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How can the Detroit Lions clinch a playoff berth? Here are 16 scenarios

dave birkett, detroit free press
·2 min read
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With a little bit of help, the Detroit Lions can clinch their first playoff berth in seven years this weekend.

The Lions (9-4) host the Denver Broncos (7-6) on Saturday night at Ford Field and can end their postseason drought with a win or a tie under 16 different scenarios.

Under every scenario, the Lions need at least two other games to break their way to lock up a spot in the postseason.

The Lions have the third-longest playoff drought in the NFL, behind only the New York Jets (no playoff appearances since 2010) and Broncos (2015). They haven't reached the postseason since the 2016 season, when they lost a wild-card game to the Seattle Seahawks on Jan. 7, 2017, and have not hosted a playoff game since losing to the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 8, 1994.

Left to right: Lions running back David Montgomery, quarterback Jared Goff, running back Jahmyr Gibbs and receiver Jameson Williams celebrate the go-ahead 1-yard touchdown by Montgomery vs. the Bears with 29 seconds remaining at Ford Field, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.
Left to right: Lions running back David Montgomery, quarterback Jared Goff, running back Jahmyr Gibbs and receiver Jameson Williams celebrate the go-ahead 1-yard touchdown by Montgomery vs. the Bears with 29 seconds remaining at Ford Field, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL: Lions 'highly aware' of Denver Broncos' ability to create turnovers

The Lions are at least one week away from guaranteeing themselves a home playoff game. They can win the NFC North with wins the next two weeks and one loss by the Minnesota Vikings (7-6). The Lions and Vikings play Dec. 24 in Minnesota.

Here are the 16 scenarios, per the NFL, in which the Lions can clinch a playoff spot this weekend:

  1. DET win + SEA loss or tie + GB loss or tie OR

  2. DET win + SEA loss or tie + MIN loss or tie OR

  3. DET win + SEA loss or tie + LAR loss or tie OR

  4. DET win + LAR loss or tie + MIN loss or tie + TB loss OR

  5. DET win + LAR loss or tie + ATL loss or tie + GB loss OR

  6. DET win + LAR loss or tie + MIN loss or tie + ATL loss or tie OR

  7. DET win + GB-TB tie + LAR loss or tie OR

  8. DET tie + TB loss + SEA loss + LAR loss OR

  9. DET tie + GB loss + SEA loss + LAR loss OR

  10. DET tie + LAR loss + SEA loss + ATL loss OR

  11. DET tie + GB loss + SEA loss + ATL loss or tie OR

  12. DET tie + MIN loss + SEA loss + LAR loss OR

  13. DET tie + GB loss + LAR loss + ATL loss or tie + NO loss or tie OR

  14. DET tie + GB-TB tie + MIN loss + SEA loss + LAR tie OR

  15. DET tie + GB-TB tie + MIN loss + SEA loss + ATL loss or tie OR

  16. DET tie + GB-TB tie + MIN loss + LAR loss + ATL loss or tie

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How can Detroit Lions clinch a playoff berth? Here are 16 ways