In a division suddenly defined by chaos and separation, the Detroit Lions find themselves walking the razor’s edge — close enough to taste January football, but one stumble away from watching the NFC North slip through their fingers.
The 2025 season in the NFC North has the kind of drama and tension Detroit fans live for, and a lot of it circles around the position of Detroit Lions. As of Week 13, the Lions are sitting in third place in the division, chasing both the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers.
Where things stand
• The Chicago Bears lead the NFC North at 9–3, thanks to a strong stretch of winning and consistency under new leadership. Coming off a statement win against the Eagles, the Bears have shown they belong.
• The Green Bay Packers are close behind at 8–3-1, carrying momentum — especially after a recent win over Detroit on Thanksgiving.
• Detroit sits third at 7–5, a record that still keeps them very much in the hunt — but not control. Losing both matchups against the Packers will make it tough but not impossible for the Lions to win the North for the third straight year
• The Minnesota Vikings trail at 4-8 effectively putting them out of contention for the division.
What that means for the Lions
From a Lions fan’s vantage point, life is equal parts hope and pressure. Yes, third place isn’t where the organization, or the fans want to finish. But 7–5 still offers a path to the playoffs.
Models heading into the Packers showdown on Thanksgiving gave Detroit about a 25.2 % chance to win the division and a nearly 64% shot at sneaking into the playoffs.
If Detroit strings together wins, especially against its division rivals, there’s still a small shot. But with Chicago flashing consistency and Green Bay’s defense holding strong, the Lions have little margin for error.
Recent hit: Thanksgiving stings
That home loss to the Packers 31–24 really hurt. The Packers’ quarterback tore up Detroit’s secondary for four touchdowns. Whereas the Lions showed flashes (two Goff TDs, over 250 yards passing, and a strong effort from their wide receiving core), the injury to star WR Amon-Ra St. Brown wrapped a big blow around the city.
That result dropped the Lions to 7–5, put Green Bay at 8–3-1 and firmly in second, and pushed Chicago farther ahead, making the division title a steep climb.
What lies ahead: a narrow path
As a Lions fan, you know the rest of the season matters big time. Key divisional matchups still await, and tiebreakers, division record, head-to-head, could decide who makes the playoffs.
If Detroit can tighten up on defense, stay healthy, and unleash the offense, especially through the run game and balanced attack they’ve shown flashes of, they’re still alive. But there’s no room left for mistakes.
The bottom line
Right now, the Lions are in the backseat, but not out of the race. Third in the NFC North doesn’t feel like success yet, but with 7–5 and a realistic playoff path, fans still have reason to believe. Win out, survive a few swings, and it’s still possible to grab a Wild Card, and maybe more.