The Detroit Lions are 4-5 and have a hard road ahead of them if they want to make the playoffs, as they have the toughest remaining schedule of any team in the NFL. Detroit's remaining opponents have a collective record of 45-18, a .714 winning percentage.

Part of the reason for the tough schedule is the strength of the NFC North, which features three teams with winning records in the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings. The Lions have a lot of challenging games remaining out of the division as well.

Detroit closes out the season with games against the Green Bay Packers (6-3), Houston Texans (8-1), Indianapolis Colts (6-3), Packers (6-3), Arizona Cardinals (4-5), Atlanta Falcons (8-1), and Chicago Bears (7-2).

The positive side is that the rest of the NFC North has tough remaining games as well. The Vikings have the second hardest remaining schedule, the Bears the fourth hardest and the Packers the sixth toughest.