Scores View all
THU 8:15 PM ET
SEA
DEN
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2026 PLAYOFF PATH · 3-2

DETROIT LIONS
PLAYOFF PICTURE

At least one other game has playoff leverage comparable to or larger than the team’s own next result.

CONTROL STATUSOutside help mattersFSN model view · not an official clinching designation
MAKE PLAYOFFS85.4%11.2 projected wins
WIN DIVISION43.3%NFC North
NO. 1 SEED8.4%Best live seed path: #1
SUPER BOWL4.2%Most common seed: #2
Shortest Current-Week Path

What needs to go right?

Week 6
Current make playoffs chance85.4%
MODEL WIN TARGET10 wins

In 933 current simulations that finish on exactly 10 wins, 83.1% reach this target.

A 90%+ model path first appears at 11 wins.
  1. 1
    OUTSIDE HELPRoot for Denver Broncos

    87.1% if it happens vs 84.3% if it does not

    2.8pt swing
  2. 2
    OUTSIDE HELPRoot for Los Angeles Chargers

    87.8% if it happens vs 85.0% if it does not

    2.8pt swing

Each step shows its isolated conditional effect inside the same FSN season simulations. Effects are not added together because game outcomes are correlated. Win targets are conditional on final win totals, not official clinching thresholds.

Outside Help

Other games that matter

Full rooting guide →
2.8pts
LAC at KCRoot for Los Angeles Chargers

Playoff odds · High impact

2.8pts
SEA at DENRoot for Denver Broncos

Playoff odds · High impact

4.9pts
WAS at SFRoot for Washington Commanders

No. 1 seed odds · High impact

2.4pts
DAL at GBRoot for Dallas Cowboys

Playoff odds · Meaningful impact

2.2pts
NO at NYGRoot for New York Giants

Division odds · Meaningful impact

Quick Answers

Detroit Lions playoff questions

Does Detroit Lions control its own destiny?

FSN currently labels the situation outside help matters. That is based on modeled weekly leverage: At least one other game has playoff leverage comparable to or larger than the team’s own next result. It should not be read as an official NFL clinching statement.

What if DET wins its next game?

The current saved forecast does not yet contain a reliable own-game conditional branch.

What is the best seed still showing in the model?

Seed #1 still appears in at least 0.5% of the current FSN simulations.

NFL data via nflverse (CC BY 4.0) · College data via CollegeFootballData.com