If you were searching for a Detroit Lions football score yesterday, you probably felt a bit of a sting. There wasn't one. While the NFL playoffs are currently heating up with the Divisional Round kicking off this Saturday, January 17, 2026, the Lions are notably absent from the bracket.
Honestly, it’s a weird feeling for fans in Michigan. We’ve grown so used to Dan Campbell’s squad playing meaningful football deep into January. But yesterday, the only thing happening at Ford Field was likely some off-season maintenance. The Lions finished their 2025-2026 campaign with a 9-8 record, which, in almost any other year or any other division, might have been enough to sneak into a Wild Card spot. Not this time.
What Happened to the Lions?
The last time the Detroit Lions actually put points on a scoreboard was back on January 4, 2026. They went into Soldier Field and took down the Chicago Bears with a 19-16 victory.
It was a classic "heart attack Lions" game. They built a massive 16-point lead and then, in true Detroit fashion, watched it evaporate in the fourth quarter. It took a 42-yard field goal from Jake Bates as time expired to secure the win. Jared Goff threw for 331 yards, and Amon-Ra St. Brown was his usual self, hauling in 11 catches for 139 yards.
Winning that game felt good in the moment, but it basically served as a consolation prize. The Lions finished fourth in the NFC North. Think about that for a second. A team with a winning record finished dead last in their division. The North was absolutely brutal this year. Every single team—the Bears, Packers, Vikings, and Lions—finished with a winning record.
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The Final Standings That Kept Detroit Out
The playoff race didn't come down to just wins and losses; it came down to tiebreakers and a few "what-if" moments earlier in the season. Here is how the division shook out:
- Chicago Bears (11-6): They won the division despite that Week 18 loss to Detroit.
- Green Bay Packers (9-7-1): They managed to snag a playoff spot and actually played—and won—in the Wild Card round last week.
- Minnesota Vikings (9-8): They finished ahead of Detroit based on head-to-head tiebreakers and divisional record.
- Detroit Lions (9-8): Fourth place. Season over.
It's sort of wild to realize that while you were looking for a score yesterday, teams like the Seahawks and 49ers were preparing for today's Divisional matchups. The Lions are watching from the couch because of a mid-season slump where they lost four of five games between mid-November and late December. That Christmas Day loss to the Vikings (23-10) was effectively the nail in the coffin.
Coaching Shakeups and the Offensive Void
One reason there was no Detroit Lions football score yesterday is that the team is currently in a state of flux behind the scenes. On January 6, just two days after the season ended, the Lions moved on from John Morton.
Dan Campbell had already taken over play-calling duties for a large chunk of the season. It's no secret that the offense felt "off" at times. While Jahmyr Gibbs remained a total weapon—fantasy experts like Theo Gremminger are already ranking him as a top-two pick for the 2026 season—the consistency just wasn't there.
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Campbell recently told reporters he’s "open to anything" regarding the offensive coordinator role for next season. There was a lot of buzz about Mike McDaniel potentially coming to Detroit after he was let go by the Dolphins on January 8, but that dream took a hit. McDaniel interviewed with the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, January 15. If the Lions don't find a spark for that headset soon, they might find themselves in this same "no score yesterday" situation this time next year.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Schedule
Since the Lions finished in fourth place, their 2026 schedule is already set, even if the dates aren't. Because of the NFL’s scheduling formula, finishing last in the division actually gives them a slightly "easier" path next year on paper. They will face the fourth-place finishers from the AFC South (Tennessee), NFC East (NY Giants), and NFC West (Arizona).
The home slate at Ford Field for the 2026 season will include:
- Chicago, Green Bay, and Minnesota (The usual suspects)
- New Orleans and Tampa Bay
- New England and the New York Jets
- Tennessee and the New York Giants
The road trips won't be easy, though. They have to travel to Buffalo and Miami, which are never fun late-season destinations.
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Why Fans are Frustrated
Aidan Hutchinson recently made some headlines by admitting how tough it was to watch Caleb Williams and the Bears take the division. For the first time since 2022, Detroit is on the outside looking in.
The defense had moments of brilliance, but they struggled to get off the field in critical third-down situations during that December skid. When you lose to the Rams (41-34) and the Steelers (29-24) in back-to-back weeks late in the year, you lose your margin for error.
Basically, the Lions weren't bad. They were just "not good enough" in a division that turned into an arms race.
Actionable Steps for Lions Fans Today
Since there was no game yesterday and there isn't one today, here is how you can stay locked in as the off-season begins:
- Track the OC Search: Keep a close eye on who Dan Campbell interviews next. With Mike McDaniel potentially heading to Baltimore, the Lions might look at internal promotions or a sleeper candidate from the college ranks.
- Monitor the Draft Order: By finishing 9-8 and missing the playoffs, the Lions will likely pick in the middle of the first round. Keep an eye on edge rusher prospects to pair with Hutchinson.
- Watch the Divisional Round: If you want to see what the Lions are up against next year, watch the Bears and Packers this weekend. See how their schemes have evolved and where Detroit needs to bridge the gap.
The quest for a Detroit Lions football score yesterday might have come up empty, but the work for the 2026-2027 season is already happening. The road back to the top of the NFC North starts with finding a play-caller who can maximize Goff and Gibbs before the window closes.