Help, Please: Lions Chase the Playoffs in Detroit

Week 10 in the NFL finds Detroit with an inside track on an NFC Wild Card spot.

The Lions are a surprising 6-2, tied with the Giants for fifth in the conference—but their road only gets tougher in the second half of the season.

With two games against Green Bay, a game against Dallas, a visit to San Diego, and a date with the competitive Chiefs at Ford Field, there aren't many soft spots left on the Lions' schedule.

For an idea of how tough the going is about to get, consider that the collective record of Detroit's opponents to date is 27-38 (counting the Bears twice). The teams they've yet to play (counting the Packers twice) are a collective 41-23.

Even more telling: The Lions have beaten only one team that's currently .500 or better.

Can Detroit still make the playoffs?

Sure.

Does it matter that they technically control their own destiny for both their division and a wild card spot?

Not really.

The Lions are sure to drop some games before the end of the year, and their critical loss to Washington in Week Five puts them in a weak spot in the event of a tiebreaker.

The simulation engine at ChanceBot.com shows the Lions and the Redskins in a virtual dead-heat for total wins. This is bad news for Detroit fans, as their team would appear to have almost no chance of topping the Packers for the NFC North title.

Green Bay already has a one-game division advantage, with a relatively easier remaining schedule. Ending up tied with the Redskins would probably cost the Lions a shot at the postseason.

Which means it's not too early for Detroit fans to start thinking about help.

Of course the best help the Lions can get is from themselves—but Week 10 provides some hope for outside assistance.

A win by the Eagles over Washington will improve the Lions' chances by over 6 percent, while a win by the Cowboys over the Giants boosts their chances by 4 percent. 

Other NFC games could provide more marginal assistance. Wins by Atlanta, San Francisco, and (say a prayer) St. Louis would all inch Detroit closer to the postseason.

There are even some AFC games which, according to ChanceBot, can affect the Lions' chances through strength-of-victory considerations. Wins by Pittsburgh, Denver, Jacksonville, and Cincinnati would all provide modest help.

The last Week 10 game that might be a boon is Minnesota at Green Bay—but not in the way you're thinking.

Because the Lions are only projected to get three more wins this season, Minnesota is still a threat to catch them. Though a win by the Packers further diminishes the Lions' division title hopes, it actually improves their overall chances of making the playoffs by more or less eliminating the Vikings.

Still, with the division lead only a game away, most Lions fans will probably be pulling for the Vikings. And who could blame them?

Detroit is playing its best football in years. There's no reason not to dream a little bit.