With Thursday’s turkey of a loss to the Chicago Bears, the Detroit Lions have officially been eliminated from postseason contention. It’s a mathematical confirmation of what has been the working reality over the last few weeks.
The loss dropped Detroit to 3-8-1. Both Green Bay and Minnesota have already topped 8 wins on the season in the NFC North, meaning the Lions have no chance of catching them; the best Detroit can finish is 7-8-1.
The strength at the top of the NFC shatters any longshot dreams. Seattle and San Francisco have also already surpassed the 8-win barrier in the NFC West. There is no mathematical possibility of the Lions finishing with a better record than either team, and that ends the Wild Card chase.
Washington has a worse overall record than Detroit at just 2-9, but the Redskins can still win the NFC East. Dallas’ loss in the late afternoon game on Thanksgiving drops the first-place Cowboys to 6-6. That’s how Washington remains alive despite being worse in the standings.
This is the earliest the Lions have been eliminated from postseason contention since 2010.
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