The 2026 NFL schedule is bringing plenty of new challenges for the Detroit Lions—a trip to Germany, a rare "Sunday Night Football" game in Carolina, and yet another early bye week. But one thing that never changes? The six divisional games that make up over a third of their season. How the Lions perform in the NFC North will likely be the deciding factor in their playoff hopes, especially since all three road divisional matchups are crammed into the final four weeks.

Last season, Detroit was swept by both the Vikings and Packers. Even a sweep of the division-winning Bears wasn't enough to secure a playoff spot. That sting is still fresh, and fans are already looking ahead to 2026 with cautious optimism.

Let's break down the division matchups. First, the Vikings. Let's be clear: getting swept by Minnesota again is unacceptable. Sure, their defense is a tough matchup for an offense-heavy Lions squad, but the Vikings' roster—especially with questions at quarterback—just doesn't stack up against the rest of the division. Still, they always play Detroit tough, so a split feels right.

As for the Bears and Packers, expect more of the same. A split with each team seems likely. Ben Johnson will have a chip on his shoulder after getting swept by Dan Campbell last year, so expect him to find a way to win at least one of those games. And while a sweep of the Packers is tempting, it's hard to bet against them given their history against Detroit. The Lions will have the benefit of a bye week before their first matchup with Green Bay, but a Week 18 showdown at Lambeau is always a tall order—even if Detroit managed to win there in the same scenario back in 2022.

So, how many division wins will the Lions tally in 2026? We're predicting a 3-3 record. But the real question is: can they turn those splits into a playoff push?