In a full-circle moment, the Detroit Lions are slated to take on former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, December 14, on the road. Stafford has faced the Lions in the past, but this time, more is at stake for both parties, but especially for the Rams, who with a 10-3 record are perched on top of the NFC West.
While the Lions have an 8-5 record going into the Rams game and playoff chances of 52%, the Rams are 10-3 and already have a 98% chance of making the postseason, according to research from the NFL. But, that doesn’t mean this game against the Lions isn’t important to them. It’s actually quite the contrary.
So, the Detroit Lions are in a position where they could be spoilers for the Los Angeles Rams and, in the process, make the Seattle Seahawks very happy. It all boils down to how Stafford and Lions quarterback Jared Goff face off against each other on Sunday, with both franchises having postseason goals on the line.
Detroit Lions Have Reasons to Take the Los Angeles Rams Down
Even though the Rams are shoo-ins to make the postseason, the December 14 game against the Lions is crucial to the franchise. The game has major implications for locking in the NFC West division title, a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
The NFC is competitive, as the Lions know well, and the Rams are in a close race with the 10-3 Seahawks to top the NFC West, with the two teams being tied right now for the top spot. A win would help the Rams maintain or better their spot in NFC and secure the lead over the Seahawks in the NFC West, depending on how Seattle’s game against the 8-5 Colts on Sunday.
So, if the Lions win, they’ll be quite the spoiler for Stafford and the Rams. But, more importantly, if the Detroit Lions in, it will greatly improve their own chances of getting higher in the NFC and climbing up in the competitive NFC North tally.
Detroit Lions Postseason Look
Following the team’s needed win over the Dallas Cowboys, the Lions have a 52% chance of making the playoffs, down 2% from last night Sunday’s numbers, after the full slate of Week 14 NFL games wrapped up on Monday, December 8. The NFC North standings have changed following the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers game, and now, the Bears are No. 2 in the NFC North standings. That makes the Detroit Lions only a game back of the Bears, and that makes the stakes higher for when the teams go u against each other in Week 18. The Packers currently have a 94% chance of making the playoffs, and the Bears are at 65%.
Those rooting for the Detroit Lions to go to the playoffs should cheer for the Packers when the team takes on the Bears in two weeks. Another Packers win would help the Lions’ playoff run, albeit difficult to root for either team, since they’re both longtime NFC North rivals.
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