Detroit Lions Playoff Chances
The Detroit Lions are 6-2 and hold the No. 5 seed in the NFC as a wild card. Our model gives them a 75% chance to make the playoffs, 26% to win the NFC North and 5% to win Super Bowl LXI.
Updated · Standings include every game through Week 9 plus completed Week 10 games.
Remaining schedule and playoff odds by game
| Wk | Date | Opponent | Win prob. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Sun, Nov 15 | vs New England Patriots (5-4) | 52% |
| 11 | Sun, Nov 22 | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-6) | 55% |
| 12 | Thu, Nov 26 | vs Chicago Bears (7-2) | 49% |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | @ Atlanta Falcons (3-6) | 55% |
| 14 | Sun, Dec 13 | vs Tennessee Titans (1-7) | 76% |
| 15 | Sun, Dec 20 | @ Minnesota Vikings (6-2) | 43% |
| 16 | Mon, Dec 28 | vs New York Giants (5-3-1) | 65% |
| 17 | Sun, Jan 3 | @ Chicago Bears (7-2) | 39% |
| 18 | Sun, Jan 10 | @ Green Bay Packers (6-3) | 44% |
"Playoffs if W/L" = playoff odds in the simulations where the Lions won or lost that game. A dash means the game barely moves their odds.
Who should Lions fans root for in Week 10?
| Game | Root for | Odds if yes | Odds if no |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rams @ Cardinals | Arizona Cardinals | 76% | 74% |
| Seahawks @ Raiders | Las Vegas Raiders | 76% | 74% |
| Vikings @ Packers | Minnesota Vikings | 76% | 74% |
| Panthers @ Saints | New Orleans Saints | 76% | 74% |
What record gets the Lions in?
Bars show how often the Lions finish with each win total; the number above each bar is how often that record made the playoffs.
NFC North race
| Team | W-L | Div | Win div | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 7-2 | 0-2 | 32% | 87% |
| Detroit Lions | 6-2 | 2-0 | 26% | 75% |
| Minnesota Vikings | 6-2 | 2-1 | 29% | 82% |
| Green Bay Packers | 6-3 | 1-2 | 13% | 68% |
Predict the Lions' season
Click W or L for each remaining game to see the final record and how often that record made the playoffs in our simulations. For every team at once, use the NFL playoff predictor.
2026 results
| Wk | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | vs New Orleans Saints | W 31-30 |
| 2 | @ Buffalo Bills | L 31-41 |
| 3 | vs New York Jets | W 31-24 |
| 4 | @ Carolina Panthers | L 26-32 |
| 5 | @ Arizona Cardinals | W 45-21 |
| 7 | vs Green Bay Packers | W 20-17 |
| 8 | vs Minnesota Vikings | W 19-15 |
| 9 | @ Miami Dolphins | W 19-9 |
Frequently asked questions
Can the Detroit Lions still make the playoffs?
Yes. At 6-2, the Lions make the playoffs in 75% of our 20,000 simulations of the remaining schedule.
What record do the Detroit Lions need to make the playoffs?
In our simulations the Lions made the playoffs 98% of the time when they finished with 11 wins and 79% of the time with 10 wins. Their most likely final record is 11-6.
What are the Detroit Lions' chances of winning the NFC North?
26%. Chicago Bears lead the division at 7-2.
Who do the Detroit Lions play next?
Against the New England Patriots on November 15, 2026 (Week 10, Fox). Our model gives the Lions a 52% chance to win.