Detroit-Dallas Game

[Harlan Huckleby]

So we get to watch a second good and meaningful game this week. Merry Christmas.

Packers are lucky that New Orleans beat Tampa, the Lions have to play hard Monday night to clinch a playoff spot.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2016/12/24/lions-can-clinch-playoff-spot-vs-cowboys/95835280/

If I were a Lions fan, I'd be feeling screwed by fact that Packers get an extra day to rest, and Lions are on a short week. It's a pretty big advantage given all the end-of-year injuries.

[King Friday]

If I were a Lions fan, I'd be feeling screwed by fact that Packers get an extra day to rest, and Lions are on a short week. It's a pretty big advantage given all the end-of-year injuries.

It happens to all teams at some point...the schedule can't be perfectly fair for everyone when you are playing a game just about every day of the week at this point.

At least for the Lions, the game isn't a road game to boot.

[Harlan Huckleby]

It happens to all teams at some point...the schedule can't be perfectly fair for everyone when you are playing a game just about every day of the week at this point.

At least for the Lions, the game isn't a road game to boot.

Yes, true about playing home. But when you set up a final game of the year to likely decide the division championship, it's particularly shitty to give one team 2 days more rest. Given a short week, this is as big of an advantage as a bye in the playoffs.

I've enjoyed watching Dallas play this year, looking forward to a good game. The stakes make it an even contest.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Very few people thought the Lions were going to be fighting for a playoff spot, let alone a division title. They were going to be lucky to win 6 games this year.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Very few people thought the Lions were going to be fighting for a playoff spot, let alone a division title. They were going to be lucky to win 6 games this year.

You can't predict year to year; nobody saw the Dallas juggernaut coming either. The last week of the year the NFL schedules all interdivision games because they are likely to be more meaningful.

[gbgary]

I've enjoyed watching Dallas play this year, looking forward to a good game.

yeah...a hard team to hate...except dez...and jerrah.

[texaspackerbacker]

You can't predict year to year; nobody saw the Dallas juggernaut coming either. The last week of the year the NFL schedules all interdivision games because they are likely to be more meaningful.

Don't say nobody hahahahaha. A lot of people in Texas certainly did. They were pretty much a QB and a RB away last year despite the shitty season. This a lot like when fairly sudden rise in the 90s when they had Aikman, Emmit, and Irvin. Few in the rest of the country saw that coming before it happened also.

I think they schedule the division games that way to avoid total disinterest in some cases - if a team either has it sewed up or is so far out as to be meaningless, at least fans get up and watch if it's a rivalry game.

[pbmax]

Dallas was all the Packers wanted to handle in the playoff game two years ago when healthy.

They weren't far away. No one saw Prescott coming though.

[red]

so todays game has absolutely no effect on our playoff picture, right?

we have to win next week no matter what to get in correct? we lose, no playoffs?

[Pugger]

If we lose to the Lions we don't want Washington to win next week or we'd be eliminated.

[Freak Out]

I thought there was a chance at a WC spot even with a loss?

[pbmax]

I thought there was a chance at a WC spot even with a loss?

There is. You want a Washington loss. Problem is, Giants have clinched and can't win division. They might not have much to play for as I believe they cannot be dislodged from the 5th seed.

Detroit can clinch a playoff berth by winning tonight (or tie). If they do, they eliminate Tampa and Washington I believe.

[beveaux1]

There is. You want a Washington loss. Problem is, Giants have clinched and can't win division. They might not have much to play for as I believe they cannot be dislodged from the 5th seed.

Detroit can clinch a playoff berth by winning tonight (or tie). If they do, they eliminate Tampa and Washington I believe.

I don't think they eliminate Tampa or Washington. If Detroit beats us, Washington would be in with a win Sunday. With a Washington loss and 2 Detroit wins, it comes down to a strength of schedule tiebreaker between GB and Tampa...if Tampa wins Sunday.

[beveaux1]

Either way, we'll know by game time on Sunday whether we're already in the playoffs, or fighting to make the playoffs.

[pbmax]

I don't think they eliminate Tampa or Washington. If Detroit beats us, Washington would be in with a win Sunday. With a Washington loss and 2 Detroit wins, it comes down to a strength of schedule tiebreaker between GB and Tampa...if Tampa wins Sunday.

Might be onto something there. If Lions win tonight, they would go to wildcard at 10-6 with Packers victory in Week 17. TB eliminated regardless of result (currently 8-7), Washington ALSO eliminated as their best record will be 9-6-1.

If Lions win AND take Division, then Packers versus Wash and TB becomes a turkey shoot.


USAToday: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...card/93766362/

6. Green Bay Packers (9-6): Wild card No. 2. If Green Bay wins next week, it reclaims NFC North title. [Remaining game: at Lions]

In the hunt
7. Washington Redskins (8-6-1): They must win their final game and hope the Packers lose in Week 17 or hope the Lions lose their final two games. [Remaining game: vs. Giants]
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7): They need to finish tied with Green Bay for the sixth seed and get tiebreaker assistance. Bucs can no longer pass Detroit after losing the common opponent tiebreaker. [Remaining game: vs. Panthers]