Detroit Lions Week 17 Rooting Guide: How the Lions can take control of their own destiny in the playoffs

the Detroit Lions They’re still in the hunt for the playoffs heading into NFL Week 17. After last week’s loss to Carolina Panthersthey’ll need help along the way, but whatever needs to happen certainly seems within the realm of possibility. We’re not talking about his microscopic playoff oddse, so it’s time to put down roots.

If all goes well for the Lions on Sunday, they could actually find themselves in the playoffs before the last week of the season. But before we get into how each game should drop, here’s a look at where the NFC Playoffs Photo currently holds:

Division heads:

1. Eagles: 13-2 – playoff berth
2. Vikings: 12-3 – won NFC North
3. 49ers: 11-4 — off the hook NFC West
4. Buccaneers: 7-8

Wild card race (advanced top 3)

1. Cowboys: 12-4 — playoff berth
2. Giants: 8-6-1
3. Commanders: 7-7-1
4. sea ​​hawks: 7-8
5. Lions: 7-8
6. Packers: 7-8
7. Panthers: 6-9
8. Saints: 6-9

Here are the teams the Lions are expected to support in Week 17.

Colts (4-10-1) at Giants (8-6-1) – 1 p.m. ET – CBS

Root for: Foals

This is a relatively low priority game, as the only way the Lions can catch the Giants is if New York loses and the Lions win. However, it’s best to keep all options on the table and have as many game-changing scenarios as possible. And if the Giants somehow lose this game — as 5.5-point favorites — losing next week to a potentially resting Eagles team is still on the table.

Saints (6-9) at Eagles (13-2) – 1 p.m. ET – FOX

Root for: Saints

It might seem counterintuitive to seek out a team that could theoretically nab Detroit for a Wild Card spot, but that’s only if the Lions lose one of their two remaining games. The thing is, if Detroit loses one more game, their playoff chances are so low that it’s not even worth considering those scenarios.

Instead, encourage the Eagles to lose, so in Week 18 the NFC East — and the NFC’s No. 1 seed — may still be up for grabs. That would mean Philly would have reason to play hard against the Giants and the Cowboys would have reason to beat the Commanders in Week 18.

Panthers (6-9) vs. Buccaneers (7-8) – 1 p.m. ET – FOX

Root for: Buccaneers

Again, we’re dealing with tiny percentages here, as the Panthers only catch the Lions if Detroit loses another game. But both out of spite and because Carolina now has the tiebreaker, root for the Bucs.

Browns (6-9) at Commanders (7-7-1) – 1 p.m. ET – FOX

Root for: Browns

This is the second most important game of the day for the Lions. The Browns are knocked out of the playoffs, but they’re probably still playing for pride and to see what they can build with Deshaun Watson. However, with the Commanders potentially playing a meaningless game for the Cowboys next week, Detroit needs Washington to lose NOW. According to FiveThirtyEight, the Lions’ playoff odds jump from 24% to 29% with just one loss to the Commanders this week. Add a Lions victory, and that rises to 37%.

Jets (7-8) at Seahawks (7-8) – 4:05 p.m. ET – FOX

Root for: Jets

This is the most important game of the day for Lions fans. A loss to the Seahawks alone boosts the Lions playoff odds from 24 to 33 percent. Fortunately, the Jets are still playing hard for a playoff spot, and they’ll have quarterback Mike White back this week. Playing in Seattle isn’t the challenge it used to be, as the Seahawks have lost four straight games at home.

Vikings (12-3) at Packers (7-8) – 4:25 p.m. ET – CBS

Root of: Vikings

While that won’t have a huge impact on the Lions’ playoff odds this week, a Vikings victory would make things better for Detroit next week for several reasons:

1. A Vikings victory + a Lions victory means the Packers are eliminated from the playoffswhich is both fun and would mean Green Bay has less motivation to try and beat the Lions in Week 18.
2. A Vikings win + an Eagles loss would keep the No. 1 seed in play and motivate Philly to beat the Commanders in Week 18.

If the Packers win, it’s not the end of the world, as the Lions could just beat them next week to stay above them in the standings. But that would be much easier said than done.

If all of these results fell Detroit’s way — and the Lions beat the Bears — here’s what the playoff picture would look like:

Division heads:

1. Eagles: 13-3 – playoff berth
2. Vikings: 13-3 – NFC North won
3. 49ers: 11-4 – NFC West won
4. Buccaneers: 8-8 – clinched NFC South

Wild card race (advanced top 3)

1. Cowboys: 12-4 — playoff berth
2. Giants: 8-7-1
3. Lions: 8-8
4. Commanders: 7-8-1
5. Seahawks: 7-9
6. Saints: 7-9
7. Packers: 7-9 — eliminated
8. Panthers: 6-10 — eliminated

Not only would the Lions be in the playoffs, but according to FiveThirtyEight, their chances of making the playoffs would increase to 61%. They would be set up for a “win and you’re in” game at Lambeau, and would even have a few outs if they lost that game.

But it doesn’t have to be so perfect. For the Lions to simply be in a “win and you’re in” scenario in Week 18, they only need three results this week:

• Lions beat bears
• Browns beat Commanders
• Jets beat Seahawks

Focus your rooting mojo on these games.

Rooting for the draft position

The Lions fell a few spots after the Rams picked up another win over the Broncos, but there’s still hope for a top-five pick. Here’s what you should be looking for this week:

Cardinals (4-11) vs. Falcons (5-10)
Broncos (4-11) vs. Chiefs (12-3)
Colts (4-10-1) vs. Giants (8-6-1)
Saints (6-9) vs. Eagles (13-2)
Panthers (6-9) vs. Bucs (7-8)
Browns (6-9) vs. Commanders (7-7-1)
Raiders (6-9) over 49ers (11-4)
Chargers (9-6) vs Rams (5-10)

If all of this happens, here’s what the new command project would look like:

Note: The strength of the schedule numbers – the main deciding factor – is taken from the Tankathon and is subject to change based on this week’s results. Plus I gave the Bears a loss and I didn’t give the Texas anything, because the Rams/Lions can’t catch them.

1. Texans: 2-12-1 (0.488 schedule strength)
2. Bears: 3-13 (.568)
3. Falcons: 5-11 (.465)
4. Broncos (Seahawks owned): 5-11 (.488)
5. Rams: 5-11 (.508)
6. Cardinals: 5-11 (.522)
7. Colts: 5-10-1 (.508)
8. Raiders: 7-9 (.461)
9. Buccaneers: 7-9 (.492)
10. Saints (owned by the Eagles): 7-9 (.502)
11. Titans: 7-9 (.508)
12. Browns (owned by Texans): 7-9 (.522)

Note: I didn’t care about other 7-8 teams because if the Rams lose to the Chargers, the 7-9 teams won’t be able to catch them. However, this might change the order at the bottom of the top 10.

If things go this way, the Rams’ pick would be guaranteed, at worst, seven. With any luck in Week 18, he could theoretically get back into the top three. Of course, many of these results are highly improbable, but it is still mathematically possible.