How Lions Can Clinch Playoff Berth in Week 16

Lions can clinch playoff spot in one of three ways in Week 16.

The Detroit Lions remain at the doorstep of clinching a spot in the 2023 playoffs. 

Fifteen weeks into the season, all the Lions have to do to secure their spot – and win the NFC North division crown – is beat (or tie) the Minnesota Vikings Sunday. 

If Detroit does just that, it will capture its first division title since the 1993 season (when the division was still called the NFC Central).

The Lions, to no surprise, are the favorite headed into the Week 16 matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium. Yet, don't expect the Kirk Cousins-less Vikings, which won the division a year ago, to just roll over and hand the division to Dan Campbell's squad. 

Even without Cousins, Minnesota has remained competitive. It's gone 3-3 without the veteran passer, and just a week ago, lost a hard-fought contest in overtime to the Cincinnati Bengals, 27-24.

If the Lions fail to beat the Vikings in Week 16, they wouldn't secure the division crown. But, they could still find their way into the playoffs through one of two scenarios. 

The first involves getting help from the New Orleans Saints Thursday night. The Saints take on Matthew Stafford and the L.A. Rams in the primetime tilt. And, if New Orleans is able to prevail victorious, Detroit will clinch a playoff berth. 

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Now, in the second scenario, Campbell & Co. will need to receive assistance from the Tennessee Titans. The Titans host Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. If the Titans are able to come out on top in the Christmas Eve affair, the Lions will secure a playoff spot.

If either the Rams or Seahawks tie their respective games this week, Detroit will also punch its ticket to the postseason. 

Even with all the chatter about the aforementioned playoff-clinching scenarios, Campbell remains focused on one thing: winning the division.

“We came into this season to win the division," the third-year Lions head man told reporters Monday. "That was the goal, and that's still our focus. If something happens between now and then to get us a playoff spot, that's all good. But, we talked about that this morning as a team. That was the focus at the beginning of the season, and that's still the focus.”

Kickoff for the Lions’ Week 16 matchup in Minnesota is set for 1 p.m.