Lions Face Must-Win Scenarios as NFC Race Narrows

With Sunday’s loss, the Detroit Lions fell to 7–5 and now face an increasingly complicated path to the postseason. Not only did the Green Bay Packers secure a win, but the Chicago Bears shocked the Philadelphia Eagles the following day, tightening the NFC race. Chicago, now 9–3, looks firmly positioned for a playoff spot. For Detroit, the question becomes clear: What must happen for the Lions to reach the postseason? Here’s how the road ahead looks.

Detroit’s immediate challenge comes Thursday night, when the Lions host the Dallas Cowboys at Ford Field. Dallas has emerged as one of the hottest teams in the NFL, entering the week with wins over both of last season’s Super Bowl participants — the Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Cowboys sit at 6-5-1, just a half-game behind Detroit in the NFC standings.

That makes Thursday’s game feel close to a must-win for the Lions. A loss would not only drop them further in the playoff picture, but it would also snap their streak of avoiding back-to-back losses since the 2022 season. Detroit will likely be without its most reliable pass-catching threat, Amon-Ra St. Brown, who is dealing with an ankle injury.

A win would push the Lions to 8–5, though they would still trail the San Francisco 49ers unless San Francisco loses Sunday. But beating Dallas will require Detroit to overcome several concerning trends. The Cowboys lead the NFL in total offense at 393.1 yards per game and rank first in passing offense at 271.3 yards per game. Detroit’s pass rush will need to be far more effective than it has been lately; the Lions have recorded only four sacks over their last four games.

If the Lions fail to take care of business Thursday, the task becomes even more daunting. After Dallas, Detroit travels to Los Angeles to face the NFC-leading Rams, who sit at 9–2. A loss to Dallas followed by a road trip to one of the NFC’s top teams could dramatically weaken Detroit’s postseason odds.

The remainder of the schedule is hardly forgiving. Detroit closes the season with a home matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by back-to-back road games against division rivals Minnesota and Chicago. Playing two straight divisional opponents on the road in the final weeks adds pressure, especially against a Bears team that has already proved troublesome for NFC contenders.

Detroit, however, does have reasons for optimism. Wide receiver Jameson Williams is beginning to show the big-play ability the Lions envisioned when drafting him. Williams posted a career-high 144 yards and a touchdown Sunday, and with St. Brown unavailable, his role will only grow. The Lions will need his speed and explosiveness to stretch defenses and prevent opponents from stacking the box against the run.

Defensively, help could be on the way. Safety Kerby Joseph remains injured, but a return before the season ends would offer a major boost to a struggling secondary. Detroit’s back end has battled inconsistency and breakdowns, and Joseph’s instincts and ball-hawking ability would provide stability during the most critical stretch of the year.

The Lions also expect reinforcements on the offensive line. Center Frank Ragnow, who earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2024, is returning from a brief retirement. His presence could be pivotal in stabilizing pass protection and improving Detroit’s interior run game as the final weeks unfold.

Detroit still controls its fate, but the margin for error is shrinking. A win over Dallas could reestablish momentum and keep the Lions in strong position for a wild-card spot. But with a difficult schedule and multiple NFC contenders gaining ground, the Lions must find consistency, if they hope to return to the postseason.