Nfl Playoff Picture Week 17 Lions Eliminated By Vikings Packers

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 28, 2025, 1:26 PM

nfl playoff picture week 17 lions eliminated by vikings packers

Week 16 is one of the highest-leverage weeks of the 2025 NFL season, and there have already been results with huge playoff implications Following Thursday night's classic NFC West battle -- during which the Seahawks beat the Rams to move atop the division and the NFC -- the drama continued Saturday evening. The Eagles clinched the NFC East by beating the Commanders, while the Bears took control of the NFC North after a miraculous comeback victory over the Packers. On Sunday, there are three more matchups that feature massive swing potential in the playoff picture: the Buccaneers (7-7) facing the Panthers (7-7), the Steelers (8-6) taking on the Lions (8-6) and the 49ers... Playoff odds reflect each team's chances with a win vs. a loss, per SportsLine.

Elsewhere, the Patriots (11-3) can tighten their grip on the top of the AFC East on "Sunday Night Football" against the Ravens (7-7) -- a game the Ravens desperately need to keep pace with... We have 11 of the 14 playoff spots sealed in the NFL entering Week 17, and there's a chance that all of them are filled by Sunday at dinner time. Here's where things stand after the Christmas Day tripleheader, which saw the Packers clinch a playoff spot via the Lions' loss and the Broncos maintain their lead atop the AFC: In the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (8-7), Baltimore Ravens (7-8) The AFC North could be decided this week. The Steelers can clinch with either a Ravens loss to the Packers on Saturday night or by beating the Browns on Sunday.

A similar scenario is in place for the final AFC wild-card spot. If the Texans beat the Chargers on Saturday, they are in. If not, the Colts host the Jaguars on Sunday. If Indianapolis wins and Houston loses, the two teams will face off in a loser-goes-home matchup for the final AFC playoff spot. Game result: The Lions are officially done for the season. They have one more game, but they will not be headed to the playoffs.

They committed six turnovers, including five by quarterback Jared Goff in a 23-10 loss to the Vikings. The Lions defense kept the team in it, holding the Vikings to only two touchdowns in spite of all the turnovers, but Detroit’s offense could get nothing done. The Lions loss also helped the Packers punch their playoff ticket. Green Bay could have clinched their own spot with a win on Saturday over the Ravens, but now they head into that game looking to gain ground on the Bears in the NFC North. The Detroit Lions sit on the verge of playoff elimination and need help the final two weeks of the 2025-26 NFL regular season. They can help themselves to start when they face the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day.

The game kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET and Detroit is a 5.5-point road favorite. This is the second matchup of the season between these two teams. The Vikings won 27-24 in the first game in Detroit. J.J. McCarthy made his return from a high ankle sprain to throw for two touchdowns.

The team added 142 rushing yards and held the Lions ground game to just 65 in the win. McCarthy will not play in this game due to a fracture in his throwing hand. Max Brosmer will get the start in his place. The Lions had a chance to climb back into the mix last week, but a loss to the Steelers cost them. They have no control over their destiny and could be eliminated regardless of their outcome this week. The Lions are eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to the Vikings or if the Packers win or tie against the Ravens on Saturday.

Green Bay is a 2.5-point favorite at home in that game. The Detroit Lions had a dream regular season in 2024, going 15-2 and earning the top seed in the playoffs, but the 2025 season hasn't been as smooth. Detroit entered Week 17 on the brink of playoff elimination, as the Lions' inconsistent play has kept them out of the playoff picture. What hasn't helped is that the Lions seem to be playing their worst in December, as they have now lost three-straight games. Most recently, the Minnesota Vikings upset the Lions on Christmas Day in a game that Detroit desperately needed to win. The result is a nice boon for the already-eliminated Vikings, and will only help the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers in their playoff positioning.

Here's how the NFC playoff picture looks after the Christmas Day results. With the loss to the Vikings on Thursday, the Lions are officially eliminated from playoff contention. Detroit need to win both of its remaining games and have the Packers lose both of their final two games in order to surpass Green Bay. The NFL playoff picture continues to become clearer as Week 17 moves into the weekend. Houston clinched a playoff berth with a win on Dec. 27 against the LA Chargers.

In the second game of the day, Baltimore stayed alive in the AFC North division race with a win at Green Bay. Pittsburgh can clinch the division with a win or tie at Cleveland on Dec. 28; a loss sets up a win-and-in Week 18 game between the Steelers and Ravens. In the NFC, the Packers clinched a playoff berth with Detroit's Christmas Day loss but conceded the NFC North with the loss to the Ravens. Green Bay will be the NFC's No. 7 seed.

Here is the NFL playoff picture in Week 17, with the standings updated throughout Dec. 27 and 28: Clinching scenarios: The Broncos clinched the AFC West with a win and a Chargers loss. Denver can clinch the division and home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs with a win, a Chargers loss or tie, a Patriots loss, a Bills loss or tie and a Jaguars loss or tie. We're only three games into Week 17, but we've already seen some significant developments that impact the NFL playoff picture. While Thursday's opener between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders was largely meaningless, the day's two other contests were playoff-relevant.

The Detroit Lions were officially eliminated from playoff contention with their loss against the rival Minnesota Vikings. The Denver Broncos defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the nightcap to maintain a grip on the AFC's No. 1 seed. Here's a look at where every playoff hopeful stands, what could transpire over the weekend, and some predictions for the 2025-26 postseason bracket. .css-1582m2i{margin:0;font:inherit;font-weight:700;}Division Leaders Just two NFL teams had clinched playoff berths before the NFL Week 16 schedule, with the Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos earning their spots in the NFL postseason field.

They have a lot of company entering NFL Week 17 games this week. Eight teams clinched berths in the NFL playoffs in NFL Week 16, with the New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills joining the Broncos in the AFC playoff bracket, and... That means that just four NFL postseason berths are still available: Two in the AFC and two in the NFC. Who will get them? See the updated NFL playoff picture and NFL postseason standings before NFL Week 17 games, which saw some big changes from the NFL playoff picture last week. There are eight NFL divisions, four in the NFC and four in the AFC, with each division winner earning a playoff berth in each conference, along with the three non-division winners with the best...

The top seeds in each conference receive byes to the second round. With two weeks left in the NFL season, the playoff field is mostly set: Ten teams have clinched playoff berths and four more are still available. Here’s how the NFL playoff picture looks heading into Week 17: 1. Broncos (12-3) If they win out, they’re the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

2. Patriots (12-3) Would lose the common-games tiebreaker to the Broncos. 3. Jaguars (11-4) The clear favorites in the AFC South. 4. Steelers (9-6) In the driver’s seat in the AFC North.

Nfl Playoff Picture Week 17 Lions Eliminated By Vikings Packers

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