The Lions did something that they had never done before in their Week 16 win over the Vikings. They officially clinched an NFC North title.
Detroit had last won its division in 1993, when it played as a part of the now-defunct NFC Central. The Lions' division title marks just their third overall and puts them on a path toward being a playoff contender in an open-looking NFC.
The Lions walked away from Week 17 still unsure of which seed they will own when the playoffs begin, but a controversial Saturday night loss to the Cowboys damaged their hopes of finishing atop the conference.
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Here's what to know about the Lions' playoff picture and their chances of being the NFC's No. 1 seed as the 2023 NFL season winds down.
Lions playoff picture
As mentioned, the Lions have already clinched the NFC North, so that guarantees they will host at least one home playoff game in 2023. They have also clinched a top-three seed in the conference, as they are guaranteed to finish with a better overall record than the winner of the NFC South.
But which seed will the Lions have? That remains unsettled, even after the loss to Dallas.
NFL.com projected the Lions as having an 8 percent chance to earn the No. 1 seed entering the week, but a loss to the Cowboys means Detroit now needs a substantial collapse by the 49ers and Eagles to earn the spot.
| Team | No. 1 seed chances |
| 49ers | 71 |
| Eagles | 20 |
| Lions | 8 |
| Cowboys | 1 |
MORE: When did the Lions last win their division?
Had the Lions won in Dallas, their path to the No. 1 seed would have required just one more win and a 49ers loss. Now, Detroit would need to finish ahead of the Eagles in the standings without relying on a tiebreaker. That won't happen unless the Eagles surprisingly lose each of their final two games of the season.
All that's to say the Lions look likely to be the No. 3 seed in the NFC after the loss, which would lock them into a matchup with the NFC's No. 6 seed in the wild-card round.
MORE: Lions react to winning NFC North for first time — 'Just the beginning'
Lions remaining schedule
The Lions have one of the more difficult schedules remaining in the NFL, as their .567 strength of schedule is the ninth-strongest in the league.
That will make Detroit's quest for the NFC's No. 1 seed all the more difficult. Add in that its game against Dallas is on the road and that may prove to be one of the Lions' most challenging games of the season.
Below is a look at the Lions' schedule.
| Week | Opponent | Record |
| 17 | at Cowboys | 10-5 |
| 18 | vs. Vikings | 7-8 |
It will be interesting to see what the Lions' strategy is for their Week 18 game against the Vikings. If they beat the Cowboys, it will be simple; they will play their starters and aim for the No. 1 seed.
But if the Lions lose? Dan Campbell and Co. might want to consider resting their starters as they get ready for a likely wild-card weekend game.
