Our Detroit Lions rooting guide is back! Here are the best possible outcomes for Week 10 and how it’ll impact the NFC playoff picture.
We’re officially into the double digits with Week 10 of the 2024 NFL season, and that means it’s time to start thinking about the playoffs. The Detroit Lions enter the week atop the NFC with a 7-1 record. Clearly, the goal right now is to not only win the division but capture the conference’s No. 1 seed and earn that first-round bye.
In order to do that, the Lions need to keep winning, but it also wouldn’t hurt to get some help from other teams.
So let’s take a look at what other outcomes matter in the official return of our Detroit Lions Rooting Guide.
Patriots (2-7) vs. Bears (4-4) — 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
Root for: Patriots
The Bears are on a two-game skid, and this is—by far—their easiest remaining game. If they drop this one to the lowly Patriots, you may as well kiss their playoff chances goodbye. Here are their remaining games: vs. Packers, vs. Vikings, at Lions, at 49ers, at Vikings, vs. Lions, vs. Seahawks, at Packers.
Falcons (6-3) at Saints (2-7) — 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
Root for: Saints
The Saints are dead after losing seven straight, firing their head coach this week. If they can get the interim head coach bump against the Falcons, it would serve the Lions well. The Falcons are in the driver’s seat in the NFC South, not only because of their two-game lead in the division but also because they’re 4-0 in divisional play.
In other words, the Falcons are almost certainly going to finish with a top-four seed and could be a sneaky challenger for the top seed.
49ers (4-4) at Buccaneers (4-5) — 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
Root for: Buccaneers
It seems odd to root for the one team who has the tiebreaker of the Lions, but the Buccaneers seem like they’re in a lot of trouble with their injury situation, and Detroit would have to finish the season 5-4 at best for the Bucs to even have a chance to catch them.
Instead, there’s at least a minor concern that the 49ers could turn things around now that they’re getting healthier (Christian McCaffrey returns this week).
Steelers (6-2) at Commanders (7-2) — 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Root for: Steelers
Maybe the most important game of the week for Detroit fans. The Commanders are this year’s surprise team, and they’re just a half-game behind the Lions right now for the one seed. Given Washington does not have a tough schedule ahead (games vs. Cowboys X2, Titans, and Saints), it would be nice for them to start accumulating some losses to give the Lions some breathing room atop the conference.
Vikings (6-2) at Jaguars (2-7) — 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
Root for: Jaguars
Probably not a lot of hope in rooting for the Jaguars here, since Trevor Lawrence is not expected to play. But it sure would be a nice shock to the Vikings’ system to lose to one of the worst teams in the league.
Eagles (6-2) at Cowboys (3-5) — 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
Root for: Cowboys
Speaking of terrible teams, the Cowboys are dead ever since Detroit’s massacre in Week 6. With Dak Prescott out for the year, their season is hopeless. So if they could just take down an Eagles team that is right on the Commanders’ heels, that would be great. Chris Christie would be proud.
Jets (3-6) at Cardinals (5-4) — 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
Root for: Jets
The Cardinals aren’t likely a big threat to Detroit, given the Lions have a 2.5-game lead and the head-to-head tiebreaker. Still, they’re playing decent football right now and surprisingly lead the NFC West. Always root for AFC over NFC, even if it means rooting for…. that quarterback.
Dolphins (2-6) at Rams (4-4) — Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Root for: Dolphins
The Rams have won three in a row, and look to be serious contenders for the NFC West crown. Again, the Lions have a commanding three-game + tiebreaker lead over the Rams, so they aren’t the biggest threat to Detroit. But it’s another AFC over NFC situation.
If all of the preferred outcomes above happen, combined with a Lions win over the Texans, here’s what the NFC playoff standings would look like:
NFC North
- Lions: 8-1
- Vikings: 6-3
- Packers: 6-3
- Bears: 4-5
A two-game lead with eight games left would be pretty nice heading into the final two months of the season. Remember, Detroit also holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Vikings and Packers, although they can still even that up later in the season.
NFC playoff standings:
Division leaders
- Lions: 8-1
- Commanders: 7-3
- Falcons: 6-4
- Cardinals: 5-5
Wild Card standings
5. Vikings: 6-3
6. Eagles: 6-3
7. Packers: 6-3
8. Buccaneers; 5-5
t-9. Bears: 4-5
t-9. Rams: 4-5
t-9. Seahawks: 4-5
t-9. Cowboys: 4-5
No extra commentary needed. That looks gooooooooooooooood.
