By Sunday 
The Detroit Lions are officially in now-or-never mode.
After the Week 15 loss to the Rams, Detroit finds itself sitting at 8–6, just outside the NFC playoff picture with only three games left in the regular season. It’s a familiar spot for Lions fans — close enough to dream, close enough to stress, and close enough for every snap to matter.
So, let’s break it down and make a realistic prediction about how this final stretch could play out.
Where the Lions Stand Right Now
With all NFC games wrapped up for Week 15, the Lions are 8th in the conference, one spot shy of a playoff berth. There are seven total playoff spots, and right now, Detroit is part of a crowded bubble that leaves little margin for error.
According to NFL.com, the Lions have a 41% playoff probability — not great, not terrible, but definitely fragile.
The current NFC pecking order doesn’t do Detroit any favors either, with teams like the Packers and 49ers holding onto Wild Card spots and refusing to blink.
The Final Three Games: No Easy Way Out
Detroit’s closing schedule is tough and unforgiving:
- vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.)
- at Minnesota Vikings (Christmas Day)
- at Chicago Bears (Jan. 4, time TBD)
Two road games. A division rival to end the season. And absolutely no room for slip-ups.
This stretch will define the Lions’ season — and possibly the direction of the franchise heading into 2026.
The Best-Case Prediction: Win Out and Get Help
The clearest path is also the hardest.
If the Lions win all three games, finishing 11–6, their playoff chances jump significantly. But even then, Detroit still needs help — specifically, the Bears must lose at least two games, including their matchup with the Lions.
It’s doable. It’s stressful. And it requires Detroit to play its cleanest football of the year.
The Risky Prediction: A 2–1 Finish
There is another path — but it’s thinner.
If the Lions go 2–1, they’ll need assistance from teams like the San Francisco 49ers, hoping for favorable losses elsewhere in the NFC. This route turns every out-of-town game into must-watch television and puts Detroit’s fate partially in someone else’s hands.
That’s never ideal.
The Harsh Reality
Here’s the blunt truth:
If the Lions lose two or more games, the playoff conversation is over.
No debates. No scenarios. No hope.
Final Prediction
This Lions team still has fight — but the margin is razor-thin. The talent is there, the opportunity exists, and the math hasn’t ruled them out yet. The question is whether Detroit can handle the pressure that comes with meaningful December football.
Three games. One chance. Everything on the line.