The Lions haven’t been perfect, or even predictable, this season, but as the NFC North begins to unravel, Detroit suddenly finds itself right where it wants to be — alive, dangerous, and one win away from letting the rest of the division feel the pressure.
The path to an NFC North title has suddenly become a realistic possibility for the Detroit Lions.
Detroit has endured one of the most inconsistent seasons in the NFL, failing to record back-to-back wins since Weeks 4 and 5 while also avoiding consecutive losses all year. That inconsistency has kept the Lions hovering in the division race, but recent results around the NFC North have opened the door.
If Detroit wins out, the Lions will have a legitimate chance to claim the division crown.
That path became clearer after Green Bay blew a 10-point lead with 5:49 remaining in the fourth quarter on Sunday night. While a Bears loss would have allowed Detroit to fully control its destiny, a Packers loss still gave the Lions renewed hope. Here is what must happen for Detroit to win the NFC North.
Packers Must Lose One More Game
Green Bay sits at 9-5-1 with two games remaining on its schedule. The Packers will host the Baltimore Ravens, who are locked in a tight race with Pittsburgh for the AFC North title, before closing the regular season on the road against division rival Minnesota.
The Packers are already dealing with significant injury concerns. Star pass rusher Micah Parsons was lost for the season after suffering a torn ACL in Week 15 against Denver. Quarterback Jordan Love also took a helmet-to-helmet hit late in the second quarter Sunday and was ruled out with a concussion.
Despite playing Saturday and receiving an extra day of rest, it remains uncertain whether Love will clear concussion protocol in time to face Baltimore. That would likely leave backup Malik Willis in line to start against the Ravens. There is also no guarantee Love would be cleared for the Week 18 matchup against Minnesota.
If Green Bay drops just one more game, it would be a crucial first step toward Detroit winning the NFC North for a third straight season.
Bears Must Lose at San Francisco
Chicago remains one of the hottest teams in the NFL, winning 11 of its last 13 games, but the Bears’ recent run has featured more than a little fortune.
In a win over Washington, Chicago trailed by eight points before hitting a game-winning field goal as time expired. Against Cincinnati, the Bears were down one with 17 seconds left when quarterback Caleb Williams connected with tight end Colston Loveland on a 58-yard touchdown pass.
Sunday night provided another dramatic finish. Trailing by 10 late, Chicago cut the deficit to seven and attempted an onside kick — a play recovered only 4.7 percent of the time. The Bears recovered it anyway, drove down the field and forced overtime. Green Bay then fumbled on a fourth-and-one at the Bears’ 40-yard line, setting up Williams’ 46-yard game-winning touchdown pass to DJ Moore.
At 11-4, Chicago must lose next week when it travels to San Francisco for a Sunday night matchup. The 49ers are playing with urgency, as they also control their own destiny. If San Francisco wins out, it would secure both the NFC West title and the conference’s No. 1 seed.
Lions Must Win Out
For Detroit, the message is simple: win or go home.
The Lions are a 7.5-point favorite at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Detroit has not lost back-to-back games since the 2022 season and has been among the league’s best teams following a loss.
A win would set up a Christmas Day road game at Minnesota, where the Lions are currently listed as 3.5-point favorites. If Detroit takes care of business in both games and receives help from Chicago and Green Bay, the division would once again come down to Week 18.
Last season, the Lions defeated the Vikings in Week 18 to secure the NFC North title and the conference’s top seed. If a similar scenario unfolds, Detroit would likely face Chicago in a prime-time finale. The challenge, however, would come on the road, where the Lions are 3-2 over their last five trips to Chicago.