With Sunday’s win over the New York Jets, the Detroit Lions got to .500 on the season and boosted their playoff odds rather nicely.
The Detroit Lions boosted their playoff odds after their win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14, with an eye on doing so even more if they could beat the New York Jets in Week 15.
They of course got that done, however ugly, with a 20-17 win over the Jets on Sunday. Week 15 started favorably for the Lions’ playoff odds, as the San Francisco 49ers beat the Seattle Seahawks, and the result of Sunday Night Football between the New York Giants and Washington Commanders will have some say. The Lions are a game-and-half behind the latter two teams, pending the result of that game Sunday night.
According to FiveThirtyEight.com, the Lions have a 42 percent chance to make the playoffs right after beating the Jets. Winning out from here to finish at 10-7 would push those odds to 97 percent–and it’s fun “choose your result” interactive exercise to do on that site.
Detroit Lions playoff odds multiplying positively as they stack wins
After Week 14, Football Outsiders had the Lions’ playoff odds at 20.7 percent. After Week 13, Football Outsiders had Detroit’s playoff odds at 10 percent.
It’s been pretty simple, and obvious. As the Lions have kept winning, and gotten a bit of help here or there, their playoff odds have multiplied over the last couple weeks.
The last two games against the Vikings and Jets were inarguably the toughest games the Lions had in their last five, and they won them both. Next up is the 5-9 Carolina Panthers (Week 16), the 3-11 Chicago Bears (Week 17) and the 5-8 (playing Monday night to close Week 15) Green Bay Packers. Winning out feels possible, even with two of those last three on the road.
From 1-6 to a playoff spot would be something for this year’s Lions, let alone winning out (and winning their last five games) to get to double-digit wins and a playoff spot. But those things are legitimately on the table right now.