Yes, the Detroit Lions can still make the playoffs this season, but the path is tight and they no longer control their own destiny.

Quick Scoop

The Lions are sitting at 8–6 and currently in the No. 8 spot in the NFC, which means they’re just outside the seven-team playoff field. Most major projection models give them somewhere in the mid‑20% to low‑40% range to reach the postseason, reflecting a real but uphill shot.

What has to happen?

To keep the “can Lions make playoffs” hope alive, Detroit essentially has to be close to perfect from here on out.

  • They have three games left: vs Steelers, at Vikings, at Bears.
  • Going 3–0 and finishing 11–6 is widely seen as the cleanest path to getting in.
  • Even at 11–6, they still need help from teams ahead of them (notably the Bears and Packers in the NFC North, plus other NFC wild‑card contenders) to drop games.

Analyses from outlets using playoff simulators show that a 3–0 finish pushes their odds into the strong “likely” range (often around 90%+), while 2–1 keeps them in long‑shot territory depending on which specific game they lose.

Current odds and scenarios

The phrase “can lions make playoffs” is really a question of probabilities now, not possibilities.

  • NFL.com’s Next Gen Stats: about a 41% chance after their Week 15 loss.
  • Other models (ESPN FPI, The Athletic’s simulator): roughly 25–37% range, reflecting tougher paths if other NFC teams don’t slip up.
  • Key leverage games involve the Bears and Packers, since tiebreakers and divisional records will decide a lot if multiple teams cluster around 10–7 or 11–6.

In story terms: the Lions are in classic late‑December “must‑win and scoreboard‑watching” mode—win out, and fans can credibly dream; stumble once, and the playoff door probably swings shut.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.