The Detroit Lions didn't have a Merry Christmas one year ago as they suffered a loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The 23-10 defeat eliminated the Lions from playoff contention and left plenty of questions headed into the offseason. But as the Lions that loss may make their path to catch the Vikings much easier this year when they resume their schedule after the bye.
According to Tankathon, the Vikings have the highest strength of schedule remaining in the NFL with a winning percentage of .568 entering Sunday night’s game between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys. While the Lions don’t have a cakewalk ranking ninth with a remaining win percentage of .530, there are several advantageous matchups Detroit could use to make up ground in the NFC North standings and perhaps make that last Christmas’s loss feel a little bit better.
Lions’ favorable schedule could help them take control of the NFC North
The memories of that Christmas game are ones Lions fans would like to forget. Heading to U.S. Bank Stadium with a banged-up roster, Detroit was held to 231 yards and lost four fumbles going up against Brian Flores’s defense. Perhaps even worse, the Vikings were starting undrafted free agent Max Brosmer at quarterback, who was sacked seven times and threw for 51 yards passing on the afternoon.
Not even Lainey Wilson belting out “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” at halftime could have lightened the mood of Lions fans that afternoon. But the loss came with a silver lining as it gave the Lions a last-place schedule.
This was echoed throughout the offseason as analyst Warren Sharp declared the Lions’ schedule the easiest in the NFL coming into the season. While that has shot up due to the results of this year, the Lions have some advantageous matchups ahead including a home matchup against the 1-5 Tennessee Titans, a road matchup against the 0-5 Miami Dolphins and two matchups against NFC South opponents including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons.
While the Vikings are also playing the NFC South this year and will host the Falcons and Carolina Panthers in December, they also will host the Buffalo Bills, travel to the New England Patriots and face the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City.
In addition, the Lions also have all six of the NFC North matchups remaining including a home matchup against the Vikings on Nov. 1 and a matchup in Minneapolis on Dec. 20 and it could lead to a path where they take control of the division over the second half of the season.
The Lions’ post-bye schedule could change the NFC North race
For now, the Lions path begins with the division standings. Detroit is two games back of the Vikings for first place in the division but also have a game in hand over the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, who walked out of Sunday tied for second place with a record of 4-2.
The Lions also come out of the bye with a huge divisional matchup against the Packers. The following week, they’ll host their first meeting with the Vikings and could build more momentum with their trip to visit the Dolphins.
It may not be enough to remove the disappointment that was the 2025 season or that loss in Minneapolis on Christmas Day. But for a team that is doing its best to move forward, their schedule could help them do just that and give them a gift that was worth waiting for.
Add us as a preferred source on Google