Don’t Count Detroit Out: The Lions’ Road to Stealing the Division

Detroit might be sitting at 8-5 and technically third in the NFC North, but if you’re writing off the Lions, you haven’t been paying attention. This division has been chaos all year, and the final stretch is lining up perfectly for Detroit to make a real run at the crown — if they handle their business and get a little help from the two teams standing in the way.

Let’s break down the path. And yes — it’s absolutely still open.

What the Lions Need to Do

First things first: Detroit has to close strong. At this point, every game is basically a playoff game. The offense is finally finding rhythm again, the defense is bending but not breaking, and the locker room still believes they’re the most complete team in the division. And frankly? They might be right.

If the Lions want the division, here’s the formula:

1. Win out or drop no more than one game. There’s no way around it — Detroit has to finish hot. Ten or eleven wins keeps them firmly in striking distance.

2. Keep the offense humming. When the Lions are playing at their best, they’re putting up 30+ points and overwhelming teams with Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and play-action shots from Jared Goff. That version of Detroit can beat anyone.

3. Survive the injuries. This team has taken hits, especially in the secondary, but they’ve stayed competitive. If they can stabilize on the back end and avoid the big defensive breakdowns, they can go toe-to-toe with any NFC team.

4. Win the situational football. Detroit’s biggest issue this year? Self-inflicted wounds. Penalties, red-zone stalls, and blown fourth downs. Clean that up, and everything changes.

Bottom line: If the Lions play to their ceiling, they are the best team in this division. Period.

What the Packers Need to Do (and Where They Could Slip)

Green Bay sits at the top right now, but let’s be real: they’re not unbeatable. They’ve pulled out close games, they’ve benefitted from breaks, and they’re relying heavily on a young quarterback who has never been in a down-to-the-wire division race like this.

For Detroit to leapfrog them, the Packers need to:

• Lose at least two more games if Detroit wins out.

• Struggle in one of their trap spots. And they have plenty — road games, cold-weather battles, and matchups against physical defenses that can shake young QBs.

• Show their inconsistency again. We’ve seen it all season: one week they look sharp, the next they can’t move the ball.

The Packers aren’t a juggernaut. They’re talented, young, and flawed, the exact type of team that can collapse under pressure.

What the Bears Need to Do (and Why They’re Beat-able)

Chicago sits at 9-4, but they’re hardly in the clear. They’ve relied heavily on a defense that’s played above expectations and a quarterback who’s still learning how to protect the football.

For Detroit to jump them, the Bears must:

• Loss to Detroit week 18

• Face the reality of a tougher upcoming schedule with playoff-caliber teams.

• Avoid the regression that’s been creeping in. Chicago has blown leads, struggled late, and shown cracks when the pressure rises.

Detroit fans know this story well: teams that look solid in October and November often fall apart in December.

The Takeaway

The Lions absolutely have a shot to win the NFC North. It’s not wishful thinking — it’s math, momentum, and matchups. Detroit just needs to handle business and let the Bears or Packers slip.

And in this division?

Teams slip.

A lot.

If the Lions get hot at the right time, they can — and should — walk out with the NFC North crown.