The Detroit Lions are facing a crucial juncture in their season as they strive to secure a playoff spot. With three games left in the regular season, the Lions must win all their remaining matches to significantly enhance their playoff chances. According to analysis from the New York Times, a clean sweep of these games would elevate their odds of making the postseason to an impressive 94-95 percent.
Even if the Lions were to lose their upcoming game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, they wouldn’t be mathematically eliminated just yet. However, a specific scenario in Week 16 could lead to their early exit from playoff contention.
This scenario revolves around their rivals, the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, both of whom are on the brink of clinching playoff berths. The two teams are set to face each other this week, and the winner will secure their postseason spot if the Lions are defeated by the Steelers. If the Bears, currently at 11-4 or the Packers at 10-4-1 win, they will pull ahead of the Lions, who sit at 8-7.
The stakes rise if the Bears and Packers end up in a tie while the Lions lose. In that case, both teams would clinch playoff spots and eliminate the Lions from contention. A tie would result in the Bears holding a record of 10-4-1 and the Packers standing at 9-4-2. When we assess win percentages, this translates to the Bears being equivalent to a record of 10.5-4.5, while the Packers would be 10-5. This situation renders the Lions, even in a best-case scenario at 10-7, unable to surpass either opponent. The Packers hold the head-to-head tiebreaker due to their earlier wins against the Lions.
Furthermore, the Lions would also find it challenging to catch up to the San Francisco 49ers, who are currently 10-4. Although the 49ers would need to lose all remaining games to fall to a record of 10-7, they possess a tiebreaker advantage over the Lions, having a strong conference record.
In summary, if the Bears and Packers tie this week and the Lions lose to the Steelers, the Lions will find themselves eliminated from the playoffs before Christmas. This intensifying pressure underscores the urgency for the Lions to secure victories in their remaining games to keep playoff hopes alive.