After soaring to the NFC’s top playoff seed last season, the Detroit Lions won't be returning to the postseason this year, and they could end up at the bottom of the NFC North. The Lions (8-8) were bounced from playoff contention Thursday with a 23-10 loss at Minnesota.

The Lions turned the ball over six times, losing to the Vikings to end their playoff hopes despite allowing only 161 net yards of total offense.

The Detroit Lions' regression after losing both their offensive and defensive coordinators was expected, but this level of regression sure wasn't.

The Detroit Lions were officially eliminated from playoff contention in Week 17 with their 23-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Six turnovers. With their season hanging by a thread, the Detroit Lions nearly matched their total number of turnovers from the season’s first 15 games (eight). They lost four fumbles and Jared Goff threw two picks against Minnesota’s unrelenting blitz in the 23-10 loss.

The Detroit Lions will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2022 after losing their third straight game Thursday, against the Minnesota Vikings.

Not only does the loss on Thursday keep the Lions out of the playoffs, it also puts Detroit in last place in the NFC North. The Vikings, who swept the season series against Detroit, overtakes the Lions as the third place team with one week left.

It was a dreadful performance from Dan Campbell's squad, with Detroit committing six turnovers – yes, six turnovers for the first time since 2015 – and averaging a measly 3.61 yards per play. It marked the Lions’ sixth-worst offensive efficiency in a game since 2010 (and their very worst efficiency in a contest since 2020).