The Detroit Lions don’t have much to play for in the final game of the year, after they saw their postseason Hopes stamped out on Christmas Eve
By Ryan K Boman | The Sidearmer | Jan 4, 2026
The Detroit Lions will face the Chicago Bears on Sunday in their 17th and final game of the year, even though their season essentially ended on the Night before Christmas. When the NFC North Division Champion Bears hit the field, the Lions will likely take a glance over at the opposing sideline and think: That should have been us.
But it isn’t, and the responsibility for that falls on the entire team. Detroit entered its Christmas Eve contest hoping Santa would bring the gift of keeping its playoff hopes alive. Instead, Kris Kringle delivered a bag of switches as the Minnesota Vikings whipped them, 23-10, dominating on defense. The loss dashed any plans for the postseason that Dan Campbell’s team had hoped for.
In a do-or-die situation, the Lions (8-8) had basically shit the bed. They fumbled and threw the ball away enough times that it negated multiple drives. They squandered those opportunities and shot themselves in the foot. The Lions also struggled on the ground, gaining just 93 rushing yards on 27 carries.
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Jared Goff had perhaps the worst game during his tenure in the Motor City. Goff also faced brutal pressure, getting sacked five times and committing two fumbles. As a unit, the offensive squad had six total turnovers and converted 5 of 14 third-down attempts.
Even with all that calamity, Lions fans – including myself – thought the team would have a high-scoring second half to save their season. But it didn’t occur, and the Detroit faithful were left with a bitter taste in their mouths… one that’s a mix of motor oil and misery.
Is the window already closing for the Lions?
On Sunday, the Lions have nothing to play for but pride, and they shouldn’t have much of that left considering how far they’ve fallen this season. After some incredible success, observers around the NFL began calling them Super Bowl contenders. Even the fans were starting to believe, but many of them turned on the squad during their sloppy play in crucial situations this year.
On the other side of the ledger, Chicago is being led by Detroit’s former offensive coordinator, Ben Johnson, and their team is starting to see all their plans come together. The development of quarterback Caleb Williams has been extraordinary. While the Bears have trended up, things in the Motor City have been sinking.
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Regardless of who wins today, it won’t make much of a difference for Detroit, other than in terms of their draft position. But perhaps a victory sends the Lions home with a new focus and purpose heading towards 2026. Otherwise, we might already see the window starting to close in Detroit. Or, they could return to form and begin a modern-day rivalry with Chi-Town that would provide a few seasons of great football in the NFC North.
This off-season, the franchise as a whole has to figure out if the last few years have been a mere anomaly or if the team has truly transformed into a perennial contender. They have to prove it; they have to earn all their accolades. Most of all, they have to play like they deserve them.
The Sidearmer 