Earlier today there were reports that the Detroit Lions may have only needed a win on Sunday Night against the Packers, instead of hoping the Seattle Seahawks lost too.
- This was all due to the fact that the league was unsure what would become of the Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals game from Monday when Damar Hamlin Collapsed on the field.
- The League has finally released a statement regarding their decision, stating that the AFC Championship game could be a neutral site game; they are not considering an eight-team playoff.
Why it matters: The Detroit Lions are in need of some help to keep their playoff hopes alive. Had the league gone to an eight-team playoff format, instead of the seven-team format that currently exists, the result of the Seahawks would not matter.
NFL releases statement regarding eight-team playoff
According to the League office, the NFL is not rescheduling the Bills vs. Bengals game and will consider a neutral site AFC Championship game, should the teams that qualify be affected by the no-contest in Week 17.
There are a number of scenarios that will affect this decision. Those are laid out here. The League is meeting tomorrow in a Special League Meeting to discuss and decide on the special resolution concerning these decisions. Unfortunately for the Lions, they now still need a Seahawks loss to qualify for the playoffs.
