DETROIT – The Detroit Lions can clinch a playoff spot this weekend if just three games go the right way.
Detroit currently sits at 9-4 on the season, and while the NFC North race remains up in the air -- the Vikings are just two games back -- the Lions have a chance to lock up a playoff spot in just a few days.
Here’s what has to happen for Detroit to clinch this weekend.
Lions beat Broncos
- Game details: 8:15 p.m. Saturday in Detroit.
Pretty self-explanatory, right? The Lions need to play a complete game for the first time since October and take care of business in primetime at Ford Field.
The Broncos have won six of their last seven games and are in the heat of their own playoff race. This game has exceptionally high stakes.
The Lions are looking to reach 10 wins for the first time since 2014.
From Detroit’s perspective, a victory would eliminate the Buccaneers, Falcons, and Saints. Those teams are 6-7, so the best they can finish is 10-7, and all three would lose the tiebreaker to the Lions because of the head-to-head results.
It sure doesn’t look like the NFC South will have a wildcard representative, but you never know.
One more Lions win would also guarantee they finish ahead of the Bears, who are currently 5-8 and could technically get to 9-8.
Commanders beat Rams
- Game details: 4:05 p.m. Sunday in Inglewood, California.
Right now, the Rams are in a five-way tie for the final wildcard spot in the NFC with the Packers, Seahawks, Saints, and Falcons. The NFC South-leading Buccaneers are also 6-7.
If the Rams lose one more time, they can’t reach 10 wins, and while that certainly wouldn’t eliminate them from playoff contention, it would keep them from catching the Lions (if the Lions win Saturday).
Of the three results the Lions need this weekend, Washington winning is by far the least likely. The Commanders have lost four games in a row -- the last three by an average of 25.7 points.
Eagles beat Seahawks
- Game details: 8:15 p.m. Monday in Seattle.
I know it says the Lions can clinch this “weekend,” but technically they would have to wait until Monday night. It counts, OK?
The Seahawks own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Lions, so it would be nice to officially remove them from the equation.
Seattle has lost four games in a row and hosts a Philadelphia team that’s desperate for a victory after getting blown out by the 49ers and Cowboys the past two weeks.
At 6-7, the Seahawks are teetering precariously on the brink of elimination. The Lions would like the Eagles to give them that last little push.