What Lions' Week 14 win over Cowboys means for Detroit in NFC North, playoff picture

Dharya Sharma

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What Lions' Week 14 win over Cowboys means for Detroit in NFC North, playoff picture image

The Detroit Lions were entering a must-win game in Week 14 versus the Dallas Cowboys, and Dan Campbell's squad delivered in primetime.

Detroit defeated Dallas by a score of 44-30 on the road, picking up its biggest victory of the season and keeping them squarely in the NFC playoff picture.

Despite being in one of the most competitive divisions in football, the Lions also still have a chance to capture the NFC North for the third consecutive division title.

NFC North standings

1. Chicago Bears (9-3)

2. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)

3. Detroit Lions (8-5)

4. Minnesota Vikings (4-8)

Detroit can pull within one game of the Chicago Bears in the division if Chicago falls to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday in Week 14. The Lions hold the head-to-head advantage over the Bears due to a Week 1 win, but both teams will meet again in Week 18.

However, Detroit got swept by Green Bay this year, so it'll be difficult for them to pull ahead of the Packers, unless Matt LaFleur's group drops a few more games.

NFC playoff picture

1. Chicago Bears (9-3)
2. Los Angeles Rams (9-3)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)
5. Seattle Seahawks (9-3)
6. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)
7. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
8. Detroit Lions (8-5)
9. Carolina Panthers (7-6)
10. Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)
11. Atlanta Falcons (4-8)
12. Minnesota Vikings (4-8)
13. Arizona Cardinals (3-9)
14. Washington Commander (3-9)

With a win over the Cowboys, the Lions now have a 58% chance of making the playoffs. If they had lost, Detroit would've dropped to 23% of sneaking into the postseason, so it's safe to say the Lions saved their season on Thursday night.

Detroit is still in ninth place in the NFC, but the team now has a prime opportunity to return to the playoffs under Campbell after their victory over Dallas.

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