DETROIT – For the sixth time in seven years, the Detroit Lions will end the regular season against the Green Bay Packers, but this time, so much is on the line, but they’ll need some help from the Los Angeles Rams.
In the words of the great American philosophers A Tribe Called Quest, “So what, so what, so what’s the scenario?”
I’m glad you asked.
To make the playoffs for the first time since 2016, the Lions will need a little help from the Rams, who take on the Seattle Seahawks Sunday (Jan. 8) at 4:25 p.m. in a divisional matchup.
For those who don’t remember, Detroit hosted Seattle back in week four when the injury-depleted Lions lost in a shootout 48-45 to fall to 1-3 to gain the win-and-in advantage.
Read: Injury depleted Detroit Lions lose shootout vs Seahawks, fall to 1-3
A Rams victory creates a win-or-go-home scenario under the lights for Sunday Night Football on Local 4 (I’m a company man). But the catch is if that happens, then Los Angeles’ pick surrounding the Matthew Stafford trade moves closer to the bottom five of the 2023 NFL Draft.
If the Rams lose, the Lions will all but secure a top-five pick in this year’s draft, but One Pride will not have the chance to see their Lions in the postseason.
With a big-time matchup on the horizon, Sunday’s game has the feels of a playoff atmosphere for both teams. For Green Bay fans, the Packers are 28-3 in Wisconsin since 1992 against the Lions.
In their last meeting at Lambeau, the Packers racked up 42 points in 2020, the most points scored at home against the team in Honolulu blue since 2011, when Detroit gave up 45 points.
To make matters worse, during the 2021 season, Green Bay dropped 35 points on the Lions to take an 18-point victory while also sending Detroit to 0-2 on the season.
Detroit is currently riding a two-game winning streak dating back to 2021, and they just held Aaron Rodgers to nine points, forcing three interceptions at Ford Field to snap a five-game losing streak.
Read: Detroit Lions stun Packers behind late-game stand, force 3 picks to snap 5-game losing streak
All of this could be null and void if the league expands the playoff format to eight teams to make up for the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals Monday Night Football matchup was postponed.
With all that being said, which side are you pulling for?
Read: Detroit Lions would make playoffs with win over Packers if NFL decides to add 8th team