Last week went about as well as the Detroit Lions could have hoped, as the franchise chases its first playoff berth since 2016. Not only did the team take care of business at home against the division-leading Minnesota Vikings, but saw two teams they’re chasing in the standings stumble.
There’s still plenty of work to do, and, as always, the first priority is taking care of the upcoming opponent. This week, the Lions hit the road for the first time in a month, looking to win a third straight away from Ford Field when they battle the New York Jets.
Here’s what else Lions fans should be rooting for in pursuit of a spot in the postseason.
▶ San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, 8:15 p.m.
Any thought the 49ers might be susceptible to a late-season collapse following quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s season-ending injury — present company included — were quieted by the performance of rookie backup Brock Purdy. The seventh-round draft pick masterfully steered the team to victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday.
The Seahawks didn’t have the same success, tumbling out of the final spot in the NFC after getting upset at home by the Panthers, who ran for 223 yards in the victory. That proved to be a gift for the Lions, who need that kind of help — and more — if they’re going to backdoor their way into the postseason after starting the year 1-6.
Detroit still trails Seattle by a game in the standings and having lost a head-to-head matchup earlier in the season, it’s essentially a two-game lead. A loss to San Francisco, paired with Detroit taking care of New York, will draw them even in the standings. And with the Seahawks facing a daunting road matchup in Kansas City the following week, the door is open for the Lions to jump a key hurdle.
▶ Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings, Saturday, 1 p.m.
This is the most unrealistic of scenarios, but if the Lions were to win out and the Vikings were to drop their final four games, the Lions would win the NFC North by virtue of the divisional record tie-breaker. There’s less than a 1% chance of it happening, but we feel obligated to mention the infinitesimal possibility.
Assuming the Vikings best the Colts, claiming the North’s crown, they’ll maintain the conference’s No. 2 seed. That would make them the most likely opponent in the Wild-Card round if the Lions were to get in.
▶ Dallas Cowboys at Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, 1 p.m.
While there’s some value in the Jaguars winning, for draft-stock purposes, Lions fans would be better served by a Cowboys victory, keeping them in hot pursuit of a top seed in the conference. Facing a date with the Commanders in the final week of the season, the Lions want to avoid the Cowboys being in a position where it makes sense to rest their starters.
▶ Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears, Sunday, 1 p.m.
The Cowboys are two games back of the Eagles, so the other half of that equation is Detroit would benefit from Philadelphia unexpectedly tripping up in the next few weeks.
That’s unlikely here, against the lowly Bears, but if it doesn’t happen at some point, there’s a real risk the Eagles will be resting some players when they host the Giants to close the season.
▶ New York Giants at Washington Commanders, Sunday, 8:25 p.m.
Holding the final two seeds in the NFC, the Giants and Commanders are both 7-5-1 on the season, giving both a 1½-game lead on the Lions. And while it would be nice if they found a way to tie for the second time in three weeks, that’s not likely.
Honestly, who you’re rooting for in this one will be based on your opinion of which team has a tougher finish. Washington still has to play at San Francisco, plus home tilts against Cleveland and Dallas to close out the year. Meanwhile, New York travels to Minnesota and Philadelphia, sandwiched around hosting Indianapolis.
Both finishes offer pitfalls, but, in our opinion, the Giants have been playing worse in recent weeks and offer the better opportunity to catch in the standings. So put your rooting interest behind the Commanders this week.
▶ Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers, Monday, 8:15 p.m.
As long as the Lions keep winning, the Packers can’t catch them. That said, a victory by the loathed division rival is the preferred outcome, helping preserve the value of the first-round pick the Lions are getting from the Rams next year.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers