DETROIT – The Detroit Lions are flirting with disaster heading into the final three weeks of the season, but their playoff hopes aren’t dead yet.
At 8-6, the Lions are on the outside looking in for the NFC Playoff picture. They have their final home game against the Steelers on Sunday afternoon before finishing the season with road games against the Vikings and Bears.
If the Lions win all three games, they’ll probably get into the playoffs.
Probably.
They do need some help. Technically, the Lions could finish the season 11-6 and still get left out of the postseason. For that reason, fans will have to do some scoreboard watching over the weekend.
Here’s who Lions fans should root for:
Lions to beat Steelers
Game details: 4:25 p.m. Sunday in Detroit
Yes, this is ridiculously obvious, but we’ve still got to include it.
If the Lions lose to the Steelers, you can throw the rest of this rooting guide in the trash. Technically, they wouldn’t be eliminated from playoff contention, but it would effectively be over.
The Lions would need either the Bears or the Packers to lose each of their final three games to have a chance to get into the playoffs. And we all know the Lions aren’t that lucky.
Packers to beat Bears
Game details: 8:20 p.m. Saturday in Chicago
I know, I know. Rooting for the Packers goes against our nature. But if the Bears lose this game, then the Lions instantly control their own destiny.
Now, if you’re a gambler, you could root for the Bears to beat the Packers in hopes that the Bears lose to the 49ers in Week 17 and the Packers lose to either the Ravens (home in Week 17) or Vikings (away in Week 18), which would set the Lions up for a chance to win the NFC North Division in Chicago.
But, you know, “a bird in the hand,” and all that. The Packers beating the Bears is the only surefire way the Lions can retake the inside track to the postseason, and that’s the first priority.
Colts to beat 49ers
Game details: 8:15 p.m. Monday in Indianapolis
It probably won’t happen, but if the 49ers lose all three of their remaining games and the Lions win all three, the Lions would finish ahead of the 49ers for a playoff spot.
Since the 49ers play the Colts, Bears, and Seahawks, that’s actually a possibility.
Ravens to beat Patriots
Game details: 8:20 p.m. Sunday in Baltimore
This one is a little less straightforward.
Right now, the Steelers lead the Ravens by one game in the AFC North Division. But if the Lions beat the Steelers on Sunday and the Ravens beat the Patriots, that would put both teams at 8-7.
That means the Ravens would have more to play for in Week 17 when they travel to Green Bay to play the Packers. Whether the Packers win or lose in Chicago on Saturday, it’s still in the Lions’ best interest for them to lose to the Ravens, just to keep that NFC North pipe dream in play.
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