(CBS-DETROIT) – Fresh from them ninth win in a row and with their annual Thanksgiving game scheduled, the Detroit Lions could earn their second straight playoff bid this week, but they’ll need some help.
Detroit has won 10 of its first 11 games, including one 24-6 win over the Indianapolis Colts last weekend for his sixth victory in a row. The Lions (10-1) host the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. It’s Detroit’s 85th Thanksgiving Day game.
Scenarios for Detroit Lions playoff berth
Here are the six scenarios in which the Lions clinch a playoff spot this weekend, according to the NFL.
- Win in Detroit + Loss or Draw in San Francisco + Loss or Draw in Arizona + Loss in Seattle + Loss or Draw in Tampa Bay
- Detroit win + San Francisco loss or draw + Arizona loss + Seattle draw + Tampa Bay loss or draw
- Win in Detroit + loss or draw in San Francisco + loss or draw in Arizona + loss in Seattle + loss or draw in Washington + loss in Atlanta
- Win in Detroit + loss or draw in San Francisco + loss or draw in Arizona + loss in Seattle + loss in Washington + draw in Atlanta
- Detroit win + San Francisco loss or draw + Arizona loss + Seattle draw + Washington loss or draw + Atlanta loss
- Detroit win + San Francisco loss or draw + Arizona loss + Seattle draw + Washington loss + Atlanta draw
In addition to the Lions, the Buffalo Bills (9-2) and Kansas City Chiefs (10-1) could also earn playoff bids this weekend.
Believe it or not, the Bills could win the AFC East this weekend with a win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday and a loss at the Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving night.
The Chiefs can secure a playoff berth with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Black Friday and a loss at Miami on Thanksgiving, or with a win on Friday and a loss to the Denver Broncos on Monday.
The Lions lead the Vikings (9-2) by one game in a close NFC North race and maintain the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Green Bay Packers are 8-3, while the Bears have dropped five in a row to fall to 4-7.
You can watch Thursday’s Lions-Bears game only on CBS Detroit at 12:30 p.m., with pregame coverage starting at 11 a.m.
