Pride of Detroit
The Detroit Lions’ shot at the postseason is no longer a long-shot. According to NextGenStats, the Lions have a 54% probabiliyt to make the playoffs. According to the New York Times, it’s at 45%. And for the first time in weeks they’re almost guaranteed to get some help from other games this weekend.
Let’s take a look at the current NFL playoff picture after the Lions’ big Thursday night win over the Dallas Cowboys.
NFC North:
Detroit remains a game-and-a-half behind both the Bears and Packers, but with the two playing each other this week, they’ll pull within one or a half-game behind one of them. It’s still very unlikely the Lions win the division—NYT has them at 8%—but those odds aren’t completely dead yet.
I still think rooting for a Bears loss makes the most sense on Sunday. If that happens, the Lions will be in striking distance to surpass the Bears. All they would need to do is match the Bears’ record in the next three games, and their Week 18 matchup in Chicago would be all they need to surpass the Bears. Here’s a look at each team’s Week 15-17 games:
Lions:
Bears:
Division leaders:
Wild Card (top three advance):
The Lions are still 1.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot, but, as I said, they are bound to get some help with some from the other Wild Card contenders. And perhaps just as importantly, they now sit at least a game above anyone else on the outside looking in.
Here’s a look at the remaining schedules of the four teams fighting for a Wild Card, with games bolded if they are against another NFC Wild Card contender:
Bears:
Packers:
49ers:
Seahawks:
In other words, there’s a lot of football left to be played, y’all.
