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The Detroit Lions’ shot to get to the postseason just took another turn, and it’s not for the better, it’s for the worse.
The Detroit Lions have their former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to blame for their playoff chances getting even more complicated heading into their Sunday, December 21, game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since Johnson’s Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers, the NFC North’s playoff map is all over the place, and the Lions are going to need some extra help to get to the coveted postseason.
The Bears rallied to beat the Packers in overtime on Saturday, December 20, and that narrowed the path for the Lions to make the postseason by just winning their final three games.
Now, before the Bears get too big-headed about this win, it’s worth noting that Packers quarterback Jordan Love was out for much of the game with a concussion, so it’s not really a flex to barely beat a team that doesn’t even have their franchise quarterback on the field. Just saying.
So, now that the Bears have beaten the Packers and split their series, the Lions’ playoff chances rest on not only winning out their season but also seeing more losses by the Bears, Packers and San Francisco 49ers to get to the postseason.
Detroit Lions Playoff Chances Following Bears Win Over Packers
The Detroit Lions have a 29% chance to make the playoffs, according to the NFL’s statistics and research. Those odds can improve to 41% with a win over the Steelers and they fall to 6% with a loss.
The Lions don’t have any clinching scenarios or any elimination scenarios in Week 16. But, they have a chance to make life a bit easier for them with a win over the Steelers. Their easiest way to get to the postseason would be to catch up with either the Bears or Packers in the NFC standings.
But, that will take not just winning but also luck. To catch the Bears, the Lions would have to win out the rest of their season and the Bears would have to lose two remaining game. To catch the Packers, Detroit would have to win out their season and the Packers would have to lose at least one of the final two games, or the Lions could also two of three games and the Packers could lose final two games for a catchup.
Another Road to the Playoffs for the Detroit Lions
The Lions also have a road to the playoffs if they catch up to the San Francisco 49ers. For that to happen, the Lions would have to win their final three games and the 49ers would have to lose their final three games, or the Lions would have to win their remaining three games and the 49ers would have to lose two games and tie one.
Any way you look at it, it’s not pretty when it comes to the Detroit Lions’ chances of making the postseason. Here’s where some of those losses to mediocre teams earlier in the season is coming back to bite the Detroit Lions.
Plus, it pours salt in the wound to see Johnson thriving with the Bears. The Lions absolutely needs the right person calling offensive players for the team’s talented roster of players.
Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson
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