Three Games Remain and the Detroit Lions’ Season is Hanging in the Balance
Three Games Left, Zero Margin for Error
The Detroit Lions have run out of time. With only three games remaining in the 2025 regular season, every week has become a must-win. If the Lions want to stay alive in the NFC playoff race and keep their Super Bowl hopes intact, the path forward demands near perfection.
Detroit is entering Week 16 at 8-6, still within reach of the NFC playoff picture, but no longer in total control of its path forward. Sunday’s matchup against Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, back home at Ford Field, will be the first of three games that will decide whether this season continues into January.
The Play Everyone is Still Talking About
The Lions’ Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams will be remembered less for the final score and more for a single call. Rams’ quarterback Matthew Stafford connected with Los Angeles tight end Colby Parkinson near the goal line, but was stopped just short by Detroit safety Daniel Thomas. It was then announced that it would remain a touchdown on the field. Replay also suggested Parkinson was short of the goal line, but the call stood after the review, and the Rams capitalized from there.
The reaction to the shocking play extended far beyond just Detroit fans. It’s been labeled one of the most egregious calls of the season, with analysts replaying the sequence frame by frame, raising more questions about officiating consistency. For a team fighting for its postseason life, this truly could not have come at a worse time.
A Difficult Matchup on Sunday
Pittsburgh will arrive at Ford Field this Sunday at 8-6, coming off back-to-back wins and still very much in the AFC playoff picture. Aaron Rodgers has been steadily running the offense, and the Steelers have fully relied on him to keep things under control late in the game. Detroit will need a solid, clean performance to keep this one from getting away.
While the challenge comes after a tough loss, it’s important to remember that the Lions have not lost consecutive games since 2022, a trend that will certainly be tested after last week’s defeat.
What Needs to Happen Now
A Lions win on Sunday is now essential; however, it will not be enough on its own. Detroit will need help from other teams to remain in the playoff picture. The most important result to watch will definitely be the Bears and Packers game. If the Lions lose, they need that matchup to produce a clear winner. A tie between Chicago and Green Bay, combined with a Detroit loss, would eliminate the Lions immediately.
Detroit will also need help from the other teams chasing Wild Card spots. A loss by the Eagles, Cowboys, or Seahawks would ease pressure, as those teams are directly competing with the Lions for positioning. Every loss by an NFC team sitting ahead of Detroit creates valuable breathing room that no longer exists otherwise.
The Lions will also be watching the 49ers matchup closely this weekend, as losses by teams at the top of the Wild Card pack could help prevent Detroit from being boxed out entirely. At this point, every loss by a team ahead of Detroit matters, and every win will narrow the path forward.
What happens next could determine whether this season is remembered as the year the NFL’s oldest franchise, without a Super Bowl appearance, finally makes a bold statement or as yet another missed opportunity for this Detroit team.