Detroit Lions Week 14 rooting guide: Best outcomes for playoff odds

It’s been a miserable week for Detroit Lions playoff odds. Based on the results of the four games already played in Week 14, the Lions’ playoff odds plummeted from 73% to 32%, according to the New York Times simulator. These three outcomes were incredibly harmful to Detroit’s postseason chances:

• Packers over Lions

• Cowboys over Chiefs

• Bears over Eagles

Sunday doesn’t provide much relief for Detroit, as the most important games are already over. However, there is some hope in Sunday’s results. If four results go the Lions’ way—admittedly, most would be upsets—Detroit’s playoff odds will increase to about 38%.

Let’s break it down:

49ers (8-4) at Browns (3-8) — 1 p.m. ET — CBS

Who to root for: Browns

The 49ers are one of the more likely teams the Lions could jump in the playoff standings, seeing as they’re only a game behind them. Though the current tiebreaker system (explained more here) really has the Lions more like two games behind San Francisco, if the 49ers slip up here, it would open up far more possibilities for Detroit jumping them.

Rams (9-2) at Panthers (6-6) — 1 p.m. ET — FOX

Who to root for: Panthers

With Detroit 3.5 games behind the Rams, it seems highly unlikely they’ll catch them. But if Detroit gets hot and the Rams slip up this week (and maybe next week at Arizona), the game between the Lions and Rams could swing the outlook in a hurry.

Cardinals (3-8) at Buccaneers (6-5) — 1 p.m. ET — FOX

Who to root for: Cardinals

This game matters the least of the group today, because an NFC South team is unlikely to be a factor in the Wild Card race, be it the Bucs or the Panthers. But just for good measure, give the Cardinals a win here.

Vikings (4-7) at Seahawks (8-3) — 4:05 p.m. ET — FOX

Who to root for: Vikings

While it seems wrong to root for the Vikings, Minnesota’s playoff odds (currently 1%) are so low, they are of little concern. Instead, focus on a Seahawks team currently in the first Wild Card spot. With games remaining against the Colts, Rams, and 49ers, they could have a late-season slide that Detroit could take advantage of.

If these results go in the Lions’ direction….

The NFC standings would look like this after Week 14

1. Bears: 9-3

2. Rams: 9-3

3. Eagles: 8-4

4. Panthers: 7-6

Wild Card race (top three advance)

1. Packers: 8-3-1

2. Seahawks: 8-4

3. 49ers: 8-5

4. Lions: 7-5

5. Cowboys: 6-5-1

6. Buccaneers: 6-6

In this case, the Lions would be just a half-game (but 1.5 games with the current tiebreaker) behind the 49ers, a game behind the Seahawks (with the same conference record), and a tad closer to the Rams, should they fall out of the NFC West lead.

Admittedly, this is all very unlikely, but desperate times call for desperate rooting guides.