Recreation end result: The Payments gained a 48-42 shootout over the Lions that was probably not as shut as the ultimate rating may recommend. Buffalo by no means trailed and pulled away within the second half to enhance to 11-3. The Payments stay two video games again of the Chiefs for the No. 1 seed, however did enhance to a sport over the Steelers for the No. 2 seed.
The Lions dropped to 12-2 with the win. They’re now tied with the Vikings within the NFC North, however have the tiebreaker edge resulting from their Week 7 win in Minneapolis. The Lions and Vikings face off in Week 18, so there’s a superb probability the division title comes all the way down to that sport. The Lions stay the No. 1 seed resulting from having a greater convention report than the Eagles.
The Buffalo Payments head to Detroit to tackle the Lions in a possible NFL Recreation of the 12 months candidate. That is the primary time for the reason that two groups met on Thanksgiving Day in 2022, and the profile of every franchise has solely gone greater since that sport, gained late by the Payments.
The Lions are simply 2.5-point favorites over the Payments in their very own constructing, per FanDuel Sportsbook, and it’s the primary time in two months Buffalo has been an underdog.
Payments playoff image
Buffalo is 10-3 they usually have already clinched the AFC East title. They’re in a combat for the one seed with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, who they defeated in November, however after a loss to the Los Angeles Rams final week, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been in a position to tie Buffalo within the standings. If Buffalo needs to discover a method to get that bye and home-field benefit all through the playoffs, they’re in all probability going to must win out together with beating a harmful Lions crew in their very own constructing.
Lions playoff image
The Lions have the perfect report within the NFL at 12-1 however they haven’t been in a position to take their foot off the gasoline, because the Minnesota Vikings sit only one sport behind them at 11-2. Whereas different groups with 10+ wins are in a position to clinch their division, the NFC North goes all the way down to the wire. Detroit has a win over Minnesota, however the two groups will see one another within the last week of the season. Detroit needs to place some actual property between themselves and the Vikings with the Philadelphia Eagles additionally lurking within the convention standings a sport again at 11-2.
Tiebreaker implications
For the Payments, in the event that they find yourself in a tie with the Steelers, a win on this sport will surely assist their Power of Victory tiebreaker. Buffalo and Pittsburgh have similar convention information proper now, so the explanation the Payments sit in second is Power of Victory. By the top of the season, although, the Report vs Frequent Opponents will slot forward of SOV after each groups full their 4 video games towards the Ravens, Jets, and Chiefs.
For the Lions, the tiebreakers vs Minnesota are already locked in. If each groups run the desk and Detroit’s solely loss is to Minnesota, the Lions nonetheless win the NFC North on Report vs Frequent Opponents. (The Lions beat the Rams and the Vikings didn’t.) So this sport solely matter in total report for the Lions.
Within the NFC race, the Lions have already got an enormous lead over the Eagles in Power of Victory, however Philly has the prospect to shut the hole with wins over the Steelers and Commanders. The NFC East video games are hurting the Eagles right here.
