Updated NFC Playoff Race: Where Lions Stand

Lions battling for top NFC seeds.

The Detroit Lions have officially clinched a spot in the NFL playoffs. 

By winning Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, the Lions became NFC North champions and will host their first playoff game ever at Ford Field. 

The last time Detroit was division champions, it played in the NFC Central division and hosted its playoff game at the Pontiac Silverdome. Now, under third-year Coach Dan Campbell, the 2023 Lions have made history. 

Now, the organization will search for its first postseason victory since the 1991 season. 

As it stands, the Lions are the NFC's No. 2 seed. However, the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles will both play Monday to cap off Week 16. The Eagles play the New York Giants, while San Francisco will play Baltimore in a battle of both conference's current top seeds. 

With a 49ers loss Monday, the Lions could move into a tie for the top seed in the NFC. However, the top seed would still belong to San Francisco based on the NFL's tie-breaking measures. 

Detroit's Week 17 matchup with Dallas will hold massive playoff implications. The winner of the game will hold the playoff tiebreaker in the event that both are division winners and finish with the same record. 

The Cowboys will enter the game with a 10-5 record following Sunday's loss to the Miami Dolphins. 

Here's an updated look at the NFC standings following Sunday's action: 

1.) San Francisco 49ers (11-3)

2.) Detroit Lions (11-4)

3.) Philadelphia Eagles (10-4)

4.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

5.) Dallas Cowboys (10-5)

6.) Los Angeles Rams (8-7)

7.) Seattle Seahawks (8-7)