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The Detroit Lions can clinch a playoff spot in Week 13 (and here's how)

The playoffs are inevitable for the Lions, but they can clinch as soon as this weekend.

By Brad Berreman

Andy Lyons/GettyImages
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With a 10-1 record at Thanksgiving, the playoffs are a virtual lock for the Detroit Lions. It's not quite 100 percent yet, based on the playoff percentage calculators you might see out there, but it's as close as it can get and it's only a matter of time before they clinch a playoff spot.

This is the kind of air the Lions aren't used to being in as franchise. They've won more games over the last two seasons (22) than in any other two-season span in franchise history, and the second of those seasons of course still has six games left.

Around now is when we may see possible playoff-clinching scenarios for the coming week get put out there. Yes, it's early, but there are four teams in the NFL with at least nine wins already. Three of them can clinch a playoff spot this week: the Buffalo Bills, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Lions.

How the Detroit Lions can clinch a playoff spot in Week 13

There are six ways the Lions can clinch a playoff at the end of Week 13.

  1. Lions win + 49ers loss/tie + Cardinals loss/tie + Seahawks loss + Buccaneers loss/tie
  2. Lions win + 49ers loss/tie + Cardinals loss + Seahawks tie + Buccaneers loss/tie
  3. Lions win + 49ers loss/tie + Cardinals loss/tie + Seahawks loss + Commanders loss/tie + Falcons loss
  4. Lions win + 49ers loss/tie + Cardinals loss/tie + Seahawks loss + Commanders loss + Falcons tie
  5. Lions win + 49ers loss/tie + Cardinals loss + Seahawks tie + Commanders loss/tie + Falcons loss
  6. Lions win + 49ers loss/tie + Cardinals loss + Seahawks tie + Commanders loss + Falcons tie

With ties being as rare as they are, we can practically eliminate scenarios where a tie for another team is solely required for the Lions to clinch a playoff spot this week (in other words, not a loss or a tie, just a tie).

So we quickly narrow to the first and third scenarios as the most likely and worth watching. Via FanDuel Sportsbook (odds subject to change), here are the point spreads for each of the relevant games.

  • Lions (-10.5) vs. Bears
  • 49ers (+6.5) at Bills
  • Cardinals (+3.5) at Vikings
  • Seahawks (-1.5) at Jets
  • Buccaneers (-5.5) at Panthers
  • Commanders (-5.5) vs. Titans
  • Falcons (+1.5) vs. Chargers

With an eye on winning the NFC North, the Lions would theoretically be rooting for the Cardinals to beat the Vikings on Sunday afternoon. But a Cardinals' loss (or tie, in a couple of the six scenarios) would be required if Detroit is going to clinch a playoff a the conclusion of Week 13.

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