NFL Makes Major Announcement About Lions After Thrilling 'Thursday Night Football' Win

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated Dec 5, 2024 11:50 PM ET

The Detroit Lions continued their dominant season, improving to 12-1 after a thrilling 34-31 win over the Green Bay Packers on "Thursday Night Football." With the victory, Detroit extended their winning streak to 11 games, the longest in franchise history.

In a high-stakes matchup, the Packers desperately needed a win, but thanks to some bold play calling from offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and head coach Dan Campbell, the Lions came out on top. The game ended with a walk-off, game-winning field goal from Jake Bates.

Following the crucial NFC North victory, the NFL made a major announcement: the Detroit Lions have officially clinched a playoff berth for the second straight season. This marks the first time since the 1990s that the Lions have reached the postseason in back-to-back years, when they made it three consecutive seasons.

The @Lions secure a spot in the #NFLPlayoffs #EasyToCelebrate | @budlight pic.twitter.com/tnKQS03lDt
— NFL (@NFL) December 6, 2024

Detroit has overcome a lot to be in this position. Despite facing countless injuries on the defensive side of the ball, the Lions have continued to respond and stay resilient. With four games left on their schedule, they are firmly in the playoff picture.

If they can string together a few more wins and further separate themselves from the Minnesota Vikings—like they did with the Packers—Detroit could be looking at more than just an NFC North title. The Lions have a legitimate shot at securing the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

Last season, Detroit came up short, losing in the NFC Championship Game to the San Francisco 49ers. While they'll face the 49ers again in a couple of weeks before the regular season concludes, the Lions' Super Bowl aspirations are very much alive and that remains the main focus.

Alongside the Kansas City Chiefs, they have been the most consistent team in the NFL all season long, and despite all the adversity, they haven't missed a beat.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: