DETROIT – The Detroit Lions could really, really use some help tonight as the Green Bay Packers hit the road for Monday Night Football.
Remember two weeks ago, when the Lions lost to the Packers on Thanksgiving Day but the Bears upset the Vikings to keep Detroit’s three-game division lead intact? Yeah, the Lions are hoping for more of that.
Minnesota has already clawed to within two games after Detroit was dominated by the last-place Bears in the second half on Sunday.
If the Packers beat the New York Giants on Monday night, they will also trail by just two.
The Lions have struggled over the past four weeks, losing to the Bears and Packers and playing inconsistent football in wins over the Bears and Saints.
Looking ahead at the remaining schedule, the Lions are in real danger of blowing their once-comfortable lead in the NFC North. All three teams (Broncos, Vikings twice, and Cowboys) remaining on the schedule have winning records, and all three have played much better than the Lions since the start of November.
Green Bay, meanwhile, has a much easier path to the finish line. Four of its final five opponents have losing records -- including two last-place teams, and another that could be in last by night’s end.
It sure looks like the Packers are going to finish with at least 10 wins. That would require the Lions to win at least one more game to force a tiebreaker.
Detroit is still in good position if it can get back on track, but a Giants win over the Packers would sure make the race a whole lot simpler.
