If the Detroit Lions are going to make the playoffs this year, they’re going to have to largely earn it themselves. After getting no help from the Rams or Packers this week, the Lions find themselves in a situation where even if they win their final three games and get to 11-6, there is no guarantee they’ll get into the postseason. Anything less than 11-6, and you can pretty much kiss any realistic shot at a playoff run goodbye.
But it’s always been a one-game-at-a-time attitude within the Lions organization, and this week the Pittsburgh Steelers stand in their way. The Steelers, led by veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, are on the verge of winning the AFC North and advancing the playoffs themselves. At 8-6, they’re trying to hold off the 7-7 Baltimore Ravens. But the stakes of this game aren’t as big for Pittsburgh, because all they need is a win over the Ravens in Week 18 to clinch the division and stamp their ticket to the playoffs.
With two teams making their case for the postseason, it’s not all that surprising that CBS chose this one as their Game of the Week.
If you’re not able to follow along on TV, you can use this post for live updates from Ford Field. We’ll provide drive summaries, highlights, injury news, and, of course, the current score as soon as the game kicks off at 4:25 p.m. ET. Just stay on this page and occasionally refresh to get the latest news.
The Steelers won the toss and deferred, giving the Lions the opportunity to score first. Instead, they went three-and-out. A second-down sack from Keeanu Benton put the Lions behind the sticks and a screen pass to Jahmyr Gibbs went nowhere.
Pittsburgh would strike first after a methodical drive by Aaron Rodgers and company. Rodgers completed an 18-yard pass to Darnell Washington to convert a third-and-5. However, when they got into Lions territory, Detroit’s defense stiffened up. Aidan Hutchinson notched a second-down sack…
..and Alex Anzalone broke up a pass at the line of scrimmage to force a long field goal. Chris Boswell drilled the 59-yarder to make it 3-0 Steelers just under six minutes in.