Tag: NFC Playoff

NFC Playoff Picture: Lions effectively down to one contender for No. 1 seed

A look at the Detroit Lions and the NFC playoff picture with two weeks to play shows a clear path to being the No. 1 seed

The Detroit Lions got back on track with a 34-17 win over the Chicago Bears to move to 13-2 and continue to close in on the No. 1 seed, the first-round bye and home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs. They also watched as the Philadelphia Eagles lost in the final seconds against the Washington Commanders to fall to 12-3. That loss all but eliminates the Eagles from No. 1 seed contention.

The Lions were close to standing as the only 13-win team in the NFC but the pesky Minnesota Vikings escaped Seattle with a 27-24 win over the Seahawks to also get to 13-2. The two teams look to be on a collision course for the division crown and the top seed in Week 18.

However, there is actually a chance the Lions can secure the top seed next week. If the Lions defeat the San Francisco 49ers next Monday and the Vikings lose to the Green Bay Packers, the Lions would wrap everything up. In that scenario, the worst-case scenario would be the Lions, Vikings and Eagles all finishing 14-3. Detroit would win the division over Minnesota on division record, even if Minnesota wins Week 18 (Lions 5-1, Vikings 4-2). The Lions would then claim the No. 1 seed over the Eagles with a superior conference record (DET 10-2, PHI 9-3).

Minnesota cannot clinch the division next week. Even if they win and the Lions lose in Week 17, a Lions win in Week 18 would give them the division with the season sweep of the Vikings.

Then there’s this scenario: the Lions and Vikings both win in Week 17, setting up the showdown in Week 18 in Detroit. The winner claims the No. 1 seed at 15-2. The loser ends up as a 14-win No. 5 seed, which seems unfathomable, but very realistic.

Looking at the rest of the playoff picture, Philadelphia’s loss prevented them from clinching the NFC East. Their magic number is still at one to clinch the division and all but lock themselves into the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. Washington is now just one win away from securing a playoff spot of their own for the first time since 2020.

The Los Angeles Rams are now in the driver’s seat for the NFC West after their 19-9 win over the New York Jets. The only team that can catch them now in the division is Seattle. The Rams have a chance to clinch the division next week.

In the NFC South, entering Sunday Night Football, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold a half-game lead on the Atlanta Falcons after the Falcons cruised past the New York Giants. Atlanta has the tiebreaker via the season sweep of Tampa Bay, but if the Buccaneers win out, they win the division.

The Packers just need to win once to reach the playoffs and secure a Wild Card spot, just like the Commanders. The only teams left on the outside still in the hunt are the Seahawks and the Falcons. The Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints were all eliminated in Week 16.

NFC Playoff Standings (through Week 16 late-window games)

1. x-Detroit Lions 13-2
2. x-Philadelphia Eagles 12-3
3. Los Angeles Rams 9-6
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-6
5. x-Minnesota Vikings 13-2
6. Green Bay Packers 10-4
7. Washington Commanders 10-5

8. Seattle Seahawks 8-7
9. Atlanta Falcons 8-7

NFC standings update: Lions claim top seed after Week 7

NFC standings update: Lions claim top seed after Week 7

The Lions scored a big victory in Minnesota to move to 5-1 on the year. The win moves the Lions into first place in the NFC North, a division that now features three teams with five wins through seven weeks. The Packers improved to 5-2 after their own game-winning field goal to defeat the Houston Texans.

NFC North standings

1. Detroit Lions 5-1
2. Minnesota Vikings 5-1
3. Green Bay Packers 5-2
4. Chicago Bears 4-2

Not only did the Lions take over the top spot in the division, they moved into the top spot overall in the NFC. The only other team with five wins besides the three in the NFC North is the Washington Commanders at 5-2.

Thanks to Sunday’s results, the NFC North would currently send all four teams to the playoffs. The Lions would be the No. 1 seed and the Vikings, Packers and Bears would be the tbeee wild card teams. No division has ever sent every team to the playoffs. Time will tell if the NFC North becomes the first.

NFC Playoff standings

1. Detroit Lions 5-1
2. Washington Commanders 5-2
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-2
4. Seattle Seahawks 4-3
5. Minnesota Vikings 5-1
6. Green Bay Packers 5-2
7. Chicago Bears 4-2

Dan Campbell shouldn’t face criticism for playing starters

Lions head coach Dan Campbell shouldn’t face criticism for playing starters in Week 18

If you thought the Lions were going to sit their starters in the season finale, you’re probably new to watching the Detroit Lions play football under Dan Campbell.

Sitting players was never going to happen.

Even if the Lions were the number one seed, I wouldn’t have been surprised if we saw the starters on the field. It’s just not how Campbell and the Lions are built. Any chance they can compete and win a football game, they’re going to do that. It’s that simple.

No matter what I say, Campbell will face criticism for playing his starters against the Vikings. That includes playing tight end Sam LaPorta on Sunday. The criticism will be even louder now that LaPorta injured his knee and is probably out for the opening week of the playoffs.

Regardless, it was a lose-lose situation for Campbell and the Lions.

If they rested their starters and both the Eagles and Cowboys lost their games, the Lions would have been ridiculed. People would have been bashing the Lions for sitting their starters and not attempting to secure the two-seed.

Or they do what they did. They play their starters and take the risk of players getting injured. Regardless, injuries are going to happen with or without the starters in the game. That’s how football works.

Specifically on Sam LaPorta, the Lions have been only using two tight ends for the last several weeks due to injuries. Those two tight ends have been LaPorta and James Mitchell. Being down to just two players there is why we’ve been seeing more and more of Dan Skipper in the Lions offense.

All that said, playing starters is what just about every team in the playoffs did. Take a look at the 49ers. They were playing Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel against the Rams. The 49ers had nothing to play for and fortunately for them, neither player got hurt. But if you look at the Philadelphia Eagles, they had plenty to play for by winning the NFC East and clinching the two-seed in the NFC.

Unfortunately, their defensive back Sydney Brown suffered a torn ACL. He’s a week removed from a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown. Additionally, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts suffered an injury to his throwing hand and he could be limited in the playoffs.

Injuries happen. The timing for Sam LaPorta was unfortunate. We have no idea the intentions that Dan Campbell and the coaching staff had for their players. The Lions were minutes away from halftime and maybe they were planning on sitting Sam LaPorta, Amon-Ra St. Brown and other starters in the second half. It would have been surprising but again, we don’t know what the plan was going to be other than go out, win and put the pressure on the rest of the NFC.

For now, the Lions move onto the NFL playoffs with 12 wins for the first time since 1991. Meanwhile, they’ve got a division championship banner hanging in the rafters for the first time since 1993. For their first home playoff game in 30 years, they will welcome a former Detroit Lion. That player is quarterback Matthew Stafford and his Los Angeles Rams.

 

Happy Aniversary! The Minneapolis Miracle happened 5 years ago today

Five years ago today, the Vikings celebrated the Minneapolis Miracle

Great moments don’t always happen for the Minnesota Vikings, but when they do, they hit in a big way. Five years ago today, the Vikings gave us arguably the most memorable moment of all: the Minneapolis Miracle.

Throughout the 2022 season, we’ve seen many memorable moments from the Minnesota Vikings. Whether it’s the greatest comeback in NFL history in Week 15 against the Indianapolis Colts or the amazing catch from wide receiver Justin Jefferson in Week 10 against the Buffalo Bills, these moments are what make rooting for your favorite team memorable and provide stories to share for generations to come.

After leading 17-0 at halftime over the New Orleans Saints in the NFL Divisional round, the Vikings found themselves trailing with 10 seconds remaining and needing a miracle. Boy, did they deliver. Quarterback Case Keenum dropped back to pass and hit wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who just narrowly stayed in bounds and ran to the end zone for the game-winning touchdown in the most dramatic finish in playoff history.

“Pass is caught! Diggs! Sideline! Touchdown! Unbelieveable! Vikings win it!”

Ask any fan where they were or how they celebrated the events after this dramatic finish, and the answers will all be full of joy and disbelief. It’s a moment we, as Vikings fans, will continue to celebrate every year.

NFC playoff picture: Where the Eagles stand entering Week 13

#NFC #playoff picture: Where the Philadelphia #Eagles stand entering Week 13

The Eagles entered Week 12 against the Giants with the momentum of a two-game winning streak and a potential late-season playoff run.

The winning streak went up in flames, but Philadelphia’s playoff hopes remain intact despite the embarrassing loss, and as the team prepares for a matchup with the Jets, we’re breaking down the playoff picture going forward.

What does Bears’ win mean for Vikings?

The Chicago Bears beat the Dallas Cowboys 31-24 on Thursday Night Football, improving to 7-6 on the season.

The Chicago Bears beat the Dallas Cowboys 31-24 on Thursday Night Football, improving to 7-6 on the season.

With the loss, Dallas falls to 6-7 on the season.

What does Chicago’s win mean for the NFC playoff prospects?

Chicago is 1.5 games back from the Vikings in the wild card hunt with the Vikings set to play the Lions on Sunday. Minnesota should win that game, but if the Vikings were to lose, things would get real interesting in the NFC wild card hunt.

The Bears have the tiebreaker over the Vikings, but the two teams do play again in Week 17 at U.S. Bank Stadium.

As of now, the Bears have just a five percent chance to make the postseason, but if the Vikings fall to the Lions and the Rams (who are 7-5) fall to the Seahawks in Week 14, that numbers jumps to 15 percent.

If the Vikings beat Detroit, their percentage to make the playoffs increases to 82 percent, per FiveThirtyEight.