The Detroit Lions have been one of the NFL’s best stories in recent seasons. From a 3-13-1 start in 2021 to their current status as NFC favorites, Dan Campbell’s team appears firmly at the height of its championship window.
Below we take a look at the Lions’ potential path to a Super Bowl, as well as their not-so-illustrious playoff history.
What Are the Detroit Lions’ Chances of Winning the Super Bowl?
According to PFN’s Playoff Predictor, the Lions are the Super Bowl favorites entering Week 14. Below are all the teams with greater than a 5% projected chance to lift the Lombardi Trophy in February:
- Detroit Lions: 30.4%
- Buffalo Bills: 10.0%
- Philadelphia Eagles: 9.7%
- Minnesota Vikings: 9.3%
- Green Bay Packers: 6.6%
- Baltimore Ravens: 6.2%
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 6.2%
- Kansas City Chiefs: 5.2%
The field will always be favored over any individual team, but this illustrates how heavy of a favorite the Lions are, with triple the Super Bowl odds of the next-closest team.
Part of this is because the Lions are heavily favored to earn the NFC’s one seed (48.7%), which would give them the only bye plus home-field advantage.
Pretty big playoff implications for tonight's game, especially with a crowded NFC North.
But for the Lions? They have a chance to get further ahead in the race for the number one seed in the NFC. pic.twitter.com/GWIrsltMb3
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 5, 2024
Beyond that, Detroit ranks first in PFN’s Offense+ metric and second in the Defense+ metric. Those stats factor in situational EPA and success rate measures, portraying the Lions as the most well-rounded team in the league.
The Lions’ path to the Super Bowl would include a pair of home games if they earn the No. 1 seed. Their Divisional Round game would be against the lowest remaining seed, with any of the teams seeded No. 4-7 a possibility.
If the Lions reach the NFC Championship Game, it could be their first time hosting it. Detroit has played in the game twice but lost on the road each time:
- 2023 season: Lost 34-31 at San Francisco 49ers
- 1991 season: Lost 41-10 at Washington
Have the Detroit Lions Ever Won the Super Bowl?
Not only have the Lions never won the Super Bowl — they’ve never even made it. Detroit is one of four franchises to never reach the Super Bowl, along with the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Houston Texans.
Of those four, the Lions are the only one who have been in existence for the entirety of the Super Bowl era, which began in 1966 (the Browns did not exist from 1996-98).
Last year marked the Lions’ first playoff win since 1991. Prior to that, Detroit had the longest active drought without a playoff win and had lost nine straight playoff games overall, the longest playoff losing streak in NFL history.
Should Detroit win its first playoff game again this year, it would mark the first time since 1952-53 that the Lions have won a playoff game in back-to-back years. Those seasons were both NFL Championship seasons for Detroit.