The NFC playoff pictures is becoming more and more clear. Week 8, in particular, seemed to separate the contenders from the pretenders, and for a team like the Detroit Lions—who were on their bye week—it was a productive set of games. Not only did two of three division foes lose, but one of the top playoff contenders in the division also caught their third loss of the season, and while Detroit still lags behind the frustratingly mediocre Green Bay Packers, the Lions are creating distance ahead of the teams behind them.
Let’s take a look at the overall NFC standings through Week 8, with “Monday Night Football” still to come. We’ll start, as always, with a look at the Lions’ division.
NFC North standings:
- Packers: 5-1-1
- Lions: 5-2
- Bears: 4-3
- Vikings: 3-4
It was nearly a perfect week for the Lions’ bye, but the Packers mounted a comeback on Sunday night, erasing a nine-point halftime deficit by outscoring the Steelers 28-9 in the second half. They maintain a half-game lead on the Lions, and while they have the tiebreaker over Detroit due to their head-to-head win, that is not likely to come into play since Green Bay has a tie.
But with the Bears and Vikings losing decisively, the Lions have a bit of a breathing room, and it’s starting to look like this could be a two-team race for the division.
NFC playoff picture:
Division leaders:
- Packers: 5-1-1
- Eagles: 6-2
- Buccaneers: 6-2
- Seahawks: 5-2
Wild Card race (top three advance)
- Lions: 5-2
- Rams: 5-2
- 49ers: 5-3
- Bears: 4-3
- Panthers: 4-4
- Cowboys: 3-4-1
- Falcons: 3-4
- Vikings: 3-4
- Commanders: 3-4
While the Lions didn’t get help at the top of the conference—the Eagles and Buccaneers pulled out wins—the teams at the bottom of the playoff race struggled immensely in Week 8. The 49ers, Bears, Panthers, Cowboys, Falcons, and Vikings all lost—and the Commanders have a tough matchup on Monday night against the Chiefs, and they’ll have to try to win without starting quarterback Jayden Daniels.
To me, it looks like the NFC is starting to split into contenders and pretenders, and if I’m being honest, it doesn’t look like the Lions should be worried about losing a playoff spot. Of the teams currently on the outside looking in, who actually looks good right now? The Bears lost to a floundering Ravens team. The Panthers got smoked by the Bills. The Falcons were blown out by a Dolphins team that may be worst in the NFL. The Vikings were outclassed by the Chargers.
So, the question instead is how high can the Lions climb? Right now they’re as high as they can go while not leading the division. That means, it’s all about hanging with—and,hopefully eventually eclipsing—the Packers.
Here’s a look at each team’s next four games in the lead up to the Lions/Packers Thanksgiving matchup that should be the biggest game of the year.
Lions’ next four games:
- vs. Vikings (3-4)
- at Commanders (3-4)
- at Eagles (6-2)
- vs. Giants (2-6)
Packers’ next four games:
- vs. Panthers (4-4)
- vs. Eagles (6-2)
- at Giants (2-6)
- vs. Vikings (3-4)
Things are about to heat up in November.
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