Honestly, it feels weird. Writing about a Detroit Lions playoff picture in mid-January that doesn't involve the Lions actually playing football is a gut punch no one in Michigan expected. After the magic of the last couple of years, the 2025-26 season was supposed to be the "Lombardi or bust" campaign. Instead, we’re sitting here on divisional round weekend watching the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers—yes, both of them—continue their seasons while Dan Campbell’s squad is already deep into offseason exit interviews.
It’s brutal.
If you’re looking for the short answer: the Lions are out. They finished the regular season with a 9-8 record, which in many years might sneak you into a Wild Card spot. Not this year. The NFC was a gauntlet, and Detroit found themselves on the outside looking in, officially eliminated after that Week 17 heartbreaker against the Vikings.
The Current State of the NFC Playoff Picture
While Detroit fans are busy scouting draft prospects, the rest of the conference is in a literal dogfight. As of today, January 18, 2026, the divisional round is in full swing. The Seattle Seahawks have already punched their ticket to the NFC Championship by absolutely dismantling the 49ers 41-6.
The other side of the bracket is what really stings for Lions fans. The Chicago Bears, who finished 11-6 and took the NFC North crown, are currently hosting the Los Angeles Rams.
Think about that.
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A year ago, the North belonged to Detroit. This year, the Detroit Lions playoff picture evaporated because of a series of "almosts." Five of their eight losses were by a single possession. They lost those five games by a combined 29 points. That’s the difference between the #2 seed (where Chicago sits) and 4th place in the division.
Why the Lions Are Watching from Home
You can’t point to just one thing, but if we’re being real, the secondary was a massive issue. Brad Holmes has been a wizard in the draft, but the 2025 rookie class didn't provide the immediate impact we saw from guys like Jahmyr Gibbs or Sam LaPorta in years past.
- Injury Luck Ran Out: The offensive line, usually a brick wall, struggled with nagging injuries all November.
- The Division Got Better: The Bears aren't a fluke anymore. Caleb Williams took the "Year 2 leap" everyone hoped Jared Goff would maintain.
- Crucial Sweeps: Getting swept by the Minnesota Vikings was the final nail. When you can’t beat your divisional rivals at home, the postseason is a fantasy.
It's a tough pill to swallow because the offense actually put up numbers. They finished the season averaging 28.3 points per game—4th in the NFL. You should make the playoffs every single time with that kind of production. But the defense surrendered 24.3 points per game, ranking near the bottom of the league (22nd). You can’t outrun a leaky bucket forever.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Opponents are Set
Since the Lions finished 4th in the NFC North, their 2026 schedule is already locked in. It’s a "last place" schedule, which, ironically, might be exactly what they need to reboot the Detroit Lions playoff picture for next January.
Because they finished 4th, they’ll face the 4th-place teams from the AFC South (Tennessee Titans), NFC East (New York Giants), and NFC West (Arizona Cardinals).
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Home Games at Ford Field:
- Chicago Bears
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Giants
Road Trips:
- Chicago, Green Bay, Minnesota
- Atlanta Falcons
- Buffalo Bills
- Carolina Panthers
- Miami Dolphins
- Arizona Cardinals
On paper? It’s manageable. But we said that this year, too.
Can They Get Back to the Top?
The window isn't closed, but it’s definitely creaking. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Penei Sewell both earned All-Pro honors again this year. Aidan Hutchinson is still a game-wrecker. The core is there.
What’s missing is the "grit" that defined the 2023 and 2024 runs. This season felt... complacent. There was a lot of talk about a proposal the Lions made to the league to allow Wild Card teams with better records to be seeded higher than division winners. The owners shot it down. It wouldn't have mattered anyway—Detroit didn't even have the record to justify it this time around.
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The path back involves a heavy focus on the defensive interior and finding a lockdown corner who doesn't need constant safety help. Jack Campbell took a step forward as a 1st-team All-Pro linebacker, but he can't cover everyone.
Actionable Steps for the 2026 Offseason
If you’re a fan or a bettor looking at 2026 futures, keep an eye on these three specific areas. This is how the Lions flip the script:
- Draft Priority: They need a blue-chip edge rusher to pair with Hutchinson. The "hunt" for the quarterback has been too one-dimensional.
- Coaching Continuity: There’s been a lot of rumors about coordinator turnover. If Ben Johnson finally takes a head coaching job, the offensive identity needs to stay aggressive.
- The Secondary Overhaul: Expect Brad Holmes to be aggressive in free agency. They have the cap space. They need a veteran presence in the defensive backfield.
The Detroit Lions playoff picture for 2026 starts now. It's not about "what if" anymore; it's about "what now." The talent is too high for this team to be picking in the top 15 of the draft.
Watch the waiver wire and the early mock drafts. The Lions are currently slated to pick 14th overall. That's a prime spot to snag a game-changing defender. If they hit on that pick—and Holmes usually does—expect them to be right back in the mix for the NFC North title this time next year.
For now, we just have to watch the Bears and Seahawks play the games we thought belonged to us. It’s a long winter in Detroit, but the rebuild of the rebuild is already underway.