The Detroit Lions had a chance to clinch a playoff spot in Week 13, but the two most cut-and-dry scenarios didn't quite all come together. Week 14 brings another chance to clinch a playoff spot, with 10 possible ways it can happen.
Here's a look at all the ways the Lions can clinch a postseason spot this week.
1. Win or tie
2. ATL loss/tie + LAR loss/tie + PHI win
3. ATL loss/tie + ARI tie
4. ATL loss/tie + ARI loss + LAR loss/tie
5. ATL loss + ARI loss + PHI win +3.5 or more combined wins from (DAL, CHI, PIT, TEN)
6. ATL loss + ARI loss + PHI win +DAL win + CHI win + 1 combined win from (PIT or TEN)
7. ATL tie + ARI loss + PHI win +DAL win + CHI win + PIT win + TEN win
8. TB loss/tie + LAR loss/tie + PHI win
9. TB loss/tie + ARI tie
10. TB loss/tie + ARI loss + LAR loss/tie
Detroit Lions have full control over clinching a playoff spot in Week 14
The Lions needed a win on Thanksgiving Day and a good bit of help to clinch a playoff spot in Week 13, and it almost happened. This week it's "win and you're in" (or tie), and nothing else matters.
On Tuesday, head coach Dan Campbell acknowledged how the playoffs start now for the Lions with the calendar flipped to December.
"We’re in playoff football right now,” Campbell said. “That’s where we’re at. We’re in December, and our schedule says that. We play tough opponent after tough opponent, we’ve got another one, we’ve got plenty of them coming up. This is the type of stuff that you live for. And it’s also the stuff that gets you ready for the tournament.”
With a playoff spot a formality, the Lions have eyes on the NFC North title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. A win over the Packers would given them an 83 percent chance at earning the No. 1 seed. A loss would drop their chances of getting the top seed to 40 percent.