The three eventualities for the Detroit Lions after their playoff sport in opposition to the Rams – Detroit Information

Allen Park — The Detroit Lions are within the playoffs, however the bracket is not minimize and dry like an NCAA basketball event. Think about this a reminder that the NFL reseeds the remaining groups after every spherical, so the Lions face a number of eventualities for the second weekend, in the event that they’re in a position to advance previous the Los Angeles Rams within the wild-card spherical.
Listed here are all the probabilities for the Lions past Sunday evening:
If the Lions advance, successful the franchise’s first playoff sport since 1992, their most certainly opponent within the divisional spherical can be the Cowboys in Dallas. That is as a result of the Cowboys are the No. 2 seed, whereas the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers, who’ve a bye this week, would draw the bottom remaining seed within the convention. That is both defending NFC champion Philadelphia or NFC South winner Tampa Bay.
After all, everyone knows why the Cowboys have the No. 2 seed as a substitute of the Lions: A reporting-as-eligible fiasco that overturned a profitable and sure game-winning two-point conversion. That play despatched the Lions dwelling with a hard-luck loss to the Cowboys in late December, refueling the Detroit-vs.-All people narrative within the course of.
Clearly, the Lions would love nothing greater than to return and take their revenge by knocking the Cowboys out of the playoffs. It could additionally assist the franchise exorcise some demons from a 2014-15 playoff loss in Dallas, when extra controversial officiating performed a task within the final result, after a flag for defensive go interference in opposition to the Cowboys was picked up within the fourth quarter, resulting in a Lions punt and a game-winning drive for the opposition.
Internet hosting one other sport at Ford Subject is not out of the query, however there’s just one path to that within the divisional spherical — the Inexperienced Bay Packers, because the seventh and lowest seed within the NFC, need to beat the Cowboys. That will be no small feat.
Regardless of proudly owning the rivalry lately, with 9 wins previously 10 conferences, the Packers are a landing underdog in opposition to a Cowboys workforce that hasn’t misplaced at dwelling this season, and simply as soon as previously two years. Their solely defeat throughout that stretch was final yr’s season opener. And the exclamation level on this run is their common margin of victory at dwelling this season was 21.5 factors.
But when the Packers pull it off, it means the Lions would welcome the winner of Monday’s sport between the Eagles and Buccaneers. With the latter, you initially really feel fairly good about it, based mostly on an earlier-season assembly, the place the Lions went on the street and beat the Buccaneers handily, 20-6.
The Eagles, in the meantime, are nonetheless potent. They’ve clearly been struggling as of late, shedding 5 of six coming into the dance, however they’re lower than two months faraway from successful 10 of their first 11 video games. And with an offense led by Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, they’re greater than able to placing up factors in a rush.
However much more attention-grabbing than Philadelphia’s offense is the workforce’s protection, which is presently being coordinated by former Lions coach Matt Patricia, who received a late-season promotion into the function. You assume you are sick of the story strains heading into the Rams sport? Think about that, however with an added dose of disdain from this fan base. Regardless, there is no doubt it will be compelling.
Clearly, there aren’t any ensures the Lions win on Sunday. The Rams are a formidable opponent, and so they’re coming to city on a heater, having received seven of their ultimate eight video games.
So, if the Lions lose, the long run rapidly shifts from one other playoff sport to April’s draft. The workforce would not presently have a decided spot within the order as a result of the NFL waits for the playoff groups to be eradicated earlier than slotting them. And since the Lions had such a robust common season, there is just one potential spot they’ll choose if they’re unceremoniously bounced on Sunday: twenty fourth total.
The primary 18 picks have already been established, with the groups that did not qualify for the postseason, and the following six spots shall be decided after Monday evening’s sport in Tampa. However, of the wild-card groups in each conferences, solely the Cowboys can match the Lions’ 12 regular-season wins.
And on the subject of draft order, the tie-breaking course of is a bit of completely different. The primary, and usually solely required tie-breaker is energy of schedule. The workforce with the weaker schedule picks first, so if each the Lions and Cowboys lose this week, Detroit would find yourself behind Dallas within the draft order.
It is much more tough to search out high-level affect that late within the first spherical, however it’s potential. Lately, the No. 24 spot has produced working again Josh Jacobs, vast receiver D.J. Moore and defensive finish Cam Jordan. Oh, and a few man named Aaron Rodgers.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
@Justin_Rogers
▶ Kickoff: 8 p.m., Sunday, Ford Subject
▶ TV/radio: NBC/97.1
▶ Data: Los Angeles (10-7), Detroit (12-5)
▶ Line: Lions by 3
▶ Outlook: The Lions shall be taking part in their first dwelling playoff sport because the 1993 season.

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