What Are the Lions Playoff Chances?
The Lions' chances of making the NFL Playoffs in 2026 are 62.1% at DraftKings sportsbook. Here are other Lions' odds for the season from DraftKings:
| ⭐ Lions Make Playoffs | 62.1% (-164) |
| 🔥 Lions Win NFC North | 33.3% (+200) |
| 👑 Lions Win NFC | 9.62% (+940) |
| 🏆 Lions Win Super Bowl | 4.76% (+2000) |
| ✅ Data Verified by Expert | September 18, 2026 |
Betting odds indicate how likely or unlikely an outcome is to happen. We can use those odds to calculate the implied probability of the outcome in question and, in this case, better understand the Lions' playoff picture and postseason odds.
MORE: Read on for our complete overview of gambling in Michigan
How The Lions Can Make Playoffs
Yes. The Lions can make the playoffs. Currently, they have -164odds to make the playoffs, indicating that oddsmakers believe they will bounce back after barely missing it last season.
Lions Playoff Chances: Key Updates September 2026
A team's playoff odds fluctuate throughout the year with free agency, draft additions, and injury news. During the season, this section will update you on the most important Lions news.
- 📆 September 17, 2026: The Lions stumble on Thursday Night Football, losing 41-31 to the Buffalo Bills.
- 📆 September 13, 2026: The Lions edge out the New Orleans Saints 31-30 in overtime in Week 1.
- 📆 March 10, 2026: The Lions sign Isiah Pacheco from the Kansas City Chiefs.
- 📆 December 25: The Lions are officially eliminated from playoff contention after a loss to the Vikings.
- 📆 November 21: The Lions state that Sam LaPorta could be out for the regular season after surgery.
- 📆 June 4: The Lions sign OL Trystan Colon.
- 📆 June 2: Frank Ragnow retires after seven seasons.
- 📆 May 12: The Lions sign WR Malik Taylor and DL Raequan Williams.
- 📆 April 24: Detroit selects Ohio State DT Tyleik Williams in the first round of the 2025 draft.
- 📆 April 22: The Lions re-sign OL Michael Niese.
- 📆 March 28: Detroit signs OL Kayode Awosika to a contract extension.
- 📆 March 21: The Lions sign CB Avonte Maddox and DE Al-Quadin Muhammad.
- 📆 March 20: Detroit signs CBs Khalil Dorsey and Rock Ya-Sin.
- 📆 March 18: The Lions sign TE Shane Zylstra, DL Pat O'Connor, and CB Craig Reynolds.
- 📆 March 17: LB Mitchell Agude and OT Dan Skipper sign with the Lions.
- 📆 March 14: The Lions re-sign WR Tim Patrick and sign TE Kenny Yeboah.
- 📆 March 13: QB Kyle Allen signs a one-year contract.
- 📆 March 12: Detroit re-signs DT Levi Onwuzurik and signs DT Roy Lopez, CB D.J. Reed, and LB Grant Stuard.
- 📆 March 8: The Lions sign DL Marcus Davenport and re-sign LB Anthony Pittman and LB Zeke Turner.
- 📆 March 7: LB Derrick Barnes signs a three-year contract extension.
- 📆 February 18: Detroit hires John Morton as offensive coordinator.
We'll continue to update you on the latest Detroit Lions news and transactions throughout the season, so bookmark this article and check back often.
Key Contributors Toward Lions Playoff Chances
Heading into 2026, Jared Goff runs an offense loaded with talent after clearing 4,500 passing yards for three straight seasons. Jahmyr Gibbs, who just signed a three-year extension, is seen by the new coaching staff as having a shot to be the best player on the team in 2026. Amon-Ra St. Brown remains the steady centerpiece; Goff has called him the best wide receiver in the NFL, and he's put together four 1,100-yard seasons with three straight years of double-digit receiving touchdowns. Sam LaPorta adds a reliable tight end option but is still working back from a severe herniated disc that ended his 2025 season eight games early. Jameson Williams gives the passing game a serious threat; Isaac TeSlaa is expected to take on a bigger outside role, which could push St. Brown into the slot more; and Penei Sewell anchors the line protecting Goff and blocking for Gibbs.
On defense, Aidan Hutchinson is once again the centerpiece of Detroit's pass rush, paired with linebacker Jack Campbell; both are coming off career-best years in 2025, and both earned hefty contract extensions as a result. Safety Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch round out a defense hoping to stay healthier and generate more takeaways than it did last year.
Where Can I Bet on the Lions to Make the Playoffs?
Use Michigan Sportsbooks to place bets on the Lions to make the playoffs as well as find playoff odds for every team in the NFL.
You can also bet on the Lions to win the Super Bowl on most major sportsbooks like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Caesars, as long as you are 21+ and within state lines of a state that offers legal sports betting.
Before placing your Lions wager, it's definitely worthwhile to check out the latest Michigan betting promos available to make sure you're getting the most out of your bet.
PS: Make sure to try out the new Fanatics Sportsbook in Michigan!
Looking Ahead: Lions Playoff Picture
The Lions' playoff odds are -240, which indicates that oddsmakers are very confident Detroit will make the playoffs. That confidence stems largely from the sheer depth of talent at the skill positions, paired with a defense anchored by Pro Bowl-caliber players like Hutchinson and Campbell.
Do the Lions Have a Chance to Make the Playoffs?
Yes, the Lions have a chance to make the playoffs. Their -164 odds currently give them a 62.1% chance.
Are the Lions Out of Playoffs?
No, the Detroit Lions are not out of the playoffs. The 2026-27 season has just begun. They are currently 1-1.
Where Do the Detroit Lions Rank in the NFC North?
The Lions are currently in third place in the NFC North.
Stay tuned throughout the season to keep up with the divisional rankings.
Where Do the Detroit Lions Rank in the NFC Standings?
The Lions are currently 1-1.
Can the Detroit Lions Get the No. 1 Seed?
Yes, the Lions can attain the No. 1 seed this season.
Detroit Lions Postseason Outlook and Predictions
Hopes were high in Detroit after the Lions finished the 2024 season with a 15-2 record, but things did not end so well. The Lions Super Bowl odds are off the board.
Detroit Lions Playoffs FAQs
The Lions' playoff chances currently sit at 62.1%, according to oddsmakers, reflecting strong confidence in Detroit's roster. That optimism stems from a loaded skill-position group featuring Goff, Gibbs, and St. Brown, along with a defense anchored by Pro Bowl talents like Hutchinson and Campbell heading into the season.
No, the Lions are not out of the playoffs. Detroit remains firmly in contention, backed by a talented roster featuring Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Amon-Ra St. Brown on offense, plus Aidan Hutchinson and Jack Campbell leading the defense. With oddsmakers giving them roughly a 62.1% chance to make the postseason, their path remains very much alive.
Yes, the Lions have a real chance to make the playoffs. DraftKings currently gives them a 62.1% probability, based on -164odds, reflecting strong market confidence in Detroit's roster. That optimism is fueled by a loaded offense led by Goff, Gibbs, and St. Brown, plus a defense anchored by Hutchinson.
You can bet on the Detroit Lions to make the playoffs at both brick-and-mortar sportsbooks as well as legal online sportsbooks, including FanDuel, Fanatics, BetMGM, and more. These betting sites give you future odds at any point in the season.
Author
Robert B. Hayek has been writing about sports for over a decade and is currently a member of the Gambling.com Group team. In his spare time, he runs the largest sports meetup group in Orange County, CA, actively participating in every sport imaginable. He is also a published author of five thriller novels, all available on Amazon.
