The Chicago Bears’ thrilling overtime victory against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night ultimately dealt a blow to the Detroit Lions‘ playoff chances.

But it also kept the door open to a scenario in which the Lions (8-6) play the Bears (11-4) in Chicago for the NFC North title in Week 18.

The Lions will likely have to win each of their last three games to make the playoffs, whether as a wild card or a division winner, and the magic number for Chicago to win the division is one. Had the Bears not staged a fierce comeback to shock the Packers on Saturday night, the Lions would have regained control of their own destiny.

However, if the Packers (9-5-1) and Bears both lose next week (or if Green Bay loses in Week 18), and the Lions secure victories over the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings, the winner of Lions-Bears will clinch the division title and earn a home playoff game.

Lions clinching scenarios

▶ Lions finish 3-0 and Bears lose at 49ers (10-4) in Week 17

▶ Lions finish 3-0 and Packers lose to Ravens (7-7) in Week 17

▶ Lions finish 3-0 and Packers lose at Vikings (6-8) in Week 18

▶ Lions finish 3-0 and 49ers finish 0-3

▶ Lions finish 2-1 and Packers finish 0-2

The Lions can leapfrog over the 49ers, but because San Francisco would hold the tiebreaker (conference record), they’d need to win out while the 49ers lose out to the Colts (8-6), Bears and Seahawks (12-3). The Lions can only sneak in with a 2-1 record if Green Bay goes 0-2 against the Ravens and Vikings.

Again, this is still a steep climb for a team that hasn’t won back-to-back games in nearly three full months. But if the Lions can handle their own business, they can quickly climb back into things if the Packers or Bears slip up, and their remaining opponents are not easy outs.

The 49ers are still in contention for the No. 1 seed, the Ravens are fighting for their playoff lives, and the Vikings have been liable to punch a team in the mouth at various points this season, including Detroit in Week 9 — although the Packers did win their first meeting against Minnesota at Lambeau Field, 23-6, back in late November.

NFC playoff race

*Denotes clinched

1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3, 1st NFC West)*

2. Chicago Bears (11-4, 1st NFC North)

3. Philadelphia Eagles* (10-5, 1st NFC East)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7, 1st NFC South)

5. Los Angeles Rams* (11-4, 2nd NFC West)

6. San Francisco 49ers (10-4, 3rd NFC West)

7. Green Bay Packers (9-5-1, 2nd NFC North)

In the hunt

8. Detroit Lions (8-6, 3rd NFC North)

9. Carolina Panthers (7-7, 2nd NFC South)

nbianchi@detroitnews.com

@nolanbianchi