One year ago, the Detroit Lions were 15-2 and looked like the best team in football. On Christmas Day 2025, they were officially eliminated from the playoffs at 8-8 after turning the ball over six times in a 23-10 loss to Minnesota.

This is what a franchise collapse looks like in real time, and if you had any Lions futures still alive, pour one out.

The Quick Hit

• What happened: Lions turned it over six times in a 23-10 loss to the Vikings on Christmas
• The damage: Detroit is eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2022
• Why you should care: Jared Goff was responsible for five turnovers (2 INTs, 3 fumbles lost)
• The fallout: Packers clinched a playoff berth thanks to the Lions' loss

Six Turnovers. On Christmas. In a Must-Win.

Let's talk about the turnovers, because this is the kind of stat line that ends careers.

The Lions entered Week 17 leading the NFL with only eight giveaways through 15 games. Eight. That's less than one turnover per game, which is genuinely impressive ball security.

On Christmas Day alone, they had six. In one game. With their playoff lives on the line.

Jared Goff threw two interceptions. He lost three fumbles. Jahmyr Gibbs added another fumble for good measure. Harrison Smith, the 36-year-old Vikings safety who's been doing this forever, picked off Goff and made Detroit look like a team that had never seen a football before.

The Ben Johnson Effect

You want to know what really killed Detroit? Ben Johnson left.

The offensive coordinator who turned the Lions into the most explosive attack in football took the Bears head coaching job in January. John Morton was promoted from pass game coordinator to replace him, and the results speak for themselves.

Detroit went from the NFL's top scoring offense to something painfully ordinary. The creativity disappeared. The big plays dried up. Goff went from looking like a top-10 quarterback to looking like a guy who might not survive the offseason.

This is what happens when you lose a play-calling genius and try to replace him internally. Sometimes it works. Sometimes your franchise implodes on national television.

Minnesota's Defense Was Ruthless

The Vikings scored 16 points directly off turnovers. They forced six takeaways and gave up zero of their own. Max Brosmer started at quarterback for Minnesota and didn't need to do anything special because the defense was creating chaos every single drive.

Jordan Addison took a jet sweep 65 yards to seal the game with 3:43 left. By then, Lions bettors had already turned off their TVs and started drinking heavily.

Minnesota improved to 8-8 with the win and kept their own slim playoff hopes alive. More importantly, they eliminated a division rival on Christmas Day in front of a national audience.

The Betting Fallout

Lions futures holders are in shambles. Anyone who had Detroit to win the Super Bowl at preseason odds just watched their ticket become worthless in the most painful way possible.

The Vikings were +7.5 underdogs and covered by 20 points. The under hit at 43.5 despite the game going to 33 total points. If you faded the Lions on Christmas, you ate well.

The Bottom Line

The Detroit Lions' season is over, and the manner of its ending will haunt this franchise. Six turnovers. A 23-10 loss to a division rival. Playoff elimination on Christmas Day.

One year ago, this team was 15-2 and looked destined for a Super Bowl run. Now they're cleaning out their lockers while Green Bay celebrates clinching a playoff spot thanks to their collapse.

This is the NFL, degenerates. Nobody is safe. Not even the team that looked invincible twelve months ago.