DETROIT – The Detroit Lions didn’t play this weekend, and that gave fans a chance to sit back and check out some of the competition.
Coming into Sunday, the Lions owned the second-best record in the NFL and sat alone in first place in the NFC North Division.
Here are some of the games that went in the Lions’ favor:
Ravens over Seahawks
- Final Score: Ravens 37, Seahawks 3.
Other than making the Lions feel a whole lot better about their own blowout loss at Baltimore, this was probably the single biggest win for Detroit during the bye week.
The Seahawks own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Lions, and with a win, they would have jumped into second place in the NFC.
Instead, the Ravens sent the Seahawks limping back to the West Coast the same way they demoralized the Lions two weeks ago. That means the Lions maintain their spot at No. 2 behind the Philadelphia Eagles.
Texas over Buccaneers
- Final score: Texans 39, Buccaneers 37.
This one’s a very minor victory, because the Lions already beat the Buccaneers and had a 2.5-game lead over them going into the weekend.
But every game counts in a playoff race, and with the Falcons and Buccaneers both losing, the NFC South took another couple steps closer to locking up the No. 4 seed as the worst division in the conference.
Three of the four teams in the South already have four or more losses, and the Saints are 5-4. That means the Lions would be looking at a near-guarantee top-three seed if they win their division.
As a general rule, it’s good news when an AFC team beats an NFC playoff contender. This is one of those instances when the reward isn’t major, but it helps clear the path a little bit.
Here are some games and didn’t go the Lions’ way:
Vikings over Falcons
- Final score: Vikings 31, Falcons 28.
The division felt all but locked up a few weeks ago, but the race definitely isn’t over.
Despite losing superstar receiver Justin Jefferson and starting quarterback Kirk Cousins, the Vikings just won their fourth in a row to pull within 1.5 games of the Lions.
Minnesota has beaten the San Francisco 49ers in addition to the Falcons during this winning streak, so it seems like the battle for the North is still very much ongoing. The Lions and Vikings won’t meet for the first time until Week 16, so a lot could happen between now and then.
Saints over Bears
- Final score: Saints 24, Bears 17.
I know Detroit isn’t typically in the business of rooting for the Bears, but it would have been nice to see the Saints drop this game.
As I mentioned above, the Saints are the last respectable team in the South, and they’re the only team in that division that the Lions haven’t beaten yet to lock up the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Basically the only way the Lions could win the North and still end up with the No. 4 seed is if the Saints win the South and beat Detroit head-to-head.
Eagles over Cowboys
- Final score: Eagles 28, Cowboys 23.
The Lions were so close to being tied with the Eagles in the loss column and essentially evening up the race for the top seed in the NFC.
Philadelphia was on the ropes late against the Cowboys and could have fallen to 7-2, giving the Lions a chance to perhaps tie for the top seed next week with a win while the Eagles are on bye. It wasn’t meant to be, though, and at least for now, the Lions will have to settle for second place.
Watching the Cowboys lose has a way of making you feel better, though.
Packers over Rams
- Final score: Packers 20, Rams 3.
Let’s be honest, the Packers scores don’t really matter to the Lions this season. They already beat the Packers and have a three-game lead over them in the division standings.
But still, it’s way more fun when the Packers lose. Even when they aren’t in the race.