Detroit squandered a prime opportunity to strengthen its playoff position on Sunday, surrendering a barrage of second-half scores to the Los Angeles Rams. The loss leaves Dan Campbell’s squad without control over its own postseason fate. While the outlook has dimmed, the Lions aren’t finished yet — winning out would likely be enough to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Now sitting at 8–6, Detroit risks being mentioned alongside teams like the Kansas City Chiefs as one of the season’s biggest disappointments relative to preseason expectations. Even if the Lions manage to reach the playoffs, their performances against elite NFC competition have raised concerns. They failed to earn a win in two matchups with Green Bay, fell to Philadelphia earlier in the year, and were exposed again on Sunday.
Campbell didn’t sugarcoat the situation afterward.
“This should hurt,” he said. “It should bother you. You can’t get comfortable with losing. The answer is getting back to work and improving, because Pittsburgh is coming in here. We have to be better. Now you’ve seen up close what the best teams in the NFC look like. You understand the standard, and right now we’re not at it. That doesn’t mean we can’t reach it.”
Detroit’s path forward begins with a must-win game at home against the Steelers, followed by a difficult Christmas matchup on the road against the Vikings. If they can navigate those challenges, a Week 18 showdown in Chicago against the Bears could determine their playoff fate.
Despite owning a stronger point differential than five current division leaders, the Lions have struggled in close contests, losing four of five games decided by a single score. Should they miss the postseason, those missed opportunities will loom large when reflecting on how the season slipped away.
