currently have a 64% chance of making the playoffs, but have dropped 14.7 percentage points since last week. Their chances to win the division sit at just 28.5%, which is a decrease of 18.6 percentage points from Week 10. The Lions have an uphill battle the rest of the way if they want to win the NFC North.

The Packers and Bears both control their destinies ahead of the Lions. Both teams have higher odds of winning the division than the Lions. Detroit has already doubled its loss total from 2024 and still has seven games left to play.

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The Lions’ offense looked uncharacteristically off against the Eagles. The Philadelphia defense is no joke, but Detroit’s offense is filled with firepower to counteract that. They simply didn’t have it on primetime. Jared Goff was brutal for Detroit, completing only 14 of 37 pass attempts with a touchdown and an interception. The yards were there with 255, but a 37.8% completion percentage is tough to overcome.

Detroit has lost three of its last five games and is trending in the wrong direction. On a positive note, they will have the New York Giants next week as a chance to get back on track. They have to take advantage of a struggling Giants team and use it to get their mojo back as they prepare for the Packers on Thanksgiving. They will be out for revenge after Green Bay handled them efficiently in Week 1.

It’s hard to count out the Lions in Week 11, but their chances of winning the division are in danger. The Packers and Bears haven’t been that much more impressive than the Lions, but are looking at better odds to steal that crown from the back-to-back defending champions.