ALLEN PARK — From here on out, get used to the Detroit Lions entering a high-pressure game regarding their postseason chances.

Detroit did well last week by beating the Cowboys, taking a needed step to bolster its chances, while sinking Dallas’ path forward. And the Lions also got a slight boost from the Green Bay Packers beating the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon.

The Packers and Bears play each other again in two weeks. And the best thing to know in Detroit is that a Green Bay sweep opens the door even further for the Lions, with everything potentially coming down to Week 18 in Chicago.

Before looking around the league at what needs to happen, the Lions can control their own destiny if they continue to win down the stretch. It all starts with a trip to face the top-seeded Los Angeles Rams and old friend Matthew Stafford in Week 15.

A win over the Rams would put the Lions only one game back of Los Angeles, with three games to go. With the Seattle Seahawks also at 10 wins in the NFC West entering the weekend, that could drop the Rams into the wild-card ranks and help close the gap on another postseason hopeful.

The Athletic/New York Times has the Lions with 39% odds to make the playoffs, as of Monday morning. Those odds were 44% after the Packers beat the Bears, but continue to update. Most importantly, though, there is a potential 30% swing to Detroit’s odds with this weekend’s trip to face the Rams.

A win in Los Angeles would boost Detroit’s playoff odds all the way to 60%. However, a loss in Los Angeles would sink them to 30% with three games remaining (Steelers, at Vikings and at Bears).

See below for games to watch and a guide for what to root for this weekend around the NFL, not to mention a look at the updated NFC playoff standings:

Week 15 games to watch

Atlanta Falcons (4-9) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6) — Thursday Night Football

Rooting interest for Lions: While the NFC South is going to have a tough time getting a wild-card team into the playoffs. Any loss by an NFC hopeful, especially to an already eliminated team, doesn’t hurt. Also, root for another upset by the New Orleans Saints this weekend. Another loss for the Carolina Panthers (7-6) could nearly clinch the NFC South getting only the division-winner into the playoffs, and that helps.

Cleveland Browns (3-10) at Chicago Bears (9-4) — 1 p.m. Sunday

Rooting interest for Lions: The Browns just lost to the lowly Tennessee Titans at home, so don’t bank on this one. The Lions are only one game back of the Bears coming out of Week 14, so any loss by Chicago before Week 18 is a very good thing for their chances and an easy rooting interest. This game also has the biggest outside swing connected to Detroit’s playoff odds. A win by the Browns puts the Lions at 50%. But if the Bears emerge victorious, those chances sink to 35%. Throw on a Myles Garrett jersey before the Lions play in the late-afternoon slate and hope for the best.

Green Bay Packers (9-3-1) at Denver Broncos (11-2) — 4:25 p.m. Sunday

Rooting interest for Lions: Easy pick. If there are any AFC vs. NFC matchups, root for the AFC all day long. Detroit’s path to the NFC North three-peat is unlikely, as they will have to finish two games better than the Packers through the last four weeks. But a Packers loss, paired with a Lions win in LA, would keep it alive.

Tennessee Titans (2-11) at San Francisco 49ers (9-4) — 4:25 p.m. Sunday

Rooting interest for Lions: The 49ers are one game up on Detroit in the wild-card standings. They also hold a lead in the head-to-head tiebreaker, which is record vs NFC teams. San Francisco is 8-2 inside the NFC. The Lions are 5-4. Much like the Browns-Bears game, root for the long-shot underdog to pull it off.

Indianapolis Colts (8-5) at Seattle Seahawks (10-3) — 4:25 p.m. Sunday

Rooting interest for Lions: Another win by the Seahawks would give them a big advantage over the Lions in the wild-card standings. Without a head-to-head meeting this season, Seattle also holds the NFC record tiebreaker over the Lions, but by only one game (6-3 to 5-4). Daniel Jones is out for the season, with the quarterback situation in Indianapolis looking rough, so don’t expect much help here, putting more pressure on getting the job done against the Rams.

Current NFC playoff picture

1. Los Angeles Rams (10-3)

2. Green Bay Packers (9-3-1)

3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4, play Monday)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)

5. Seattle Seahawks (10-3, wild card)

6. San Francisco 49ers (9-4, wild card)

7. Chicago Bears (9-4, wild card)

In the hunt:

8. Detroit Lions (8-5)

9. Carolina Panthers (7-6)

10. Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)

So long as the Lions take advantage of games they should win (Steelers, Vikings), then beat the Bears in the finale, they have a strong chance to make it. If the Lions win their final four games, they would top the Bears for the spot. If the Bears win three of four, a Week 18 win by the Lions could be enough even if Detroit loses one more time, as long as the Bears lose to one of the Browns, Packers or 49ers, as well.