How the Detroit Lions can still make the playoffs
Although it’s the longest of long shots, the Detroit Lions still have a slim chance to make the playoffs. But they’ll need a lot of help. Let’s break it down.
The good news is the Detroit Lions posted their fifth win of the season on Sunday, in a 17-3 victory over the struggling Arizona Cardinals. The bad news is that fifth victory came midway through December.
With three games left on their schedule, the best the Lions can finish is with an 8-8 record. That’s one win less than last season with former head coach Jim Caldwell at the helm. Still, somehow, Detroit has a chance to make the playoffs. According to makenflplayoffs.com, a 2.180 percent chance to be exact.
So what will it take for the Lions to miraculously snatch a postseason berth from the jaws of an early vacation? Let’s break down all the breaks the Lions would have to catch in order to do the near impossible.
First and foremost, Detroit is going to have to win all three of their remaining games. On deck? A chilly matchup against the 4-9 Buffalo Bills in their house. Then, it’s back to Ford Field for a matchup against the 6-6-1 Minnesota Vikings. And lastly, it’s a regular season finale against the 5-7-1 Green Bay Packers in Lambeau.
Even if the Motor City is able to run the table, they’ll still need a ton of help to get in the playoffs. Not only will the Lions need to beat the Vikings, but they’ll also need their divisional foe to lose to either the 7-6 Miami Dolphins this weekend or to the 9-4 Chicago Bears in Week 17 as well.
Detroit would also need both the Washington Redskins and the Philadelphia Eagles to lose two out of their next three contests. And they’ll need the Carolina Panthers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Giants to lose at least one game each before the end of the season.
Next. Top Five Video Game Detroit Lions of All Time. dark
As you can see, the Detroit Lions have carved themselves a very narrow path to the postseason due to their inconsistent play this year under new head coach Matt Patricia. But if they are somehow able to make the playoffs with this much stacked against them, then just maybe their luck is starting to change.