Breaking: Lions’ Road to The Super Bowl Just Got Easier

The Detroit Lions handled their business on Sunday, December 22, securing a dominant 34-17 road victory over the Chicago Bears. In addition to their win, several pivotal NFL results worked in Detroit’s favor, delivering even more good news for the Lions.

One of the most significant developments came from the NFC, where one of the Lions’ main competitors, the Philadelphia Eagles, suffered a surprising loss to the Washington Commanders. This result bodes well for Detroit as they push toward securing the top seed.

Lions’ Road to the Super Bowl Just Got Easier

The Lions now find themselves in a position to clinch the NFC’s No. 1 seed with a win against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, December 30. However, they’ll also need the Minnesota Vikings to lose one of their next two games—either on Sunday against the Seahawks or the following week against the Packers—according to Pride of Detroit.

Adding to Detroit’s momentum, the 49ers and Cowboys were officially eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday, December 22, per Adam Schefter. This development simplifies the Lions’ path to securing the coveted top seed and a potentially easier journey to the Super Bowl.

As for the Eagles, their remaining schedule looks favorable. Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit noted on December 22 that the Commanders game was likely their last challenging matchup. Philadelphia will face the 6-8 Cowboys and the 2-12 Giants at home in their final two games. However, Detroit holds the tiebreaker advantage over Philadelphia, meaning the Lions control their destiny. With their win and Philly’s loss, the Lions now enjoy a commanding one-game lead plus the tiebreaker, with just two games left to play.

Lions Snag More Records With Bears Win

Detroit’s historic season continued against the Bears as they added more milestones to their record book. Despite a setback against the Bills last week, the Lions bounced back to form and achieved notable accomplishments.

According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press in a December 22 article, the Lions not only set a franchise record for victories but also joined elite company. They became just the sixth team in NFL history to win at least 13 games within three seasons of suffering 13 or more losses.

Birkett highlighted that four of the previous five teams to achieve this feat—the 1984 and 2019 San Francisco 49ers, the 1992 Dallas Cowboys, and the 1998 Atlanta Falcons—went on to reach the Super Bowl. The only exception was the 1999 Indianapolis Colts, led by Peyton Manning in his second season.

In another Detroit Free Press article, Jared Ramsey reflected on Detroit’s turnaround, noting that the Lions had gone over 30 years without a division title or playoff victory before breaking through under Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes in 2023. The Lions started the season 8-2, overcame a midseason slump, and finished strong by winning three of their final four games to secure 12 victories.

Ramsey also emphasized the significance of the 2024 team, stating, “The Lions can still end up with as many as 15 wins this season, as well as their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. However, the 2024 squad has already established itself as the best regular-season team in franchise history.”