We’re in December and that means it’s time to start talking about playoffs and which teams could be in and which teams could be out. For the Detroit Lions, a playoff spot is set in stone. They clinched in Week 14.
It’s about two much bigger things now. Winning the NFC North again and clinching the first seed in the NFC. Today we’re going to take a look at what the fastest path is to the Lions doing both of those things. Here’s what needs to happen. First let’s look at the playoff picture going into Week 15.
- Lions: 12-1
- Eagles: 11-2
- Seahawks-8-5
- Buccaneers: 7-6
- Vikings-11-2
- Packers-9-4
- Commanders: 8-5
Week 15
This is going to be one really tough week for the Lions. They have to beat the Bills and this is the team that provides the biggest remaining test of the year for Detroit, besides their game against the Vikings in Week 18.
As for everyone else, here’s what needs to happen:
- Steelers beat Eagles
- Seahawks beat Packers
- Bears beat Vikings
If all those things happen, here’s what the playoff picture looks like:
- Lions: 13-1
- Eagles: 11-3
- Seahawks:9-5
- Buccaneers: 8-6
- Vikings: 11-3
- Commanders:-9-5
- Packers: 9-5
Week 16
Here it is. This is the week the Lions can not only clinch the NFC, but they can clinch the NFC North as well. Here’s what needs to happen besides the Lions beating the Bears in Chicago:
- Commanders beat Eagles
- Seahawks beat Vikings
If all those things happen, the Lions have it clinched becasue no team will be able to catch them. The most anyone could get is 13 wins. Here’s what the playoff picture looks like.
- Lions: 14-1
- Eagles: 11-4
- Seahawks: 10-5
- Buccaneers: 9-6
- Vikings: 11-4
- Commanders: 10-5
- Packers: 9-6
Obviously this is just a scenario to show the fastest path. The NFL rarely just works out for any team. The very best thing the Lions can do is control what they can control. Just keep winning games and they’ll get it. Simple as that.