By Moses Joshua 
Chicago’s stumble reshapes Detroit’s playoff blueprint as the NFC North race tightens
The Detroit Lions’ path to the postseason has narrowed, sharpened—and unexpectedly clarified. After a pivotal shift atop the NFC North, one truth is becoming impossible to ignore: if the Lions are going to crash the playoff party, it will likely come at the expense of the Chicago Bears. And for Detroit fans, that reality adds a new layer of urgency—and emotion—to every Bears kickoff from here on out.
Chicago’s recent loss didn’t just change the standings; it rearranged the entire emotional math of Detroit’s December.
Bears Loss Opens the Door Detroit Needs
The latest shakeup came when Green Bay edged Chicago, 28–21, a result that quietly carried massive implications for the Lions. With that defeat, the Bears tumbled from the top of the division to the edge of the playoff field. For Detroit, that drop matters—a lot.
Thanks to a Week 2 victory over Chicago, the Lions currently own the all-important head-to-head tiebreaker. That advantage looms large with the two teams set for a decisive rematch in Week 18. Suddenly, Detroit doesn’t need to scoreboard-watch every corner of the NFC. If the Lions take care of business down the stretch, overtaking Chicago is a very real—and very controllable—option.
Even better for Detroit: the Bears face the Cleveland Browns next, while the Lions step into a daunting road test against the conference-leading Los Angeles Rams. A Bears loss paired with a Lions upset would instantly pull Detroit back into the thick of the playoff picture.
For a franchise fighting for December relevance, it’s the kind of alignment fans dream about.
The Ben Johnson Factor Adds Fuel to the Fire
There’s another layer to this rivalry surge—one that runs deeper than standings and spreadsheets. Chicago’s head coach is none other than former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, a familiar face now pacing Detroit’s most direct postseason obstacle.
That connection only sharpens the emotional edge. Every Bears misstep now carries double meaning: it boosts Detroit’s odds while undercutting a team led by someone who once stood on the Lions’ sideline. For fans, rooting against Chicago suddenly feels both strategic and personal.
Each Chicago loss doesn’t just help mathematically—it widens Detroit’s margin for error in a race where mistakes are becoming increasingly fatal.
Dallas Win Still Echoes Through the Standings
Detroit’s Thanksgiving win over the Cowboys wasn’t just a morale boost—it was a structural reinforcement of their playoff case. That victory created separation from several NFC hopefuls and secured another valuable head-to-head tiebreaker that could matter in multi-team scenarios.
While the Lions trail both the Bears and the San Francisco 49ers, those two chases look very different. Chicago can be passed directly. San Francisco, by contrast, holds a more complex edge, including a superior NFC record that complicates Detroit’s route past them.
That reality makes the Bears the most realistic target—and the clearest one.
Rams Game Could Redraw the Entire Board
Sunday’s matchup with Los Angeles carries weight far beyond a single win or loss. A victory would give Detroit another critical head-to-head tiebreaker and trim the gap between the two franchises to a single game with three remaining.
At that point, momentum would no longer be a buzzword—it would be tangible leverage.
The Standings at a Glance
Heading into Week 15, the NFC playoff landscape looks like this:
Division Leaders
1. Los Angeles Rams (10–3)
2. Green Bay Packers (9–3–1)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (8–4)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7–6)
Wild Card
5. Seattle Seahawks (10–3)
6. San Francisco 49ers (9–4)
7. Chicago Bears (9–4)
In the Hunt
8. Detroit Lions (8–5)
9. Carolina Panthers (7–6)
10. Dallas Cowboys (6–6–1)
The Bottom Line
Detroit’s playoff hopes no longer hinge on chaos across the conference. The most straightforward route is now painted in navy and orange. If the Lions keep winning and Chicago keeps stumbling, the door swings open.
That’s why every Bears snap now matters in Detroit—and why Lions fans suddenly have even more reason to root hard, loud, and unapologetically against Chicago down the stretch.