detroitscores
Detroit Lions
2026 Playoff Race

Lions Playoff Picture

The Detroit Lions' path to January — computed live.

3-2
.600 · Updated Oct 24, 7:20 PM ET
Record
3-2
.600 · W1
Games left
12
of 17
NFC Seed
#7
in the field
NFC North
4th
2 GB
Point diff
+16
164 PF · 148 PA
Pace
10
projected wins
The Read

Through five games, a 3-2 start has Detroit holding the final NFC wild-card spot at the moment, and a +16 point differential suggests the record is earned rather than lucky. The trouble is positional: despite the winning record, the Lions sit fourth in the division, two games back, so the path to an automatic top-four seed runs through a crowded NFC North — and six of the twelve remaining games come against those rivals. Keep up the current pace and this projects to a 10-win season; getting there means going 7-5 down the stretch, with a simple winning record requiring 6-6, both well within reach if the start holds up.

National Football Conference
The Playoff Picture
7 seeds · No. 1 gets a bye
SeedTeamRecPctDivConfDiffStrk
1
SF49ers
Bye
6-01.0003-04-0+67W6
2
MINVikings
5-01.0002-04-0+45W5
3
CARPanthers
3-2.6001-03-1+23W2
4
NYGGiants
3-2-1.5831-0-12-2-1-4L1
5
CHIBears
5-2.7140-23-2+37W2
6
GBPackers
4-2.6671-13-2+2W3
7
DETLions
3-2.6000-02-1+16W1
Bye (1)Division winner (1–4)Wild card (5–7)
Target
Path to a winning record
3/9
Wins needed
6
Rest-of-way
6-6
Required pct
.500
Target
Path to 10 wins
3/10
Wins needed
7
Rest-of-way
7-5
Required pct
.583
Division
NFC North
#TeamRecPctDivDiffStrk
1
MINVikings
5-01.0002-0+45W5
2
CHIBears
5-2.7140-2+37W2
3
GBPackers
4-2.6671-1+2W3
4
DETLions
3-2.6000-0+16W1
Seeds 5–7
The Wild-Card Chase
non–division leaders
#TeamRecPctConfStrk
1
CHIBears
WC1
5-2.7143-2W2
2
GBPackers
WC2
4-2.6673-2W3
3
DETLions
WC3
3-2.6002-1W1
4
SEASeahawks
3-3.5001-2L2
5
ATLFalcons
2-4.3332-2L2
6
NOSaints
2-4.3331-3W1
7
PHIEagles
2-4.3331-3L4
8
DALCowboys
2-4.3331-3L2
9
ARICardinals
2-4.3331-4W1
10
LARRams
2-4.3332-2L2
11
WSHCommanders
1-4-1.2501-3-1L1
12
TBBuccaneers
1-5.1671-2L1
The Lions currently hold the No. 7 seed.
Schedule
Remaining Games
12 games left
7Home5Road6NFC North
  • Wk 7
    10/25
    vs
    GBPackers
    Toss-up
  • Wk 8
    11/1
    vs
    MINVikings
    Toss-up
  • Wk 9
    11/8
    @
    MIADolphins
    Toss-up
  • Wk 10
    11/15
    vs
    NEPatriots
    Toss-up
  • Wk 11
    11/22
    vs
    TBBuccaneers
    Toss-up
  • Wk 12
    11/26
    vs
    CHIBears
    Toss-up
  • Wk 13
    12/6
    @
    ATLFalcons
    Toss-up
  • Wk 14
    12/13
    vs
    TENTitans
    Toss-up
  • Wk 15
    12/21
    @
    MINVikings
    Toss-up
  • Wk 16
    12/29
    vs
    NYGGiants
    Toss-up
  • Wk 17
    1/3
    @
    CHIBears
    Toss-up
  • Wk 18
    1/10
    @
    GBPackers
    Toss-up

Seeds and tiebreakers via ESPN. Recent NFC No. 7 seed win totals: 2024 ≈ 10 · 2023 ≈ 9 · 2022 ≈ 9. Live data from ESPN.