NFL 2017/18: Why Detroit Lions are set to get number six seed in NFC

With two games to go for everyone in the 2017/18 NFL season, there is still a lot left to be decided. Upon ruminating on such a possibility during a few days ago, it appears as if the Detroit Lions will get the number six seed in the NFC Playoffs.

The Detroit Lions currently have an eight-six record in the season. They play on the road against a lifeless Cincinnati Bengals (5-9) team this week. If one expects things to go according to prevailing form, Detroit are set to win that contest. Detroit then host the Green Bay Packers (7-7) in week 17 without Aaron Rodgers. With momentum on their side, Detroit are looking as favourites for this game as well.

Detroit cannot just run the table to make it to the post-season. They also need some help as well. If the Atlanta Falcons (9-5) win one of their next two games, the Lions will be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention because the Falcons own the head-to-head tie breaker. It is pertinent to note that Atlanta had beat Detroit 30-26 in week three.

Atlanta have two tough games. They play the New Orleans Saints (10-4) on the road this week. The Falcons then play the Carolina Panthers (10-4) at home in week 17. The Falcons could very well lose both of those games as the Saints and Panthers seem to be in better form than them.

The biggest bullet that the Detroit Lions have dodged is that the Seattle Seahawks (8-6) and Dallas Cowboys (8-6) play each other this week. To be honest, it does not matter too much for the Lions because they would win a tiebreaker with Seattle and Dallas if any of those two teams finished 10-6.

Detroit will be hoping for everything to go their way. However, will things actually happen according to their expectations becomes another story. As things stand at the moment, the Lions are poised to make it back to the post-season. This would be a good thing for quarterback Matthew Stafford because he could show that Stafford was worth the money. In what could make a huge difference in the coming games, the Lions also have a very underrated defense that can bail the team out of tough situations.