ALLEN PARK – Thanks to the heroics of the Chicago Bears to come back and beat the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night, the Detroit Lions do not control their own playoff destiny.
Chicago scored 10 points after the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter to force overtime against the Packers. They took it home in the extra frame and got the job done for the biggest win from Soldier Field for the franchise in quite some time. When the game went to overtime, things got a little tense around these parts, as a Bears-Packers tie paired with a Lions loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers was the only elimination scenario for Detroit this week.
For the Lions, this win for the Bears means they need outside help down the stretch while needing to win out over their final three games. If the Bears lose to the San Francisco 49ers next week and again to the Lions in Week 18, then Detroit would make the playoffs.
If the Lions win out and the Packers lose one of their final two games to the Baltimore Ravens or Minnesota Vikings, then the Lions would make the playoffs thanks to Saturday night’s overtime outcome.
Detroit entered the night with 27% odds to make the playoffs, per the New York Times. Chicago’s win over the Packers dropped those chances to 22%. In an interesting twist, it improved Detroit’s closing window to winning the NFC North to 7% despite sinking its playoff odds. If the Lions win out and the Packers lose to one of the Ravens or Vikings, and the Bears fall to the 49ers in San Francisco next week, then they would clinch the long-shot three-peat inside the division.
A win over the Steelers on Sunday moves Detroit’s playoff chances to 31%, according to the NYT’s simulator.
For what it’s worth, the 49ers are alive for the No. 1 seed, so buckle up for another consequential game for Detroit’s playoff chances when they host Chicago.
Thanks to the Seattle Seahawks beating the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night, the Lions can only catch the 49ers, Packers or Bears in terms of playoff positioning. Detroit can only catch the 49ers by running the table to end its season, while San Francisco would need to drop three straight to the Indianapolis Colts, Bears and Seahawks.
For the Lions, they need to do something they haven’t accomplished since Weeks 4 and 5 – win consecutive games. Since beating the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals in back-to-back matchups, the Lions have alternated wins and losses to fall to 8-6.
Detroit and Carolina are the only two NFC teams on the outside of the playoff picture still alive. The NFC South looks destined only to field one team, so there isn’t a lot of meaning to those matchups. The Eagles also punched their ticket on Saturday, while the Dallas Cowboys were officially eliminated.
NFC North standings:
1. Chicago Bears – (11-4)
2. Green Bay Packers — (9-5-1)
3. Detroit Lions — (8-6)
4. Minnesota Vikings — (6-8)
NFC playoff picture:
1. Seattle Seahawks — (12-3, clinched)
2. Chicago Bears — (11-4)
3. Philadelphia Eagles — (10-5, clinched)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — (7-7)
5. Los Angeles Rams — (11-4, clinched)
6. San Francisco 49ers — (10-4)
7. Green Bay Packers — (9-5-1)
In the hunt:
8. Detroit Lions (8-6)
9. Carolina Panthers (7-7)
Detroit’s remaining schedule: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, at Minnesota Vikings, at Chicago Bears
Chicago’s remaining schedule: at San Francisco 49ers, vs. Detroit Lions
Green Bay’s remaining schedule: vs. Baltimore Ravens, at Minnesota Vikings
San Francisco’s remaining schedule: at Indianapolis Colts, vs. Chicago Bears, vs. Seattle Seahawks
