Lions' Fall From Grace: From NFC's Best to Playoff Bubble
The Detroit Lions' playoff hopes are in jeopardy following a recent decline attributed to offensive line struggles and a faltering defense.
The Detroit Lions' reign at the top of the NFC has collapsed in spectacular fashion.
After storming through last season with 15 wins and the No. 1 NFC seed, the Lions have become a cautionary tale of NFL volatility. They now sit at 7-5, having lost four of their last seven games, and face potential playoff elimination after a 31-24 Thanksgiving loss to the Green Bay Packers.
The numbers tell a grim story. Detroit now trails the San Francisco 49ers for the third NFC wild-card spot and sits third in the NFC North—two games behind the Chicago Bears and 1.5 games behind the Packers, who have swept them this season.
The Collapse in Protection
FOX NFL Kickoff analyst Julian Edelman pinpointed the Lions' fundamental breakdown: offensive line disintegration.
"The Detroit Lions may have lost their toughness. How are you a tough football team? You can run the football, you can stop the run, you can protect the quarterback. Seven quarterback hits, three sacks on Jared Goff, seven hurries. They couldn't protect him, and Jared Goff needs to have that middle of the pocket."
The offensive line failure extended to Detroit's defense, which generated zero sacks and only three hurries against Jordan Love. The Packers' quarterback made the Lions pay for their inability to pressure him.
A Team in Transition Struggling
The Lions' offensive production remains strong—fourth in total yards (376.3 per game) and points (29.2 per game)—despite losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the Bears' head coaching job.
But the defense has become a liability. Under first-year defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, Detroit ranks 12th in opponent yards (316.2 per game) and 16th in opponent points (22.8 per game).
Playoff Hopes on Life Support
Analyst Michael Strahan doesn't mince words about Detroit's playoff chances.
"Detroit could be the odd man out. I'm a little worried about Detroit. They could be the odd man out in this."
The Lions face a crucial stretch: Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1), followed by road games at the Los Angeles Rams, a home tilt with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and pivotal divisional road contests against the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears.
With their roster largely intact but their execution crumbling, the Lions must reverse course immediately or risk missing the postseason entirely.
