With three games to go, the Lions are now in the driver’s seat to earn a first-round playoff bye. The question is whether they can stay there.
Detroit won and Seattle lost on Sunday, putting the Lions a half-game ahead of the Seahawks. However, the Lions’ three remaining games are against three teams with winning records, while the Seahawks’ three remaining games are against three teams with losing records. So there’s still a good chance that Seattle will move ahead of Detroit.
Here’s what the NFC playoff picture looks like through 13 games:
LEADERS
1. Cowboys (11-2): Despite losing on Sunday night, Dallas still controls the conference.
2. Lions (9-4): With the Giants, Cowboys and Packers remaining, the schedule gets tougher.
3. Seahawks (8-4-1): With the Rams, Cardinals and 49ers remaining, the schedule gets easier.
4. Falcons (8-5): Atlanta owns the tiebreaker over Tampa Bay because of a better winning percentage against common opponents.
5. Giants (9-4): Still alive in the NFC East race.
6. Buccaneers (8-5): Ahead in the wild card race by half a game.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
7. Washington (7-5-1): Half a game out, thanks to a tie in London.
8. Vikings (7-6): Minnesota currently owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Green Bay, but they’ve got another meeting coming.
9. Packers (7-6): The way Green Bay is playing now, the rest of the NFC has to hope the Packers don’t make the playoffs.
10. Cardinals (5-7-1): Sunday’s loss ended any hope they had.
11. Saints (5-8): Owns the tiebreakers over the Panthers and Eagles, for whatever that’s worth.
12. Panthers (5-8): The reigning NFC champs are just playing out the string at this point.
13. Eagles (5-8): Looked great early in the season, not so much anymore.
14. Rams (4-9): Have to win out just to get some 7-9 BS.
15. Bears (3-10): Nearly played spoiler in Detroit on Sunday, could still do it with games against Green Bay, Washington and Minnesota ahead.
16. 49ers (1-12): Rooting for the Browns, for draft purposes.
