The Detroit Lions are one step away from securing their spot as the NFC’s top seed, but their path to Super Bowl 59 remains uncertain. A win or tie over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18 will guarantee a first-round bye, while a loss will force them to face the lowest-seeded winner on the road.
The Lions’ potential seeding scenarios are as follows: as the 1-seed with a win or tie, they would host the Divisional round game against the lowest-seeded team to advance from wild-card weekend (seeds 4-7). Alternatively, if they lose, their opponent in that matchup would be either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, or Los Angeles Rams, all of whom are currently seeded below them.
With the NFC playoff picture still up for grabs, several teams are vying for a spot in the Divisional round. The Philadelphia Eagles, currently locked as the 2-seed, will look to build on their strong regular season performance. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks’ win over the Los Angeles Rams has propelled them into contention for a higher seed.
Looking ahead to the playoffs, here are some predictions for how the bracket may shake out:
* NFC wild card round: Eagles over Packers, Buccaneers over Commanders, Vikings over Rams
* NFC Divisional round: Lions take down Vikings, Eagles defeat Buccaneers
* NFC conference championship: Lions face Eagles in Super Bowl 59
* Super Bowl 59 prediction: Ravens edge Lions in a closely contested matchup, handing Detroit their first-ever Super Bowl loss.
The road to Super Bowl 59 is set to be filled with intrigue and upsets as the NFL playoffs approach. Will the Lions seize their chance for glory, or will another team emerge to claim the top spot?
Source: https://eu.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2025/01/01/lions-nfl-playoffs-bracket-predictions-super-bowl-2025/77360649007