The Detroit Lions are one of the oldest franchises in the history of the NFL. But their history when it comes to the postseason is far from impressive, especially when you consider it has been nearly 70 years since the Lions last won an NFL championship.
Let’s take a look at the Lions’ playoff history.
Detroit Lions Playoff Appearances and Results by Year
- 2023
- Wild Card: Won 24-23 vs. Rams
- Division: Won 31-23 vs. Buccaneers
- 2016
- Wild Card: Lost 26-6 @ Seahawks
- 2014
- Wild Card: Lost 24-20 @ Cowboys
- 2011
- Wild Card: Lost 45-28 @ Saints
- 1999
- Wild Card: Lost 27-13 @ Redskins
- 1997
- Wild Card: Lost 20-10 @ Buccaneers
- 1995
- Wild Card: Lost 55-37 @ Eagles
- 1994
- Wild Card: Lost 16-12 @ Packers
- 1993
- Wild Card: Lost 16-12 @ Packers
- 1991
- Division: Won 38-6 vs. Cowboys
- Conference Championship: Lost 41-10 @ Redskins
- 1983
- Division: Lost 24-23 @ 49ers
- 1982
- Wild Card: Lost 31-7 @ Redskins
- 1970
- Division: Lost 5-0 @ Cowboys
- 1957
- Divisional Round: Won 31-27 @ 49ers
- NFL Championship: Won 59-14 vs. Browns
- 1954
- NFL Championship: Lost 56-10 @ Browns
- 1953
- NFL Championship: Won 17-16 vs. Browns
- 1952
- Divisional Round: Won 31-21 vs. Rams
- NFL Championship: Won 17-7 @ Browns
- 1935
- NFL Championship: Won 26-7 vs. Giants
Lions Playoff History FAQ
The Lions’ postseason history is not littered with recent success, but they have won multiple NFL championships. Let’s break down some of the top highlights.
What’s the Lions’ Playoff Win/Loss Record?
The Lions have a 9-13 postseason record in their 94 seasons in the NFL.
How Many Times Have the Lions Been to the Playoffs?
This season marked the 18th time the Lions made the postseason, and their first since the 2016 season. The Lions’ win in this season’s Wild Card Round was their first playoff win since 1991.
How Many Super Bowl Appearances Do the Lions Have?
The Detroit Lions have never made an appearance in the Super Bowl. The Lions are one of four teams that have never reached the Super Bowl, along with the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Houston Texans.
MORE: List of Super Bowl Winners by Year
In the Super Bowl era, the closest the Lions have come to reaching the Super Bowl were appearances in the NFC Championship Game in 1991 (lost to Washington) and this season.
How Many Super Bowls Have the Lions Won?
The Lions have never won a Super Bowl. They are one of a dozen teams that have never won a Super Bowl.
The others: the Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Chargers, Browns, Jaguars and Texans.
When Was the Last Time the Lions Made the Super Bowl?
The Lions have never appeared in a Super Bowl but have won four NFL Championships (1957, 1953, 1952, and 1935). The last time the Lions played for an NFL Championship was 1957.
Want to predict the results of the 2023 NFL postseason with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? How about looking into in-depth breakdowns of team depth charts or the NFL playoff schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with all that and more!