The Detroit Lions are the Cinderella story of the NFL this season. Starting the season at a miserable 1-6 start, the team fought back and is currently 8-8 after Sunday’s (Jan. 1) victory over the Chicago Bears. The Lions didn’t just beat the Bears, either. They clobbered them with a 41-10 victory.
Six of the seven NFC playoff spots have already been secured, with the New York Giants joining the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a win on Sunday. So, what at the Lions’ chances of getting that seventh spot?
Three teams are going after that final spot: The Lions, the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks. All three are 8-8 right now.
This Sunday’s game with the Lions against the Packers is everything. The team that wins Sunday at Lambeau Field will stay alive, and the team that loses is going home for the season.
The Packers are even guaranteed the final playoff spot if they beat the Lions. But, for Detroit, not only do the Lions have to win against the Packers on Sunday, they also need the Los Angeles Rams to beat (or tie) the Seahawks this coming weekend.
So, what are the chances that the Rams can pull off a win? Not super high. As many Detroit fans are aware, the Rams have not had a good season. Sure, they are the defending Super Bowl champions, but they have lost eight of 10 games. Matthew Stafford has also been out on injury for the Rams.
The Seahawks, though, don’t have a ton to brag about, either. They have been on an up-and-down losing streak but pulled off a big 23-6 win against the New York Jets last weekend.
It seems destiny that the Lions would make the playoffs. It would be the perfect end to a fairytale. But, will it happen? Time will tell.