Hope.
It seems like that is what it usually comes down to when it comes to the Detroit Lions and their chances of making the playoffs. With two games remaining on the regular season schedule, the Lions are on the outside looking in and hope is once again on the mind of many fans.
After defeating the Chicago Bears on Saturday, the Lions now sit at 8-6 and according to FiveThirtyEight, they have a 21% chance of making the NFL Playoffs. Though that percentage is not exactly what the Lions and their fans were hoping for at this point in the season, they clearly still have a chance to squeeze their way into the postseason and if that happens, things could get interesting.
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But first things first. NFL coaches LOVE to talk about how the most important game on the schedule is the next game on the schedule. That could not be truer for the Lions as they prepare to travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals. You see, for the Lions to have any chance at making the playoffs, they have to take care of business and win their final two games of the season. With a win over the Bengals on Sunday, Detroit would move to 9-6 with a home game against the Green Bay Packers staring them in the face.
Unfortunately, the Lions do not control their own destiny as far as making the playoffs go and even if they do beat the Bengals and the Packers, they will need some help.
The most direct path to the NFL Playoffs for the Lions is to win their final two regular season games and have the Atlanta Falcons lose two of their final three contests. If that were to happen, the Lions would finish 10-6 and the Falcons would finish 9-7 which would give Detroit the No. 6 seed in the NFC.
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This whole scenario actually starts tonight when the Falcons (8-5) travel to Tampa Bay to play the Buccaneers (4-9) on Monday Night Football. If the Falcons were to come out victorious, they would then have to lose their final two games of the season (at New Orleans and home vs. Carolina) for the Lions to pass them.
So, if you are a fan of the Detroit Lions, there is hope of making the playoffs.
As we know in this city, that is all we can ask for.
