Since the Lions' game on Christmas was on Thursday, they won't be playing this Sunday while 20 other teams are in action. The Rams and Atlanta Falcons will conclude Week 17 on Monday Night Football.

The Detroit Lions are losing a coach as the 2025-26 season winds down, with the Christmas game against the Vikings looming.

The latest news out of Green Bay is good news for the Detroit Lions' hopes to wind up with a fourth-place schedule in 2026.

With just one game remaining on the Lions ' 2025 slate, a loss at the Chicago Bears (11-4) would ensure that Detroit locks up a fourth-place schedule in 2026. But, thanks to its head-to head tiebreaker, a Vikings win over the Green Bay Packers (9-5-1) in Week 18 would also guarantee that Detroit finishes last in the NFC North.

The Vikings beat the Lions because of their defense. Brian Flores' unit, which entered the game having gone seven straight weeks without allowing a passing touchdown, dominated. The Vikings forced five turnovers. They shut down Detroit's run game, and quarterback Jared Goff looked flustered.

Al-Quadin Muhammad, who entered Saturday tied for ninth in the NFL with 11 sacks, said he has not had any dialogue with the Lions about an extension.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell pointed to the rash of Detroit turnovers in his initial postgame thoughts after the loss at the Vikings.

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).