Detroit Lions Could Move Into NFC Playoff Spot Next Week: Here's How

DETROIT — With Sunday's 20-17 win over the New York Jets, the Detroit Lions are poised to move into the NFC's final wild card spot as early as next week. But in order to do so, they'll need to take of business in Charlotte and get some help from two leading playoff contenders.

The Lions (7-7) continue their playoff push next week against the Carolina Panthers (5-9), who are surprisingly still in the playoff mix themselves because it appears no one wants to win the NFC's South division.

The red-hot Lions, winners in six of their last seven and playing as good as anyone in the NFL, will most likely be favored heading into Charlotte, as the Panthers are coming off a woeful home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

If the Lions get by the Panthers (pushing their record to 8-7) and get some help from the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, they'll move into the seventh and final spot of the NFL playoff picture with two games left. The Lions last made the playoffs in 2016.

Although the Chiefs locked up the AFC West with Sunday's overtime win over the Houston Texans, they are still looking to earn the top seed in the conference when they take on the Seattle Seahawks in next week's game. The Chiefs will definitely be favored to win the game.

The game is significant to the Lions because the Seahawks hold a tie-breaker over the Lions with their 48-45 win earlier this year at Ford Field. Right now, both the Lions and Seahawks are on the outside looking in at 7-7.

The Lions will also need help from the San Francisco 49ers next week too. The 49ers will host the Washington Commanders, who's Sunday loss to the New York Giants significantly hampered their playoff chances and helped the Lions'.

Like the Chiefs, the 49ers have already locked up their division and earned a playoff spot with last week's win over the Seattle Seahawks. But they too are playing for seeding as they try to track down the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles. The 49ers will most likely be favored to beat the Commanders.

If all three things happen next Saturday, the Lions will move into the final playoff spot in the NFL controlling their own destiny with two games left to play. Those two teams: The Chicago Bears at Ford Field and The Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. It's way too early to determine who will be favored to win those games, as divisional games are always tough.

The Lions are trying to become just the second team (1970 Cincinnati Bengals) to start 1-6 and make the playoffs. The Lions turnaround can mostly be attributed to playing better defense, namely shoring up the run defense and pressuring the quarterback, but don't discount the offense, which continues to improve week after week and rank among the leaders in points, touchdowns and yards across the league.