NFC North Title on the Line

Ironically, beating the Lions was a huge help to Dallas’ greatest rival. But the fact of the matter is that while Caldwell and his staff deserve plenty of credit for 9-6 and digging the team out of a 1-3 start, they also would be partly to blame for an 0-3 finish and missing the playoffs for the second straight year.

FiveThirtyEight remains much more optimistic about Detroit. While the Lions are at home with the NFC North title on the line against the Packers, it is not totally out of the question.

Dallas and NY are the only teams locked into their playoff positions.

Here is a rundown of the games this week with playoff implications.

A Falcons’ victory over New Orleans (7-8) will put Atlanta into the spot but a loss would allow Seattle to claim the week off by defeating San Francisco (2-13).

Washington guarantees themselves the 6th seed with a victory.

Many mocked Aaron Rodgers when he declared the Packers could, “run the table”, following an embarrassing 42-24 loss to the Washington Redskins in Week 11 that dropped the team’s record to 4-6. If they lose, they can still get in as the wild card if the Redskins lose to the Giants.

With the Giants locked into the 5th seed, they have the dilemma of choosing between rest and rhythm. However, they could be motivated to try and deny a division rival from making the playoffs.

Converted receiver Ty Montgomery could be the X-factor on the Ford Field turf Sunday night.

The Lions lost the season’s first meeting 34-27 in Week 3, outscoring the Packers 17-3 in the second half to almost cover as 6.5-point underdogs. If Ansah, who missed the first meeting with a high ankle sprain, can win up front against left tackle David Bakhtiari, it should go a long way toward helping the Lions win the division.

Wednesday, Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith made a friendly wager with Detroit Police Chief James Craig on Sunday’s Packers and Lions match-up.

It probably will take a playoff win over the Cowboys in Dallas to make it happen, but I’ll stick with my preseason pick of a repeat matchup from Super Bowl XLV, when the Packers beat the Steelers in, of all places, the Cowboys’ stadium. If Detroit can not manage to earn a win, they’ll have only themselves to blame. Of all major prediction models, they are the most confident in the Lions’ chances at the postseason. And he or she would be in the position to add another $1,100 this week if the Packers can win at Detroit as a minus-200 (risking $2 to win $1) favorite on the moneyline.

The Packers hung on to beat the Lions back in late September, 34-27, but it would have been much easier had the defense’s recent penchant for takeaways been in full working order. Also, Prescott’s underwhelming prime-time performance against the Giants in Week 14 is cause for concern about how the rookie will perform come playoff time. Both have a shot to make the playoffs, but it would take a lot for both teams to make it in.