Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) runs with the ball for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at Ford Field in Detroit on Nov. 23, 2025.

The Detroit Lions had no trouble making the playoffs in 2024, cruising to a 15-2 regular-season record and earning the NFC's No. 1 seed in a Week 18 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.

Their path to the postseason won't be quite as easy in 2025. Detroit entered its yearly Thanksgiving game on the outside looking in of the NFC playoff picture an fell further back after a loss to the Packers.

Despite the loss, the Lions aren't far back in the postseason race. They would be the first team out if the postseason started today, standing at No. 8 in the NFC and sporting a solid 7-5 record. Their team has performed admirably despite having to replace both Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn during the offseason, and Jahmyr Gibbs has stated his case as the NFL's most explosive playmaker throughout the season.

However, the Lions are a bit further back in the NFC North race and will remain in third place entering Week 14. Their fortune could still change over the final few weeks, but they have ground to make up over their final five contests.

Here's a look at the Lions' estimated playoff chances, their remaining schedule and a full look at the NFC North standings and playoff picture.

Lions playoff odds

The Lions entered Week 13 with an estimated 76% chance to make the playoffs, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. It isn't yet clear how their odds have changed following their loss to the Packers, as the NFL hasn't yet updated its playoff picture and outlook.

Detroit's odds reflected the tight nature of both the NFC North and the NFC wild-card picture. Still, they figure to drop after the Lions loss and Detroit will remain behind the eight ball as it looks to make the playoffs for a third consecutive season.

Lions remaining schedule

The Lions will face the fifth-hardest schedule over the final five weeks of the season, per Tankathon. They have just one game remaining against a team with a losing record, and that matchup is a divisional contest against the Minnesota Vikings.

Below is a look at Detroit's remaining opponents:

  • Week 14: vs. Dallas Cowboys
  • Week 15: at Los Angeles Rams
  • Week 16: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Week 17: at Minnesota Vikings
  • Week 18: at Chicago Bears

NFC North standings

The Lions had a chance to move into first place in the NFC North standings with a win. Their loss guarantees they will remain in third place entering Week 14.

Below is a look at the division standings after the Lions vs. Packers game:

  1. Chicago Bears (8-3)
  2. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)
  3. Detroit Lions (7-5)
  4. Minnesota Vikings (4-7)

The Packers have now swept the Lions in the season series and will own a head-to-head tiebreaker over Detroit, if applicable. The Lions will also remain behind the Bears in the NFC North standings coming out of Week 14 as well, though Detroit will remain alone in eighth place of the overall NFC standings.

NFC playoff picture

  1. Los Angeles Rams (9-2; NFC West leaders)
  2. Philadelphia Eagles (8-3; NFC East leaders)
  3. Chicago Bears (8-3; NFC North leaders)
  4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5; NFC South leaders)
  5. Seattle Seahawks (8-3; wild card No. 2)
  6. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1; wild card No. 1)
  7. San Francisco 49ers (8-4; wild card No. 3)

In the hunt: Detroit Lions (7-5); Carolina Panthers (6-6); Dallas Cowboys (5-5-1); Atlanta Falcons (4-7); Minnesota Vikings (4-7); Arizona Cardinals (3-8); Washington Commanders (3-8); New Orleans Saints (2-9);

Eliminated: New York Giants (2-10).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lions playoff picture: Odds, remaining schedule, NFC North standings

Reporting by Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect