By Sunday 
The Detroit Lions have officially entered the stress-test portion of their season. No more warming up, no more “we’ll fix it next week,” no more cushion in the standings. With five games left and the NFC playoff picture tightening like a pair of jeans fresh out of the dryer, Detroit is staring at a stretch run that’s equal parts opportunity and danger.
And the schedule? Oh, it’s brutal.
A Playoff Bid Hanging by a Thread
The Lions sit just a couple of games away from locking in their third straight postseason appearance—but the path ahead looks like it was drawn up by someone who really wanted to see how tough this team is. Four of the remaining five opponents are deep in their own playoff races, hungry and desperate. That’s the worst kind of opponent to run into in December.
The final five matchups?
- vs. Cowboys (6-5-1)
- at Rams (9-3)
- vs. Steelers (6-6)
- at Vikings (4-8)
- at Bears (9-3)
It’s basically a minefield of tricky defenses, explosive offenses, and teams playing for their postseason lives.
The Winnable Ones (Yes, There Are a Few)
Let’s start with the good news.
The Steelers feel like the safest bet for Detroit. Their defense is respectable, sure, but their offense ranks 22nd in DVOA and falling fast. They’ve dropped five of their last seven and might be mentally checked out by the time Detroit sees them.
As for the Vikings, the team that handed the Lions a frustrating early-season loss?
Well… let’s just say things have gone downhill in Minnesota. Four straight losses, no 20-point games in a month, and little hope left in the playoff hunt. Detroit won’t have an easy time, but they should have enough to outscore that sputtering offense.
Where Things Get Dicey
Now for the heavyweight fights.
The Rams (9-3) are playing like a team that knows exactly who they are—dangerous on offense and physical on defense. That’s a tough combo for a Lions team that has struggled with consistency. Chalk it up as the toughest game on the slate.
Then we get to the Cowboys and Bears, arguably the two most important games of the Lions’ season. Both teams boast high-powered offenses. Both will test Detroit’s defense. And both could swing the playoff race dramatically.
Expecting Detroit to win both?
That feels optimistic right now.
A split seems more realistic—and honestly, fair.
So What’s the Final Verdict?
Put it all together, and the reasonable prediction shakes out to 3-2. The problem? That might not be enough to punch a postseason ticket in a hyper-competitive NFC.
But this is football. December football.
Chaos is always on the menu.
As the Lions enter their Brutal Final 5, one thing is certain:
Every snap, every drive, every game matters. The playoffs start now—whether the league wants to call it that or not.