The Lions path to get back into the playoff picture in Week 12

Well, here's something that we haven't had to deal with in a while. The Detroit Lions' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night knocked them clean out of the playoff picture. The team hasn't been in this situation since 2022. Is it going to be a long road to get back? No, it's not. Here's the Lions' path to get right back into things this week.

What needs to happen in Week 12 to get the Lions back into the playoff picture?

For starters, the Lions have to win their game against the New York Giants. In fact, they can simply control their destiny if they just keep winning. End of story on that. But they can get some help from their frenemies this week.

If the Chicago Bears lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers, the Lions are back up into the third seed in the NFC and first place in the NFC North.
Now, if neither of those things happens because, as we know, the Lions are never done any favors by teams facing their rivals, the Lions can still get back in if the Carolina Panthers beat the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. That puts the Lions in the seventh seed.

Week 13 is the week you need to pay the most attention to if you're a Lions fan hoping your team makes the playoffs. The Lions can do some serious damage to the Packers' hopes with a win on Thanksgiving. The Bears are taking on the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Vikings will face the Seattle Seahawks. We could see a full-on swing in Week 13. But that doesn't mean fun things can't happen in Week 12, too. We'll see what happens this weekend.

This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Nov 17, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.