Week 9 couldn’t have started any better for the Detroit Lions — and they didn’t even need to step on the field to win. A handful of NFC contenders stumbled in Sunday’s early slate, and the results opened the door wide for Detroit to climb the playoff ladder with a strong finish.
Teams fighting for similar seeding failed to take care of business, giving the Lions breathing room and a better path toward grabbing a top seed in the NFC. When you’re in a tight race, every result matters, and Sunday’s scoreboard couldn’t have been more kind to Detroit fans.
Now the pressure shifts right back to Dan Campbell’s squad. With the league giving them a rare gift, the Lions have a golden chance to control their own destiny. It’s one thing to get help — it’s another to take advantage of it. If Detroit keeps stacking wins, they won’t need to rely on anyone else. They can make the NFC go through Ford Field.
The message is simple: the door is open — it’s time to kick it down.
Detroit Gets a Gift: NFC Playoff Picture Shifts in Lions’ Favor
