Getting to the playoffs in the NFL take hard work, dedication and wins. But, it also takes luck, and the Detroit Lions got a little lucky on Sunday, November 30, with some events that benefited them.
Before Sunday, the Detroit Lions fell to NFC North rivals the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving, pushing their record to 7-5 for the season and on the outside looking in for playoff hopes. Then, the Lions got hit with more bad news on Friday, November 28, when the Chicago Bears beat the Philadelphia Eagles, making Ben Johnson and the Bears not only No. 1 in the NFC North but also in the entire NFC.
But, it’s not all doom and gloom. Anything can happen in the NFL, and anything does happen, especially on game day. Over the weekend, some games went down that actually helped the Lions in the playoff picture, and now, there’s more hope than there was after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Sunday Games Benefited the Detroit Lions
It’s a tough time to be a Lion, but it’s even tougher to be a Viking. Minnesota dropped their game against the Seahawks on Sunday, November 30, with a 26-0 final score. Now, the Minnesota Vikings are officially out of the playoff picture, according to NFL research, and that helps the Lions, since they’re both in the NFC North.
That wasn’t all. Also on Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams lost to the Carolina Panthers in a surprise 31-28 final score. That hurt the Rams’ stellar record and took them to 9-3 for the season. But, the bigger win was not having to worry about the Vikings anymore.
Now, the Lions may have to worry about eventually going up against the Rams or Seahawks in the playoffs, who are both at the top of the NFC, but if Detroit even gets to the playoffs, that will be huge for the franchise. It’s going to be crucial that the Lions win out their season, and that starts on Thursday, December 4, against the Dallas Cowboys.
More Hope on the Horizon for the Detroit Lions
The Lions take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 21, and the team’s franchise quarterback, a player you may have heard of called Aaron Rodgers, is dealing with a wrist injury. If he can’t play for that game, or if his talent is compromised, that will also help the Lions.
The team’s backup quarterback Mason Rudolph had mediocre numbers, according to NFL research. He completed 24-of-31 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown when he was filling in for Rodgers during last week’s game against the Chicago Bears, which they lost. Rudolph also threw an interception and lost a fumble.
The Detroit Lions could certainly be in a worse place at this point in the season, but they could also be in a better spot. What hurts is that so many of the games the team has dropped could have been won with more conservative, or some would say smarter, play calling. It’s crunch time for Dan Campbell and this team. The Lions are built with grit, and this is the time to show it.
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