After soaring to the NFC’s top playoff seed last season, the Detroit Lions won't be returning to the postseason this year, and they could end up at the bottom of the NFC North. The Lions (8-8) were bounced from playoff contention Thursday with a 23-10 loss at Minnesota.

The Lions turned the ball over six times, losing to the Vikings to end their playoff hopes despite allowing only 161 net yards of total offense.

The Detroit Lions' regression after losing both their offensive and defensive coordinators was expected, but this level of regression sure wasn't.

With their 23-10 loss to the Vikings on Thursday, when Goff threw two interceptions and was charged with three lost fumbles, the Lions were eliminated from postseason contention — clinching at least a wild-card berth for the Packers.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Six turnovers. With their season hanging by a thread, the Detroit Lions nearly matched their total number of turnovers from the season’s first 15 games (eight). They lost four fumbles and Jared Goff threw two picks against Minnesota’s unrelenting blitz in the 23-10 loss.

The Detroit Lions will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2022 after losing their third straight game Thursday, against the Minnesota Vikings.

Can the Lions still make the playoffs? Yes, but what does Detroit need to happen as Christmas Day vs. the Minnesota Vikings arrives?

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).