Continuing to cling to playoff hopes by their fingertips, the Lions knew they needed to win out to cash in on any of those hopes. Instead, they were run over by the visiting Steelers in Sunday’s game, losing 29-24 when they couldn’t cash in on a scoring opportunity in the waning seconds.
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell talks with officials after the final play of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Detroit Lions’ Isaac Teslaa, right, cannot catch a pass in the endzone against Pittsburgh Steelers’ Chuck Clark during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Detroit Lions’ Jared Goff (16) waits for a call on the final play of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Detroit Lions’ Anthony Firkser, right, is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers’ Kyle Dugger during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Detroit Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs plays during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
Pittsburgh Steelers’ Jaylen Warren runs for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
Detroit Lions’ Jameson Williams (1) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers’ Patrick Queen (6) and Jalen Ramsey (5) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Pittsburgh Steelers’ Jaylen Warren run sfor a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Detroit Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs plays during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Pittsburgh Steelers’ Jaylen Warren runs for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
Pittsburgh Steelers’ DK Metcalf sits on the bench during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
Pittsburgh Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers, left, tries to get past Detroit Lions’ Thomas Harper during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Pittsburgh Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers reacts after a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
Pittsburgh Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers, top, tries to get past Detroit Lions’ Thomas Harper during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
Detroit Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs, right, is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers’ Brandin Echols during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
Pittsburgh Steelers’ Jaylen Warren (30) is tackled by Detroit Lions’ D.J. Reed (4) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Detroit Lions’ Kalif Raymond scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Detroit Lions’ Jameson Williams, right, is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers’ Brandin Echols during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Detroit Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson, from left, Al-Quadin Muhammad and Alex Anzalone reacts after a tackle during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
Detroit Lions’ Isaac Teslaa, center, catches a touchdown pass against Pittsburgh Steelers’ Chuck Clark, left, and Kyle Dugger during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Detroit Lions’ Jared Goff, right, is sacked by Pittsburgh Steelers’ Kyle Dugger in the endzone during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
Pittsburgh Steelers’ Darnell Washington, right, is tackled by Detroit Lions’ Alex Anzalone during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
Detroit Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson, left, and Al-Quadin Muhammad react after a sack during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Detroit Lions’ Isaac Teslaa scores a touchdown between Pittsburgh Steelers’ Kyle Dugger, left, and Chuck Clark during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
Pittsburgh Steelers’ Joey Porter Jr. (24) reacts after breaking up a pass for Detroit Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) in the endzone during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
An NFL official’s hat is seen during the first half of an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
Detroit Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson reacts after sacking Pittsburgh Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Detroit Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers’ Patrick Queen (6) and Jalen Ramsey (5) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
Detroit Lions’ Thomas Harper reacts after a tackle during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Pittsburgh Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers, left, is tackled by Detroit Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
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Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell talks with officials after the final play of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Takeaways from disastrous defensive effort that sinks Lions in 29-24 loss to Steelers