The Lions can only make the playoffs as the 7-seed, which will play the 2-seed in the wild-card round. Currently the 2-seed is the Bears, who have clinched a playoff berth and are a win OR a Packers loss away from winning the NFC North.

Can the Lions still make the playoffs? Yes, but what does Detroit need to happen as Christmas Day vs. the Minnesota Vikings arrives?

The Detroit Lions will try to end their first losing streak in three years, as they take the field on Christmas Day against the Minnesota Vikings. While the 2025 season has not gone according to plan, there is always hope that lessons learned, even the hard way, will result in the team getting better and eventually winning the Super Bowl.

It's the third straight year the Lions have ended up with five or more Pro Bowl nods. Detroit had eight in 2024 and seven in 2023. The Lions are tied for the fifth-most Pro Bowlers in the league; four teams had six representatives named Tuesday. Meet the Lions' 2025 Pro Bowlers here:

Kickoff from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis is set for 4:30 p.m. ET. The latest Vikings vs. Lions odds have Detroit favored by 7 points, while the over/under for total points scored is 44.5 via DraftKings Sportsbook. Before making any Lions vs. Vikings picks, check out the NFL predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model .

Injuries have decimated the Detroit Lions all season long, and Thursday's showdown with the Minnesota Vikings will be no different as another safety will be sidelined. As a result, the Lions will need to rely on their depth in their efforts to keep their 2025 playoff hopes alive.

The Detroit Lions are fighting for their postseason lives on Thursday, Dec. 25 when they visit the Minnesota Vikings.

The Minnesota Vikings ride into Week 17 with an injury report that is growing by the day, but at least they carry with them a three-game winning streak. The injuries are going to really be felt on Christmas Day when they deal with a Detroit Lions team that is playing with a chip on their shoulder.