Lions Playoff Chances: Odds To Beat Packers, Seahawks For 2023 Wild-Card Spot Are Low

The Detroit Lions are one of three teams that are in contention for the NFC's final wild-card spot in the 2023 postseason. The Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks both have better odds to make their way into the final playoff picture.

The Lions' playoff chances depend on two matchups: Detroit has to beat Green Bay at Lambeau Field, and Seattle must lose or tie the Los Angeles Rams at home. The latest betting odds suggest that it's unlikely for both results to go the Lions' way in Week 18.

The Seahawks are -295 favorites at FanDuel Sportsbook to beat the Rams, suggesting that Seattle has close to a 75% chance to win its regular-season finale. If the Seahawks win, the Lions will be eliminated from playoff contention before taking the field in Green Bay on Sunday night.

Los Angeles has +240 odds to upset Seattle. The Lions are +188 underdogs to beat the Packers. The odds of both outcomes happening are +889 at FanDuel, giving Detroit about a 10% chance to make the playoffs.

FiveThirtyEight's model gives the Lions a 17% chance to make the playoffs.

Seattle beat Los Angeles 27-23 on the road in Week 13. Geno Smith threw the game-winning touchdown pass to DK Metcalf with just 36 seconds left in regulation. John Wolford had a 43.4 passer rating as the Rams starting quarterback. Baker Mayfield will be making his fifth straight start in Los Angeles, where he has a 95.2 passer rating and a 2-2 record.

Detroit beat Green Bay at home 15-9 in Week 9. The Lions totaled only 254 yards of offense, but they held the Packers to single digits by picking off Aaron Rodgers three times. The 53.5 passer rating is still Rodgers' worst mark of the season.

The Lions have been one of the NFL's best teams since beating the Packers in their first meeting. Detroit has gone 6-2 during that stretch, outscoring its opponents by 74 points. The Lions kept their playoff chances alive in Week 17 by beating the Chicago Bears 41-10.

If the Lions clinch the final NFC's last wild-card spot, they'll be the No. 7 seed and face the No. 2 seed on Wild-Card Weekend. The San Francisco 49ers enter Week 18 as the No. 2 seed and are heavy favorites to maintain that position into the first round of the playoffs.

Detroit's last playoff appearance came in the 2016 season. The Seahawks defeated the Lions 26-6 in their wild-card matchup.

Since the 2011 season, the Lions have made three playoff appearances and lost all three of its postseason games. Detroit hasn't won a playoff game since reaching the NFC Championship Game 31 years ago.