Most chaotic Week 18 scenario that gets Lions and Steelers into playoffs
Embrace the chaos that will allow the Detroit Lions and the Pittsburgh Steelers to make the playoffs this postseason.
What if I told you there was a way the Detroit Lions and the Pittsburgh Steelers ended up as your No. 7 seeds in the NFL playoffs?
Heading into the final week of the regular season, six teams have clinched playoff berths in the NFC (Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and five in the AFC (Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers). Eight teams are in contention for three spots.
While the winner of the Tennessee Titans at the Jacksonville Jaguars game on Saturday night will decide the AFC South, the No. 7 seed in the AFC and NFC could be any of seven teams, including Jacksonville even if the Jaguars were to lose to the Titans at home. However, Tennessee only gets in as the No. 4 seed and as a three-peat winner in the AFC South. What about the Lions and Steelers?
Let the chaos scenarios for both teams cascade over your face like a most glorious waterfall.
How the Detroit Lions can make the NFC playoffs as the No. 7 seed
Here is what has to happen for the Lions to end up with the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs.
- Detroit Lions win over Green Bay Packers
- Seattle Seahawks loss/tie to Los Angeles Rams
It is pretty simple for the Lions. They have to beat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday night, as well as hope for the Seattle Seahawks to lose or tie the Los Angeles Rams earlier in the day. While Detroit beat Green Bay at home earlier in the season, the Lions lost a shootout at home to the visiting Seahawks a few weeks before that. They need to win now and get some help.
How the Pittsburgh Steelers can make the AFC playoffs as the No. 7 seed
Here is what has to happen for the Steelers to end up with the No. 7 seed in the AFC playoffs.
- Pittsburgh Steelers win over Cleveland Browns
- Miami Dolphins loss vs. New York Jets
- New England Patriots loss at Buffalo Bills
As far as Pittsburgh is concerned, the Steelers’ pathway in is a little more complicated. They have to beat the Cleveland Browns at home, as well as see the Miami Dolphins lose at home to the New York Jets and the New England Patriots to lose on the road to the Buffalo Bills. This is because the Dolphins and Patriots hold the head-to-head tiebreaker from their wins over Pittsburgh this year.
While the AFC South title bout has no direct impact on if Pittsburgh gets in or not, Jacksonville can still get in with a loss, so long as the Dolphins, Patriots and Steelers all lose in Week 18 as well. As stated above, Tennessee is only getting in with a division title-clinching victory over Jacksonville in Duval. Where it stands now, it can only be the No. 7 seed for the Steelers and the Lions this year.
Ultimately, the Lions are looking to end a five-year playoff skid, while the Steelers, at the very least, are looking to keep Mike Tomlin’s impressive winning season streak alive. Regardless of how the season ends, things are certainly trending up in Detroit under Dan Campbell, while Pittsburgh’s mental toughness was on full display in the latter parts of what should have been a down season.
Should Detroit and Pittsburgh be playing in the postseason, then you know that chaos ran amok.
