There's no ifs, and's, or but's about it: the Detroit Lions have to win today's Christmas Day contest against the Minnesota Vikings in order to stay somewhat alive in their pursuit of a postseason spot. While things feel completely dire right now, this is a roster that's, more or less, built to win now. We'll see if they remember that against the Vikings.
Detroit needs a ton of help to keep their slim postseason chances alive over the holiday week. Aside from a win in Minnesota, they'll need a few other NFC teams to have a bad Christmas in order to increase their statistical odds of making the playoffs from a current 16 percent to somewhere around 40 percent.
Playoff viewing guide for overly-optimistic Lions fans ahead of Week 17
Lions-Vikings, Christmas Day, 4:30pm EST
Detroit will be traveling to Minnesota for their Christmas Day game, one which Penei Sewell very much wishes he wasn't a part of this year. It's yet another holiday that the Lions are playing on "national television," although for Christmas, they'll be hosted on Netflix. For much of the Netflix slate of games, we'll be seeing backup quarterback play, and then Jared Goff. Not exactly holly or jolly.
Still, a win here keeps Detroit in the running for a final spot in the NFC playoffs.
Rooting interest: The Lions, of course.
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Packers-Ravens, Dec. 27, 8:00 PM EST
Another obvious one here is the Packers' need to lose in order to keep Detroit alive. It's unlikely, given how much the Ravens have been struggling through constant Lamar Jackson injuries as well as a discombobulated defense. Baltimore, like Detroit, entered the season with high expectations and are finding themselves close to missing the postseason altogether.
Green Bay is dealing with quite an injury bug at the moment, with their biggest missing piece being Micah Parsons. Their injury report from Week 16 read like a scroll from medieval times, and it's unclear how healthy they'll have gotten ahead of this key matchup against the Ravens.
Green Bay losing this game makes Week 18 a make-or-break for both them and Detroit. If the Lions defeat the Bears and win their final game of the regular season, they can clinch a final spot over the Packers - and vice versa. That's only possible if Green Bay first loses to Baltimore. Do they have some fight left in them in their own AFC North race?
Rooting interest: Baltimore Ravens