DETROIT – We‘re midway through the NFL season, so let’s take a look at the playoff picture for the Detroit Lions.
NFC North race
The No. 1 priority for the Lions is to defend their NFC North title, because that not only guarantees a playoff spot, but at least one home game at Ford Field.
So far, that race is going very well.
The Lions are firmly in the driver’s seat through nine weeks, with a one-game lead over the Minnesota Vikings, a 1.5-game lead over the Green Bay Packers, and a three-game lead over the Chicago Bears.
Here’s the best part: Detroit already owns the first half of their head-to-head battles with the Vikings and Packers -- and both were on the road.
With wins at Minnesota and Green Bay already on the resume, the Lions have to feel great about their chances to win a second-straight NFC North title. If they can take care of business at home against those two teams, the division is nearly a lock.
The Lions host the Bears on Thanksgiving Day, the Packers the following Thursday, and the Vikings for the final game of the season. Their trip to Chicago is on Dec. 22.
Conference contenders
Right now, the NFC North is by far the best division in the conference. No other division has three teams with a winning record, and the North is the only division in the NFL with all four teams at or above .500.
But there are still a handful of teams that need to be taken seriously.
The San Francisco 49ers are off to a slow start, but they’re almost certainly going to end up winning the NFC West. Once Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel return, this roster becomes elite.
Fortunately, since the 49ers are 4-4, the Lions have a three-game lead in the race for seeding, which means they would get to host a potential playoff matchup. That’s much different than having to travel back to San Francisco.
The two teams will meet head-to-head in Week 17, on Monday Night Football.
Keep an eye on the Eagles and Commanders out east, too. The Eagles look like the team that was expected to compete for a Super Bowl last year, and the Commanders are 7-2 behind rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
So far, the Lions have clearly looked like the most dangerous team in the NFC, but the 49ers, Eagles, and Commanders appear to be the top contenders outside the North.
What about the AFC?
There are quite a few really good teams in the AFC, but so far, none have been better than the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Patrick Mahomes and company are the last remaining undefeated team in football, and they’re doing it behind an elite defense.
Buffalo isn’t far behind. Josh Allen is playing like an MVP, and the Bills have the best point differential in the NFL after Detroit.
Other teams in the mix include the Ravens, Texans, and Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers. Even the surprising Pittsburgh Steelers appear to be legit this season.
But as of now, if the Lions do make their first-ever Super Bowl, it feels like they’re on a collision course with the Chiefs or Bills.
Upcoming schedule
The Lions still have plenty of tough games on the schedule. In fact, four of their final nine opponents already have at least six wins, and only two have losing records.
Sunday night’s battle with the Texans will be a challenge, and those matchups with the Bills and in San Francisco will be must-see.
Don’t forget about those pesky Bears, either. They always give Detroit a battle.
The only two games against teams with losing records will come back-to-back after the Texans matchup: against Jacksonville and at Indianapolis.
It looks like the Lions have a legitimate shot to get the No. 1 seed in the NFC, but they’re certainly going to have to earn it.
