A detailed look at the NFC playoff race and the best outcomes for the Detroit Lions in Week 16.
You guys need to root harder this week.
Last week’s Detroit Lions rooting guide went a clean 0-7 in preferred outcomes. Heck, five of those outcomes didn’t really matter, but the universe decided that Lions fans would have absolutely no enjoyment from Week 15 football.
Hopefully, Week 16 is better, as the Lions face a Chicago Bears team on an eight-game losing streak and some of the other NFC contenders face some losable games. Here’s your Week 16 rooting guide + petty rooting guide.
Games that actually matter
Eagles (12-2) at Commanders (9-5) — 1 p.m. ET — FOX
Who to root for: Commanders
This is essentially the Eagles’ last game where they have a realistic chance of losing, as they face the 6-8 Cowboys and 2-12 Giants in the final two weeks (both at home). The Lions essentially hold all the relevant tiebreakers, so if Detroit wins and Philly loses this week, the Lions would hold a commanding one-game lead + the tiebreaker with only two games remaining.
Vikings (12-2) at Seahawks (8-6) — 4:05 p.m. ET — FOX
Who to root for: Seahawks
A Lions win + a Vikings loss would give Detroit the opportunity to clinch the NFC North next week with a win over the 49ers (or a Vikings loss to the Packers). Making Week 18 essentially irrelevant would be huge for a Lions team looking to rest and recuperate.
To be clear, if…
- The Lions beat the Bears
- The Eagles lose to the Commanders
- The Vikings lose to the Seahawks
… the Lions would be able to clinch the NFC’s No. 1 seed with a win over the 49ers in Week 17. That’s because the Lions would hold all of the relevant tiebreakers over both the Vikings (common games vs. Vikings, conference record vs. Eagles).
Petty rooting guide
Rams (8-6) vs. Jets (4-10) — 1 p.m. ET — CBS
Who to root for: Jets
Ignore the Aaron Rodgers factor in this game. If the Lions lose out on the NFC North, there is a very realistic chance that we have to endure “Matthew Stafford vs. Jared Goff 4.0” in Los Angeles for the Wild Card round of the playoffs. I don’t think I can take another week of that.
49ers (6-8) vs. Dolphins (6-8) — 4:25 p.m. ET — CBS
Who to root for: Dolphins
Yeah, I’m still mad about the NFC Championship game. Why wouldn’t I be? Plus, a 49ers loss would eliminate them from playoff contention ahead of their matchup with the Lions—leaving them with nothing but pride to play for. Meanwhile, the Lions will be looking for revenge.
Buccaneers (8-6) v s. Cowboys (6-8) — 8:20 p.m. ET — NBC
Who to root for:
- If the Commanders win: Buccaneers
- If the Commanders lose: Cowboys
Let me explain this one. Obviously, we want the Commanders to beat the Eagles. But if they fail to do so, it keeps the Cowboys’ playoff hopes alive. Why do we care? Because the Cowboys face the Eagles next week, and that will give them something to play for. But if the Cowboys lose to the Buccaneers, their playoff shots are done no matter what else happens.
Dallas is eliminated from the playoffs with a Commanders win. So if that happens, we already got the Eagles loss we need, and screw the Cowboys.
Saints (5-9) vs. Packers (10-4) — Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET — ESPN/ABC
Who to root for: Saints
The only way the Packers can win the NFC North is if the Lions and Vikings lose out and tie in their Week 18 matchup. So this is just purely an FTP.
