Lions playoff picture: Updated chances for Detroit to make 2025 NFL postseason after Week 14 win over Cowboys

Lions playoff picture: Updated chances for Detroit to make 2025 NFL postseason after Week 14 win over Cowboys originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

After the past two seasons, the Detroit Lions' recent struggles have come as a shock to many. Their recent success suggested they were beginning their reign over the NFL.

However, it has become clear that the loss of their two coordinators, Ben Johnson (OC) and Aaron Glenn (DC), has left this team with several holes in its identity.

Surprisingly, the offense is the unit that has been unable to adjust to the loss of its coordinator. Not that Johnson was not a mastermind, but you'd figure that with all that talent on that side of the ball, they'd be able to figure it out. Things got so bad that head coach Dan Campbell has taken over play-calling duties from current OC John Morton. Despite these efforts, the offense is still searching for any bit of life.

The Lions were in desperate need of a victory at home on Thursday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys, and they got one, a 44-30 win that will help keep them in playoff contention.

MORE WEEK 14 NFL:

• NFL power rankings for Week 14

• NFL Week 14 picks, predictions

• NFL Week 14 picks against the spread

Here is more on whether the Lions can make the 2025-26 postseason.

Lions playoff picture

As things stand, even with a Week 14 win, it's looking like the Lions' only chance at making the playoffs will be through the wildcard. Following their Thursday night win over the Cowboys,  The Athletic's playoff simulator gives Detroit just an 8% chance to win the NFC North, but a 38% chance to grab a wild-card spot. Overall, the Lions are given a 45% chance to make the postseason after beating Dallas.

To win the division, that would not only require the Lions to win out, but also the Chicago Bears to sweep the Packers, and the Lions would need to defeat the Bears in Week 18. Even with all those factors, the Bears would need to lose one other game to their remaining opponents, which consist of the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers.

As it relates to the Wild Card, the Lions are still the first team in the bubble even after beating Dallas on Thursday night. Detroit held onto the No. 8 spot in the NFC, trailing the 49ers in the No. 7 spot by one game.

However, the Lions did help push the Cowboys further down in the NFC wild-card picture in the process, now owning the head-to-head tiebreaker over Dallas if it's necessary. The Cowboys dropped from the No. 9 seed in the NFC to the No. 10 spot.

Here is how the NFC playoff picture looks following the Lions' "Thursday Night Football" win over the Cowboys. The first four seeds are the division leaders.

Rank

Team

Record

1

Chicago Bears

9-3

2

Los Angeles Rams

9-3

3

Philadelphia Eagles

8-4

4

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

7-5

5

Seattle Seahawks

9-3

6

Green Bay Packers

8-3-1

7

San Francisco 49ers

9-4

8

Detroit Lions

8-5

9

Carolina Panthers

7-6

10

Dallas Cowboys

6-6-1

11

Atlanta Falcons

4-8

12

Minnesota Vikings

4-8

13

Arizona Cardinals

3-9

14

Washington Commanders

3-9

15

New Orleans Saints

2-10

16

New York Giants

2-11

Lions remaining schedule

The Lions' remaining four games are certainly no cake walk, but each one holds tremendous weight for Detroit's postseason hopes.

They'll face two division leaders in the Rams and Bears, along with another NFC North opponent, the Minnesota Vikings.

As mentioned, the Lions need to win out to maximize their chances of heading to the Wild Card, or at least finish strong. There is a slight chance they can walk away with the NFC North, but it's unlikely.

Here is a look at Detroit's remaining schedule after beating Dallas and improving to 8-5.

Week

Opponent

15

at Rams

16

vs. Steelers

17

at Vikings

18

at Bears