The Lions are still alive — barely — and that’s what makes the final stretch so dangerous. At 8-6, Detroit must win, wait, and watch the scoreboard, knowing one more mistake could send a promising season crashing down.
The Detroit Lions didn’t just lose to the Rams — they squandered control of their own destiny. A 41-34 shootout loss dropped Detroit to 8-6 with three games remaining, and for the first time in weeks, the Lions are no longer in the driver’s seat. From a fan’s perspective, that’s the most frustrating part. This team is talented enough to be a playoff lock, yet here it is again, needing help.
The good news? The path is still there. The bad news? There is absolutely no room for error.
Detroit must finish strong, handle business at home, and get a little scoreboard assistance along the way. That’s the reality after a season defined by flashes of dominance mixed with costly defensive lapses.
What Detroit Must Do: Win Now and Ask Questions Later
The Lions return to Ford Field this week to face the Pittsburgh Steelers, a game that suddenly feels like a playoff elimination matchup. Detroit should win this game, and as a Lions fan, I’ll say it plainly: if they don’t, they don’t deserve to be playing in January.
Pittsburgh comes in fighting for its own postseason life, locked in a tight race with Baltimore for the AFC North. But despite their reputation, the Steelers are far from an offensive juggernaut. They rank near the bottom of the NFL in total offense, passing yards, and rushing yards. This is not a unit that should be carving up Detroit, even with the Lions’ recent defensive struggles.
That said, injuries loom large. Detroit could be without Kerby Joseph, who has been nothing short of a menace against Aaron Rodgers over the years. Losing Joseph would sting, especially against a veteran quarterback who thrives on mistakes. Still, this is where Detroit’s offense must carry the load. Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jahmyr Gibbs should be more than enough at home against a middle-of-the-pack Steelers defense.
There’s also the matter of T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh’s defensive heartbeat, who could miss the game while recovering from rib surgery. If Watt is sidelined, Detroit must take advantage. No excuses, no slow starts, no letting a limited offense hang around. This is a must-win, plain and simple.
Division Games Will Decide Everything
After Pittsburgh, Detroit’s focus shifts right back to the NFC North, where this season will ultimately be decided.
The Lions still have to deal with Minnesota, a team playing better football behind J.J. McCarthy. But this matchup favors Detroit, especially if it’s played indoors. Minnesota ranks among the lowest-scoring offenses in the league, and history is on the Lions’ side. Under Dan Campbell, Detroit has owned the Vikings, posting a 6-3 record and never being swept during his tenure.
Then comes the game everyone has circled since the schedule was released: Week 18 at Chicago. Dan Campbell versus Ben Johnson, his former offensive coordinator. Storylines won’t get much better than that.
This will be the toughest test. Soldier Field in January is never friendly, weather could be brutal, and Jared Goff’s splits outdoors versus indoors are well documented. Detroit embarrassed the Bears earlier this season, hanging 52 points in Week 2, but that was a different Chicago team, and frankly, a healthier Detroit roster.
The Bears have improved, while the Lions are battling injuries across the roster. Nothing about this game will be easy.
For that matchup to matter, Chicago needs to drop one of its next two games. Fortunately for Detroit, the Bears face the 49ers and the Packers — no gimmies. As painful as it feels, Lions fans may have to hold their noses and root for Green Bay to help keep Detroit’s playoff hopes alive.
The Bottom Line
The Lions can still make the playoffs, but they’ve burned through their margin for error. Win at home. Handle division rivals. Survive Week 18. Do that, and Detroit earns its spot.
Slip up once, and the season becomes another “what could have been.”