The Detroit Lions are facing a situation in which they must root for one of their division rivals in Week 16.
The Lions are chasing both the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers in the NFC North and wild-card standings entering Saturday's contest between the two teams.
Detroit is sitting in third place in the NFC North and in the No. 8 spot in the wild-card standings. The Bears are currently in first place ahead of the Packers in the NFC North, but that would flip if the Packers win.
Here's who Lions fans should be rooting for in Week 16.
NFC North standings
1. Chicago Bears (10-4)
2. Green Bay Packers (9-4-1)
3. Detroit Lions (8-6)
4. Minnesota Vikings (6-8)
Who Lions should be rooting for
Answer: Packers
If the Packers can pull off a victory over the Bears, the Lions will control their own destiny to make the playoffs via the wild card.
If the Bears lose on Saturday and the Lions win on Sunday, Detroit can make the playoffs by winning their final two games, one of which is a Week 18 showdown against Chicago.
In that scenario, the Lions would clinch the head-to-head tie-breaker over Chicago, putting Detroit into the postseason.
If the Packers lose and the Lions win, Detroit would not control its own destiny, as the Lions would need Green Bay to lose one of its final two games while Detroit would have to win out in order to secure a wild-card spot.
If the Lions were to lose one of their remaining two games, they would need Green Bay to lose both of theirs to clinch a playoff berth.
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