Game result: It was close for a time, but the Lions eventually pulled ahead and things are looking quite good for them after beating Chicago, 34-17, on Sunday. They’re in control of the top seed in the NFC, as well as the NFC North, though the Vikings play in the afternoon and are close enough that Detroit hasn’t clinched either of those things jut yet. They still hold multiple significant tiebreaks over Minnesota, who they play in Week 18.
NFL playoff picture: What does Lions-Bears mean for NFC standings
The Lions faced the Bears in Chicago on Sunday. We break down what the game means for the NFL playoff picture.
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Earlier in the season, the matchup between the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions appeared to be much more interesting, but as the Bears have imploded, this looks like just another speed bump for the Lions. Detroit lost their second game of the season last weekend to the Buffalo Bills, but the Lions are still in the driver’s seat in the NFC and the NFC North.
The Lions are favorites this week, and FanDuel Sportsbook has them at -6.5 despite the game taking place in the friendly confines of Soldier Field in Chicago.
Lions playoff picture
Detroit controls their own destiny to the one seed; if they win out, they are top dog. The Lions play the Vikings in Week 18, and that could determine who ends up on top of the NFC North and could be for the top of the NFC, too.
Beat the Bears, beat the 49ers, beat the Vikings and you don’t have to worry about anything else.
Tiebreaker implications
The Lions and Vikings are very close. Detroit is 4-0 in the division while Minnesota is 3-1, so if the Lions win this weekend, it will clinch at worst a tie for that tiebreaker for Detroit. It will also keep them at least one game ahead of Minnesota in NFC record and help Detroit in the common games tiebreaker. The Lions are crushing the Vikings in Strength of Victory if it gets that far, so they are looking pretty good.
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