The Detroit Lions have reached the final stretch of a roller-coaster season, sitting at 8–6 with three games left and everything still on the table. The path is simple, even if the execution hasn’t been: win out, and Detroit is almost certainly in the postseason. Lose even one of these next three, and the Lions are donzo!
What’s fascinating is how Week 18 is shaping up. If the Lions handle their business against the Steelers and Vikings, and if the Bears stumble just once in the next two weeks, then Detroit and Chicago will likely meet in a do-or-die game for the final NFC wild card spot.
So the question is obvious:
Will the Lions actually win out?
Let’s break down the matchups and why I believe Detroit will finish the year on a three-game heater.
Week 16: Lions vs. Steelers — Prediction: Lions 37, Steelers 20
Detroit returns to Ford Field for its final home game of the season, and this one feels like the perfect opportunity to reset the narrative. Pittsburgh is physical, disciplined, and well-coached, but Detroit is simply the better football team if the Lions bring their A-game.
Jared Goff has been outstanding, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams are playing their best football of the season, and Detroit’s offense has shown it can move the ball on anyone.
The key: getting the run game going again.
If the Lions can avoid becoming one-dimensional, they’ll control tempo and force the Steelers to chase points.
Prediction: Lions win 37–20.
Week 17: Lions at Vikings — Prediction: Lions 27, Vikings 23
This is the trickiest matchup of the final three, simply because the Lions have been inconsistent on the road. Minnesota always plays Detroit tough, and you can bet the Vikings will be trying to play spoiler when it comes to the Lions’ chances of making the playoffs.
But here’s the reality: Detroit has more playmakers on both sides of the ball. If the Lions’ defensive front can pressure J.J. McCarthy and keep Minnesota from running downhill, Detroit should be able to dictate the game.
Goff doesn’t have to be perfect in this one. Detroit just needs him to be decisive, efficient, and turnover-free. If the Lions play clean, they win a close one.
Prediction: Lions win 27–23.
Week 18: Lions at Bears — Prediction: Lions 30, Bears 27
This feels like a playoff game waiting to happen.
If the Lions win Weeks 16 and 17, and if the Bears drop just one game before Week 18, then this becomes the NFC’s unofficial wild-card championship. Detroit vs. Chicago, winner likely gets in, loser goes home.
And honestly? It’s the kind of moment this Lions team needs.
Detroit is better than Chicago on paper. Better quarterback, better offensive weapons, better pass rush when it shows up, better coaching. But “better” doesn’t mean much in the NFC North, especially on the road in January temperatures with everything on the line.
This is where Detroit’s stars need to deliver.
This is where Dan Campbell’s culture has to show up.
This is where the Lions must prove they’ve grown.
Expect chaos. Expect nerves. Expect a heart-rate-destroying fourth quarter. But also expect Detroit to make one more play, a crucial stop, a late field goal, a final drive, and steal it.
Prediction: Lions win 30–27.
So… Will the Lions Win Out? My Answer: Yes.
If Detroit brings its A-game, they are better than the Steelers, better than the Vikings, and better than the Bears. The problem is that the Lions haven’t consistently brought their A-game this season. We’ve seen slow starts, third-quarter collapses, and defensive breakdowns that cost them winnable games.
To win out, three things must happen:
1. Jared Goff must continue to play at a high level
He’s been locked in lately. If that continues, Detroit’s offense is good enough to carry them.
2. The offensive line must reestablish Detroit’s run game
Running the ball takes pressure off Goff, keeps the defense fresh, and prevents third-and-long situations that killed drives last week.
3. The defensive front MUST make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks
This is the X-factor. If the Lions get pressure, they win. If they don’t, these final three games get a lot scarier.
The belief is justified. The path is clear. And the opportunity is sitting right in front of them.
My prediction: The Detroit Lions win their final three games, finish 11–6, and enter the playoffs on a three-game winning streak.
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