Updated NFC playoff picture: Detroit Lions face stiff competition

An updated look at the NFC playoff picture, where no one is letting the Detroit Lions walk away with the top seed.

The Detroit Lions eked out a win over the Chicago Bears to improve to 11-1—the best record in franchise history through 12 games. But despite their historic start, they are going through some adversity with the mounting injuries on defense. And beyond that, the top teams in the NFC are not relenting. Detroit is just a single game ahead of two other teams in the conference, and with five weeks left—and a tough schedule remaining—the Lions’ spot atop the NFC is anything but safe.

Let’s take a look at NFC playoff standings through 13 weeks of the 2024 NFL season.

NFC North standings:

1. Lions: 11-1
2. Vikings: 10-2
3. Packers: 9-3
4. Bears: 4-8

The good news is that the Bears are officially eliminated from NFC North contention, but that’s where the good news ends. The Packers dominated the Dolphins on Thanksgiving, and the Vikings somehow escaped a 13-point second half deficit against the Cardinals. While Minnesota doesn’t look particularly strong right now, they keep tallying the wins.

With things so close, here’s a look at each team’s remaining schedules:

It’s a tough schedule for all three teams, so this one is likely to go down to the wire.

NFC playoff picture:

1. Lions: 11-1
2. Eagles: 10-2
3. Seahawks: 7-5
4. Falcons: 6-6

The Eagles have worked their way into the “best NFC team” conversation after doing the near-impossible: beating Lamar Jackson on the road—and doing it in a fairly convincing fashion. The Eagles have now won eight in a row, and with games against the Panthers, Cowboys, and Giants remaining, they’re not going anywhere. Detroit is going to have to continue to win to hold that top spot.

That said, if Detroit wins their division, they’ll be no lower than the two seed, as the Seahawks and Falcons cannot mathematically catch them.

Wild card race (top 3 advance):

5. Vikings: 10-2
6. Packers: 9-3
7. Commanders: 8-5
8. Buccaneers: 6-6
9. Cardinals: 6-6
10. Rams: 6-6
11. 49ers: 5-7
12. Cowboys: 5-7

The Packers being the sixth seed with a 9-3 record highlights just how tight everything is in the NFC right now. Green Bay, Minnesota, and Detroit could all realistically be the No. 1 seed or the No. 6 seed.

That said, it feels like the Wild Card is relatively set. It’ll almost certainly feature two NFC North teams, and the Commanders are in the driver’s seat to round out the group. For teams like the Buccaneers, Cardinals, Rams, and 49ers, their best opportunity to make the playoffs is to win their respective divisions.

Mock draftin’

13. Saints: 4-8
14. Bears: 4-8
15. Panthers: 3-9
16. Giants: 2-10

Two of these teams have already fired their head coach, but how about those Panthers? They are a play away in each of the last two games from being on a four-game winning streak, just narrowly losing to the Chiefs and Buccaneers. Maybe they can give the Eagles some trouble next week.