Can the Lions make the playoffs? Detroit’s odds plummet to 5% after heartbreaking Steelers loss when Jared Goff’s TD gets controversially wiped out

The Detroit Lions saw their playoff hopes nearly evaporate after a devastating 29-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night at Ford Field. The Lions’ postseason chances have plummeted to just 5-6% after the Week 16 defeat, leaving Detroit in a dire situation heading into the final two games of the regular season.

Detroit’s Season Hanging by a Thread After Steelers Collapse

The Lions entered Sunday with an 8-6 record and slim playoff hopes, but a loss to the 8-6 Steelers essentially ended any realistic postseason aspirations. Pittsburgh’s touchdown run by Jaylen Warren in the fourth quarter proved decisive, extending the Steelers’ lead and virtually eliminating Detroit from playoff contention. The loss was particularly painful because Detroit showed resilience in the second half, with the offense attempting a dramatic late-game comeback.

According to Pro Football Network’s Playoff Predictor, Detroit can no longer win the NFC North division. The Lions now depend entirely on outside help, needing both losses from the Green Bay Packers and either a Packers loss or a Chicago Bears loss to the San Francisco 49ers to even have a mathematical chance at playoff berth. The reality is brutal: Detroit no longer controls their own destiny.

Jared Goff’s Near-Heroics Ruined by Controversial Call

Quarterback Jared Goff had been solid for much of the game, completing 15 of 20 passes for 162 yards in the first half alone. Detroit’s offense showed flashes of competence despite being without an effective running game, with Goff connecting on key throws late in the contest. However, the game’s most controversial moment came on the final play when Goff appeared to have scored a touchdown, but officials threw the flag for offensive pass interference on Amon-Ra St. Brown, negating what would have been a Lions victory.

The controversial call left Detroit’s locker room in despair. The Lions offense struggled early, falling behind 22-10 heading into the final quarter before mounting a furious comeback. St. Brown, a star receiver for Detroit, was penalized for contact downfield on the potential game-winning play, an officiating decision that will be debated throughout the offseason.

Playoff Elimination Path: What Detroit Must Do

For Detroit to earn a playoff spot, the Lions would need to win their final two games, finishing 10-7. Even then, Green Bay’s remaining schedule against Baltimore and Minnesota makes it unlikely the Packers lose twice. If Detroit somehow runs the table and finishes 10-7, they’d still need a Packers collapse or a Bears loss this week to have any real playoff path. The mathematical possibilities grow more unlikely by the hour.

The Long Road to Redemption Starts Now

Detroit’s Week 17 contest against the Chicago Bears carries massive implications. A loss would virtually mathematically eliminate the Lions, while even a win requires outside miracles elsewhere in the league. Head coach Dan Campbell’s team entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations and a quality roster featuring Goff and star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, yet injuries and inconsistency have defined this season. The Lions have failed to sustain momentum from week to week, alternating wins and losses throughout the year.

The loss to Pittsburgh represents a crushing blow to a team that showed promise in years past. Entering Week 16 with a 41% playoff probability according to NFL Next Gen Stats, Detroit has now tumbled to nearly single-digit odds. The Lions organization and passionate fanbase must now hope for miracles across the NFL landscape, an uncomfortable position for a team that once held its own playoff fate in hand just hours before kickoff.

Can Detroit’s Miracle Run Still Happen This Season?

While mathematically alive, the path forward for the Lions is genuinely bleak. At 5-6% playoff probability, Detroit would need the Packers to lose both remaining games to have a realistic shot despite winning out. Given Green Bay’s more manageable schedule, the Packers are likely to win at least one, if not both, of their final contests. The Bears’ championship-level form at 11-4 has also made the NFC North significantly more difficult to navigate.

The Lions’ season, once full of promise, now hangs by a thread. One controversial call and one heartbreaking loss have essentially ended Detroit’s postseason dreams less than two weeks before the playoffs begin. For a franchise hungry for success and a city desperate for a championship, this represents another painful chapter in a storied but often unfortunate history.

Sources

• ESPN – Final score updates and game statistics
• Pro Football Network – Playoff predictor odds and NFC North scenarios
• Detroit Free Press – Game recap and playoff implications analysis

Michael Brown

Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world’s biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.