Who Detroit Lions fans should be cheering on in Week 14

The Detroit Lions picked up a massive win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, improving to 8-5 and giving themselves a better chance at breaking into the NFC’s playoff picture before the end of the regular season.

Now, they’ll hope to get some help across the league.

Here’s a peek at the conference’s current standings, as well as a look at each relevant game in Week 14, and who Lions fans should be rooting for in them.

NFC North standingsChicago Bears (9-3)Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)Detroit Lions (8-5)Minnesota Vikings (4-8)NFC standings (top 10)Chicago Bears (9-3)Los Angeles Rams (9-3)Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)Seattle Seahawks (9-3) — wild cardGreen Bay Packers (8-3-1) — wild cardSan Francisco 49ers (9-4) — wild cardDetroit Lions (8-5)Carolina Panthers (7-6)Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)Relevant games

▶ Bears at Packers (4:25 p.m. Sunday)

Rooting interest: Coin flip

Whether the Packers or Bears win, there isn’t much difference for the Lions. There’s probably a slight edge in supporting the Packers, who have two wins over Detroit. The Bears, meanwhile, have lost their only contest against the Lions, and they’ll see Detroit again in Week 18, so perhaps narrowing the gap before that matchup would be ideal . What’s important for the Lions, if you’re strictly focused on making the playoffs (not winning the division), is whichever team loses Sunday to also lose again when the Packers and Bears have their rematch in Week 16.

▶ Eagles at Chargers (8:15 p.m. Monday)

Rooting interest: Chargers

A team from the NFC East is guaranteed a spot in the postseason, but an AFC opponent beating a team from the NFC is always a positive. The Eagles have lost two consecutive games, dropping outings to the Cowboys (on the road, Week 12) and Bears (at home, Week 13).

▶ Rams at Cardinals (4:25 p.m. Sunday)

Rooting interest: Cardinals

Surpassing the Rams in the standings seems like a tall task, but the Lions would only be one game behind them if the Cardinals can make the upset happen, and Detroit would then have an opportunity to come even with the Rams during a trip to Los Angeles in Week 15.

▶ Seahawks at Falcons (1 p.m. Sunday)

Rooting interest: Falcons

The Seahawks currently hold the top wild-card spot in the NFC. It’s unlikely they’ll fall all the way out of the playoffs, but the Lions would only be one game behind them if the Falcons win at home. Seattle has won six of its last seven opportunities, with the only loss coming versus the Rams in Week 11.

▶ There are two other games involving teams from the NFC: The Commanders at the Vikings and the Saints at the Buccaneers. The former features squads with four or fewer wins, and the latter won’t change much for the Lions; a team from the NFC South is getting in no matter what, so the Buccaneers losing and potentially being replaced by the Panthers doesn’t make much of a difference, from Detroit’s perspective.

rsilva@detroitnews.com

@rich_silva18