ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions still have a window to make the postseason if they drop this weekend’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.
But a win would boost those odds to another level, and could keep the shrinking window inside the NFC North alive for another week, depending on outside results.
A win over the Rams boosts Detroit’s postseason odds to 60%, while a loss would plummet them to 30%, per the New York Times. It would also represent a marquee victory against one of the NFL’s best teams heading into the crucial final month of the season.
MLive’s Dungeon of Doom podcast opened the mailbag for reader-submitted questions to guide this week’s episode. Hosts Kory Woods and Ben Raven discussed Matthew Stafford’s MVP-worthy season, how the Lions replace Brian Branch in their secondary and who the best commercial actor is on the roster, among others.
Raven and Woods also discussed their feelings on this weekend’s game, and what it could mean to the team’s playoff chances and confidence down the stretch.
“If the Lions beat the Rams this weekend, they’re running the table. Yeah, like that’s, that’s, that’s how I view this game,” Raven declared on the podcast.
Woods took a similar stance, calling the Rams a “juggernaut,” and that he views this as a pivotal chance for Detroit’s offense to take over and ride the wave down the stretch.
The Lions finish with the Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears. Their playoff odds and path will be under the microscope for the rest of the season, so get used to hearing “must-win.” A loss to the Rams doesn’t end the team’s season, but a win could set them up to control their own destiny ahead of the big Week 18 finale in Chicago.
See below to listen to the latest mailbag podcast from MLive’s Dungeon of Doom. To be featured on the show, send written questions or voice memos to dungeonofdoom@mlive.com at any time: