The Detroit Lions have had a roller coaster of a season. And now, in Week 18, they have put themselves in a position to potentially sneak into the NFL playoffs. Although they no longer control their own destiny, their possible playoff scenarios and chances are quite clear. However, it all starts with a win on the road at Lambeau Field.
Update: Lions Eliminated From Playoff Contention
Despite a late-season rally, it was ultimately too little, too late. The Lions saw their postseason hopes end ahead of Sunday Night Football. The Seahawks’ thrilling overtime win means the Lions have no path into the playoffs. But they did manage to keep their division rivals — the Packers — from reaching the postseason. On Sunday Night Football, the Lions marched into Lambeau Field and knocked off the Packers.
Lions Playoff Scenarios To Watch for in Week 18
The Lions were in a must-win scenario in Week 17 to keep their playoff chances alive. Luckily, their offense decided to wake up, completely demolishing Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears 41-10. Jared Goff threw for over 250 yards and three touchdowns, and Jamaal Williams put up nearly 150 rushing yards.
After the victory, the Lions were slotted into the seventh seed right up until the Seattle Seahawks also won.
MORE:Â Lions vs. Packers Prediction, Odds, and Picks for Week 18
Now, as things currently stand, Detroit is going to need to win against Green Bay at Lambeau in Week 18 and hope that the Los Angeles Rams can get a win over the Seahawks. If both things happen, Detroit is your final Wild Card team with a 9-8 record. Had the Lions not lost to Seattle back in Week 4, this situation would be quite different.
If the Packers end up beating Detroit, they will knock them out of playoff contention and take the final Wild Card spot themselves. Considering where the Lions and Packers were at various parts of the season, the fact that they both have a path to the playoffs is impressive.
What Are the Lions’ Playoff Chances?
According to FiveThirtyEight, the Lions have a 34% chance of reaching the postseason. For comparison’s sake, the two teams they are competing with — the Seahawks and Packers — have 22% and 61%, respectively.
Per DraftKings Sportsbook, the Lions are currently 4.5-point underdogs against Green Bay (+185/-215 on the moneyline). These two teams faced off earlier in the year, and the Lions got the win 15-9. However, these are two very different teams compared to earlier in the season.
Aaron Rodgers threw three interceptions in that game, and the Detroit defense kept the Packers’ run game in check, holding both AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones to less than 60 yards combined.
One interesting nugget to keep in mind is that if the Seahawks win earlier in the afternoon, the Lions will already know if they are eliminated from playoff contention. That likely won’t change much in terms of their game plan — a win against the Packers would still eliminate them from the playoffs. Considering this is an NFC North rivalry, I can’t see the Lions resting any of their starters with a chance to knock off Aaron Rodgers.
