The Detroit Lions avoided slipping into full-blown panic mode by surviving an upset bid from the New York Giants in Week 12, but their fate in the playoff picture remains uncertain entering Thanksgiving.
Detroit sits at 7-4 but is at serious risk of missing the postseason in a loaded NFC. In fact, the Lions woke up on Thanksgiving outside of a playoff spot.
Even so, they also know there’s a realistic path to another NFC North title if they play their cards right over the final weeks of the regular season. That mission starts Thursday against the Green Bay Packers.
Here’s a closer look at the Lions’ playoff chances entering Week 13.
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Lions playoff picture
The Lions enter Week 13 outside the playoff picture at 7-4, trailing the seventh-seeded 49ers by a half-game. Here's a look at where they stand in the NFC North and NFC wild-card races.
NFC North standings
Rank Team Record GB
1 Bears 8-3 —
2 Packers 7-3-1 0.5
3 Lions 7-4 1.0
4 Vikings 4-7 4.0
While the Minnesota Vikings have faded in the NFC North race, the Lions, Packers and Chicago Bears are all within one game of each other. The Lions enter Thanksgiving in third place, trailing Chicago by a full game and Green Bay by a half-game.
A win over the Packers would move the Lions to second, with the chance to jump to first with a Bears loss on Friday.
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NFC wild-card standings
Team Record GB
Seahawks (WC1) 8-3 +1.0
Packers (WC2) 7-3-1 —
49ers (WC3) 8-4 —
Lions 7-4 0.5
Panthers 6-6 2.0
Cowboys 5-5-1 2.0
Falcons 4-7 3.5
Vikings 4-7 3.5
Cardinals 3-8 4.5
Commanders 3-8 4.5
Saints 2-9 5.5
Giants 2-10 ELIM
7-4 is usually enough to put a team in playoff position, but the Lions are on the outside-looking-in heading into Thanksgiving. Detroit trails both the San Francisco 49ers and Packers by a half-game and the Seattle Seahawks by one game.
With three teams all within striking distance in the wild-card race and the NFC North still up for grabs, the Lions have to feel positive about their chances if they can take care of business down the stretch. What's clear by this point, though, is they won't be able to cruise through December like they did in 2024.
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Lions remaining schedule
Date Matchup Time (ET)
Dec. 4 vs. Cowboys 8:15 p.m.
Dec. 14 at Rams 4:25 p.m.
Dec. 21 vs. Steelers 4:25 p.m.
Dec. 25 at Vikings 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 4 at Bears TBD
The Lions host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14 before heading west to face the NFC-leading Los Angeles Rams in Week 15. As of Thanksgiving, only one of the Lions' last five opponents has a losing record.
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