For months, the Detroit Lions controlled their destiny. Three losses later, that control is gone, replaced by a strange dilemma no fan wants to face.
The Detroit Lions are in unfamiliar and uncomfortable territory heading into Week 18, and not in the way fans had hoped. An ugly loss to the Minnesota Vikings sealed Detroit’s fate, officially eliminating the Lions from playoff contention and dropping them to 8-8 on the season. Three straight losses have erased months of optimism, and for the first time all year, the focus has shifted from January football to long-term consequences.
From a Lions fan’s point of view, this is not where this season was supposed to end. Expectations were higher. The roster was deeper. The path looked clearer. Yet here Detroit is, staring at a meaningless finale with two very different options on the table — neither of them ideal, but both with potential upside.
Option 1: Win and finish on a high note
The most natural instinct, especially for a Dan Campbell-led team, is to win. Short-term pride still matters, and a victory in the finale would stop a three-game skid from becoming a four-game collapse. Losing four straight to close a season hasn’t happened in Detroit since 2020, before Campbell took over. Ending that streak alone would feel like a small but meaningful step.
A win would also give Campbell a 2-0 record against his former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, a minor footnote that still matters inside the building. It would push Detroit to 2-4 in the division after starting 1-4, still far from acceptable but slightly easier to stomach. Beating the Bears, who are likely to win the NFC North would at least send a message that Detroit can still compete inside the division.
There’s little doubt Campbell will take this route. He has never coached to lose, and fans know he’ll play his starters and demand a full effort. A win could also help Detroit finish third in the division instead of last. That may not sound like much, but finishing last still carries a sting for a team that expected far more.
Option 2: Lose and look ahead
As much as Lions fans hate to admit it, there’s logic to the alternative. A loss would mean finishing last in the division, which brings tangible benefits in 2026. Only three games on next year’s schedule would change, but they matter. Instead of facing the Commanders, Colts and a powerhouse from the NFC West, Detroit would likely draw the Giants, Titans and Cardinals.
That’s a significantly easier path. The evidence is already there. The 49ers, Patriots and Bears all finished last in their divisions a year ago, played fourth-place schedules, and now find themselves in the playoffs with a chance at top seeds. Schedule strength matters, even if fans don’t want to talk about it.
Draft position also comes into play. Detroit is currently projected to pick between 12 and 18. A loss would lock the Lions no worse than No. 15, a meaningful difference in a draft where impact players can slide. That added flexibility could be critical for a roster that may need reinforcements after injuries to Brian Branch, Sam LaPorta and Kerby Joseph.
None of this makes losing easy to swallow. It shouldn’t. But the season is already over, and the question now is what best sets Detroit up for the future.
As a fan, it’s frustrating to even consider the benefits of a loss. Still, if the choice is between short-term satisfaction and long-term advantage, the smarter path may be clear. A win would feel good. An easier schedule and better draft pick might matter more.