the Detroit Lions We’re nonetheless within the playoffs heading into Week 17 within the NFL. After dropping final week to Carolina PanthersThey will want some assist alongside the best way, however no matter must occur positively appears throughout the realm of risk. We’re not speaking microscopic postseason subtitlese., so it is time to root.
If all the pieces goes the fitting manner for the Lions on Sunday, they may, in truth, discover themselves in a playoff zone earlier than the ultimate week of the season. However earlier than we get into how every sport ought to go down, here is a take a look at the place NFC match picture standing now:
Division leaders:
- Al-Nusour: 13-2 – determined the play-off match
- Vikings: 12-3 – snatched NFC North
- 49ers: 11-4 – clinched the NFC West
- hacker: 7-8
Wild Card Race (Prime 3 Advance)
- Cowboys: 12-4 – clinch a playoff spot
- Giants: 8-6-1
- Leaders: 7-7-1
- Seahawks: 7-8
- Black: 7-8
- Packers: 7-8
- Panthers: 6-9
- Saints: 6-9
Listed below are the groups the Lions ought to be rooting for in Week 17.
Colts (4-10-1) at Giants (8-6-1) – 1 p.m. ET – CBS
Root: ponies
This can be a comparatively low precedence sport, as the one manner the Lions will catch the Giants is that if New York loses and the Lions win. Nonetheless, it’s best to maintain all choices on the desk and have as many clinching eventualities as doable. And if the Giants in some way lose this sport — as a 5.5-point favourite — a loss subsequent week to probably resting Eagles continues to be on the desk.
Saints (6-9) at Eagles (13-2) – 1 p.m. ET – FOX
Root for: saints
It could appear counterintuitive to root for a workforce that might theoretically snap Detroit for the Wild Card spot, however that is provided that the Lions lose one in all their two remaining video games. The actual fact of the matter is that if Detroit loses one other sport, the match odds are so small that it isn’t even value contemplating these eventualities.
As a substitute, the Eagles rooted for a loss, so in Week 18, the NFC East — and the NFC’s high seed — should still be up for grabs. Which means that Philly has a motive to play the Giants laborious, and the Cowboys can have a motive to beat the leaders in Week 18.
Panthers (6-9) at Buccaneers (7-8) – 1 p.m. ET – FOX
Root for: hacker
Once more, we’re coping with slim percentages right here, because the Panthers do not catch the Lions until Detroit loses one other sport. However each as a result of Carolina now has the tiebreaker, root for the Bucs.
Brown (6-9) at Commanders (7-7-1) – 1 p.m. ET – FOX
Root for: brown
That is the second most essential Lions sport of the day. The Browns are being shut out of playoff competition, however they’re in all probability nonetheless taking part in for pleasure and seeing what they will construct with Deshaun Watson. Nonetheless, with the Chiefs prone to play a meaningless sport with the Cowboys subsequent week, Detroit wants Washington to lose now. In line with FiveThirtyEight, the Lions’ playoff odds are up from 24 to 29 % with solely the leaders dropping this week. Throw in Lions win, and that jumps to 37 %.
Jets (7-8) at Seahawks (7-8) – 4:05 p.m. ET – FOX
Root: plane
That is a very powerful match of the day for Lions followers. A Seahawks loss raises the Lions’ playoff odds from 24 to only 33 %. Luckily, the Jets are nonetheless taking part in rather a lot for a playoff spot, and so they’ll have quarterback Mike White this week. Taking part in in Seattle wasn’t the problem it was, because the Seahawks misplaced 4 straight dwelling video games.
Vikings (12-3) at Packers (7-8) – 4:25 p.m. ET – CBS
Root for: Vikings
Whereas that does not have a lot of an affect on the Lions’ playoff odds this week, a Vikings win would set issues up properly for Detroit subsequent week for a number of causes:
- Vikings win + Lions win It means eliminating the Packers from playoff competitionwhich is enjoyable and means Inexperienced Bay has much less motivation to try to beat the Lions in Week 18.
- A Vikings win + an Eagles loss would preserve the highest seed in play, and spur Philly to tackle the leaders in Week 18.
If the Packers win, it isn’t the top of the world, as a result of the Lions can merely beat them subsequent week to remain above them within the standings. However that will probably be a lot simpler mentioned than carried out.
If all these outcomes fall Detroit’s manner – and the Lions beat the Bears – here is what the ultimate sport image will seem like:
Division leaders:
- Al-Nusour: 13-3 – determined a playoff match
- Vikings: 13-3 – snatched NFC North
- 49ers: 11-4 – clinched the NFC West
- Buccaneers: 8-8 – clinched the NFC South
Wild Card Race (Prime 3 Advance)
- Cowboys: 12-4 – clinch a playoff spot
- Giants: 8-7-1
- Black: 8-8
- Leaders: 7-8-1
- Seahawks: 7-9
- Saints: 7-9
- Packets: 7-9 – Eradicated
- Panthers: 6-10 – elimination
Not solely will the Lions be within the playoffs, however in line with FiveThirtyEight, their odds of creating the postseason will soar to 61 %. They will be arrange for a “win you share” sport at Lambo, and so they’ll have some forfeiting in the event that they lose that sport.
Nevertheless it does not should be this excellent. To ensure that the Lions to easily be within the “win and win” state of affairs in Week 18, they solely want three outcomes this week:
- The Lions beat the Bears
- Brown defeats the leaders
- The Jets beat the Seahawks
Concentrate on rooting your mojo on these video games.
Rooting for the draft place
The Lions are down by a couple of factors after the Rams pull off one other win over the Broncos, however there’s nonetheless hope for a high 5 choose. This is what you need to be doing this week:
Cardinals (4-11) over Falcons (5-10)
Broncos (4-11) Over Chiefs (12-3)
Colts (4-10-1) over Giants (8-6-1)
Saints (6-9) over Eagles (13-2)
Panthers (6-9) over Bucs (7-8)
Brown (6-9) above the leaders (7-7-1)
Raiders (6-9) Over 49 (11-4)
chargers (9-6) above the rams (5-10).
If all of that occurs, here is what the brand new draft order would seem like:
Observe: Energy of schedule numbers – the first tiebreaker – is from the Tankathon and is topic to alter based mostly on this week’s outcomes. Additionally, I gave the bears a loss and I did not Texas Something, as a result of the Rams/Lions cannot catch them.
- Texas: 2-12-1 (.488 schedule energy)
- Bears: 3-13 (.568)
- Falcons: 5-11 (.465)
- Broncos (King of Seahawks): 5-11 (.488)
- Rams: 5-11 (.508)
- Cardinals: 5-11 (.522)
- Colts: 5-10-1 (.508)
- Raiders: 7-9 (.461)
- Pirates: 7-9 (.492)
- Saints (King Eagles): 7-9 (.502)
- Titans: 7-9 (.508)
- Browns (owned by Texans): 7-9 (.522)
Observe: I have never bothered with another 7-8 groups, as a result of if the Rams lose to the Chargers, 7-9 groups cannot catch them. Nonetheless, it might change the rating on the backside of the highest 10.
If issues go this fashion, the Ramez choose will probably be seven, at worst. With some luck in week 18, he might theoretically soar into the highest three. After all, many of those outcomes are extremely unlikely, however they’re nonetheless computationally doable.