The Detroit Lions (8-8) are officially eliminated from the 2026 playoffs, following a Week 17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. With the postseason out of reach, the Lions are unsurprisingly ranked below the 14 teams expected to compete beyond the regular season.

Currently, the highest paid NFL center is Creed Humphrey, who signed a four-year, $72 million extension last offseason. General manager Brad Holmes has largely avoided free agent splashes along the offensive line, opting to draft a handful of young prospects to keep the unit excelling.

NFL insider Jay Glazer got inside information on Lions fan Ryan Kennedy and his behavior towards DK Metcalf prior to punching incident.

A lot can change in a year. Just ask the Lions and Vikings, whose Christmas Day game was expected to amount to much more.

How to watch Sunday's Bears and Lions game at Soldier Field, with series and radio information as well as the latest betting lines and trends.

The Lions can only make the playoffs as the 7-seed, which will play the 2-seed in the wild-card round. Currently the 2-seed is the Bears, who have clinched a playoff berth and are a win OR a Packers loss away from winning the NFC North.

Lomas Brown, who has one year of eligibility remaining as a modern-era candidate, did not advance to the round of 15 finalists.

Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes warned that it would be increasingly difficult for drafted players to even make the 53-man roster. When the new regime took over, the clear goal was to build the roster through the draft, develop the players and to retain their services through lucrative contract extensions.