The Detroit Lions’ playoff hopes are lifeless. It’s a horrible improvement, and I’m certain many Lions followers are checked out due to it.
But for individuals who are staying, there are nonetheless some stakes left within the ultimate two weeks of the 2025 NFL season. Most notably, the Lions’ draft place continues to be in flux. As of proper now, at 8-8, the Lions maintain the fifteenth place within the first spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft. They can’t bounce into the top-10, however right here’s a take a look at the groups outdoors the top-10.
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Following information is from Tankathon:
11. Dolphins: 6-9 (.488 energy of schedule)
12. Falcons: 6-9 (.502)*
13. Buccaneers: 7-8 (.529)
14. Cowboys: 7-8-1 (.435)
15. Lions: 8-8 (.492)
16. Ravens: 8-8 (.502)
17. Vikings: 8-8 (.511)
18. Colts: 8-7 (.533)**
*decide belongs to Rams
** decide belongs to Jets
Remember that the tiebreaker for draft place is energy of schedule, not head-to-head. So the Lions may nonetheless theoretically bounce to as excessive as 11, provided that their energy of schedule is definitely decrease than most groups on this listing. With this in thoughts, listed below are the groups you have to be rooting for in Week 17 to maximise the Lions’ draft place.
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Buccaneers at Dolphins — 1 p.m. ET — FOX
Who to root for: Buccaneers
Either result’s helpful for the Lions, as a result of they will technically go each groups in draft order. However, the Lions are far much less more likely to bounce Miami as a result of the Dolphins must win each of their remaining video games and lose the energy of schedule tiebreaker, which they at the moment personal over the Lions.
But if the Bucs win—they usually have a whole lot of motivation to take action with their NFC South hopes nonetheless alive—the Lions will instantly bounce yet one more spot in draft place.
Jaguars at Colts — 1 p.m. ET — FOX
Who to root for: Colts
The Colts have been eradicated from the playoffs and the Jaguars are nonetheless making an attempt to carry off the Texans for the AFC South lead, so that is admittedly a not possible situation.
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However, the excellent news is that even when the Colts lose and drop to 8-8, they’ll seemingly keep behind the Lions in draft order due to their robust energy of schedule.
Steelers at Browns — 1 p.m. ET — CBS
Who to root for: Browns
The Lions can’t catch the 3-12 Browns, however this result’s looking forward to Week 18. If the Steelers win this recreation, they’ll clinch the AFC North, eliminating the Ravens—a group the Lions wish to see proceed to win—from playoff rivalry. With the Steelers and Ravens taking part in subsequent week, it’s both going to be a very meaningless recreation for each groups (Steelers may possibly be taking part in for the third vs. fourth seed if they’ve the division wrapped up) or a recreation for the AFC North title. I believe a Ravens win is barely extra seemingly in a situation that recreation is for the division. Also, screw Aaron Rodgers.
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Seahawks at Panthers — 1 p.m ET — CBS
Bears at 49ers — 8:20 p.m. ET — NBC
Who to root for: Panthers and Bears
Okay, bear with me, as a result of this going to get a little bit darkish. If you’re rooting for draft place, you’re most likely one of many individuals who need the Lions to lose in Week 18 vs. the Bears. What’s one of the simplest ways to make that occur? Have some critical stakes in that recreation for Chicago.
If the Bears beat the 49ers this week and the Seahawks lose to the Panthers, Chicago would bounce to the NFC’s high seed. That would imply if the Bears may clinch a first-round bye with a win over the Lions in Week 18. Those are large stakes for Chicago with the Lions solely taking part in for delight.
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I can’t carry myself to root for this situation, however in case you take a look at issues from a strictly sensible situation, that is the perfect final result.
Rams at Falcons — 8:15 p.m. ET Monday — ESPN
Who to root for: Falcons
This is one other long-shot final result with the Rams making an attempt to claw their method again into the NFC West lead and the Falcons lifeless. Atlanta would additionally must win out for the Lions to leap them, so don’t count on that to occur.