By Sunday 
The Detroit Lions walk into Week 12 in a spot nobody expected—outside the NFC playoff picture and looking in. But before you panic, take a deep breath: there are seven full weeks left, Detroit still controls its own destiny, and a win streak would seal a third straight NFC North crown.
Sure… winning out is a tall mountain. But that’s why we’re here. Let’s take a tour around the NFL and figure out exactly who Lions fans should be rooting for this week to help tilt the playoff race back in Detroit’s favor.
Steelers at Bears — Root for: Steelers
Let’s start with the big one.
Chicago is wobbling, the schedule is brutal, and the vibes aren’t great over there. If the Steelers take care of business and Detroit beats the Giants, the Lions can pull even with the Bears—and they’ve already got the head-to-head tiebreaker.
This is as high-impact as it gets.
Vikings at Packers — Root for: Vikings
Yes, I know. Cheering for Minnesota doesn’t feel great. But Green Bay is the real threat right now with the stronger record.
A Packers AND Bears loss, paired with a Lions win, actually puts Detroit back on top of the NFC North heading into Thanksgiving.
Imagine that stage set: Lions vs. Packers for division control. Chef’s kiss.
Seahawks at Titans — Root for: Titans
A classic AFC-over-NFC rooting moment.
Nobody’s expecting Tennessee to do anything crazy—Seattle is favored by nearly two touchdowns—but the Lions would love to see the Seahawks stumble to their fourth loss. That keeps them in striking distance.
Low odds, high reward.
Jaguars at Cardinals — Root for: Jaguars
This one barely matters, but since Arizona’s playoff odds are basically on life support, we default to rule #1 of the Rooting Guide: AFC over NFC, always.
Eagles at Cowboys — Root for: Eagles
Forget the No. 1 seed. That ship sailed when Detroit lost to Philly.
Now it’s about clearing out Wild Card clutter—and the Cowboys are definitely clutter.
A Dallas loss caps their ceiling at 10-6-1 and puts them in an uncomfortable spot with games left against the Chiefs, Lions, and Chargers. Yes please.
Falcons at Saints — Root for: Saints
Doesn’t move the needle much, but we’re being thorough. A Saints win keeps the NFC South weird and non-threatening.
Buccaneers at Rams — Root for: Buccaneers
This one is sneaky.
Both teams are playoff-bound, but Detroit already holds the tiebreaker over Tampa. A Rams loss keeps the door cracked for the Lions to potentially jump Los Angeles later—especially with a head-to-head matchup coming up.
Not critical, but useful.
Panthers at 49ers (MNF) — Root for: Panthers
This is another big one.
San Francisco is sitting in the seventh playoff spot—the exact real estate the Lions want to reclaim.
A Panthers win keeps the 49ers crowded and vulnerable, while Carolina is unlikely to hang around long-term given the gauntlet they face next.
Final Thoughts
Detroit doesn’t need miracles this week—just a little help and a win of their own.
If a few of these dominoes fall, the Lions could be right back where they belong: inside the playoff picture and controlling the NFC North race.
Week 12 is chaotic, messy, and full of opportunity.
Just the way Detroit likes it.