DETROIT -- After losing to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving, the Detroit Lions and their championship aspirations find themselves at another critical crossroads.
Detroit’s 31-24 loss to the Packers drops them to 7-5 on the season, including 1-3 in the NFC North, losing four out of their last seven games. They entered the game in third place in the division and on the outside looking in regarding the postseason.
The Lions remain the last time out of the playoffs after getting swept by the Packers on the season. They are 0.5 games in front of the surging Dallas Cowboys, who they happen to face this upcoming Thursday in Detroit.
The NFL has the team’s playoff probability at 49%, and yeah, it feels like a toss-up heading into the season’s final five games. The New York Times’ playoff predictor has Detroit’s chances to three-peat in the division down to 6% after the loss. Losing both games to the Packers puts them in a deep hole, and that’s not even considering the 8-3 Chicago Bears (who play the Eagles on Friday).
MLive’s Dungeon of Doom podcast was there for it all on Thanksgiving. Hosts Ben Raven and Kory Woods talked about the loss, missed chances, continued fourth-down failures, Frank Ragnow’s return, injury updates and thoughts on the tough road ahead.
“Season’s on the line next week,” Woods declared when discussing the upcoming Cowboys game. Raven agreed, adding: “It’s essentially on the line every time they play for the rest of the season.”
It’s almost hard to believe it’s gotten to this point for a team with that roster and this coaching staff. But it’s been hard to find an offensive rhythm due to an inconsistent interior offensive line and a roster that keeps losing its top playmakers.
Amon-Ra St. Brown’s ankle injury doesn’t sound long-term concerning. But Dan Campbell said the All-Pro wide receiver might miss one or two games, “if we’re lucky.” For a team already missing tight end Sam LaPorta, that’s a [crushing blow to an operation already struggling to execute the team’s identity.](https://www.mlive.com/lions/2025/11/the-lions-built-an-identity-based-on-grit-now-their-season-depends-on-it.html)
“I’m just going to be honest, and it’s just my personal opinion, as we know, anything can happen. They literally can only probably drop one more game,” Woods said of how narrow the Lions’ margin for error has become.
**See below to listen to the full episode for a breakdown of the loss, injury updates and what must happen for Detroit to salvage its playoff hopes in what has become a season on the brink:**