Detroit Lions 2023

[MotorCityRadioFreak]

Yet the Lions are favored by 4 to 5 points in that upcoming game.

I have never been more tempted to bet online.

[MotorCityRadioFreak]

I can't believe all the negativity I'm reading here. Whatever you want to believe, the Lions are STILL in the hunt for the #1 seed in the NFC and a first-round bye. The "Big 3" of Niners, Eagles, and Cowboys are 10-3, the Lions are 9-4. Yes, the Niners have a cupcake schedule with one big exception - the Ravens on Christmas Monday Night, albeit at home on the coast. The same can be said of the Eagles with the possible exception of the Seahawks next Monday Night in Seattle. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have the Bills and Dolphins on the road the next two weeks before our boys invade their turf. If the Lions can win out while those other three teams go 3-1 or 2-2, it makes for a most interesting scenario.

I don't make predictions, I'm just spelling out the possibilities with the notion that on any given Sunday (or Saturday or Monday)....

If you look at the records, the Lions have only defeated one time with a winning record.

[moldyoldie]

If you look at the records, the Lions have only defeated one [team] with a winning record.

That's a salient point I didn't consider, thanks, and that one winning team was in the very first game of the season and whose record was 0-0.

[moldyoldie]

Vikings look like they're playing with a purpose this afternoon; they're driving the ball down the Bengals' throat.

(Edit)
Fortunately, two crucial interceptions by QB Mullens deep in Bengals territory is undoing things for the Vikes. They still have a 7-3 lead at the half.

[MWmetalhead]

Vikings just scored via a pick 6.

The Bengals look awful.

Edit - yet another INT just thrown by Jake Browning.

Lions will have a 1 game division lead after tonight. Broncos are gonna win at Ford Field.

[moldyoldie]

Nice fourth quarter comeback by the Bengals, now tied at 17.

(Edit)
Damn, what a crazy fourth quarter! Tied at 24, going to OT.

[MWmetalhead]

The damn refs just allowed the Vikings to get away with a pass interference penalty that screwed the Bengals out of a drive saving 1st down in OT. A truly horrible no-call.

A FG will win the game for the Vikings, and they're already at mid field.

[moldyoldie]

Wow, great fourth down stop by the Bengals!

(Edit)
Bengals win!

[MWmetalhead]

Vikings turn it over on downs near the Cincinnati 40.

A FG will give the Bengals a win!

[MWmetalhead]

What a play!!!

[MWmetalhead]

BENGALS WIN!!!!!

Why did O'Connell not ice the kicker? He had two timeouts to use. Glad he didn't use either of them.

[bmw]

I suspect they didn't ice him because had he missed, they woulda got the ball back with just over 3 minutes and would have wanted those timeouts for going back the other way.

[moldyoldie]

I suspect they didn't ice him because had he missed, they woulda got the ball back with just over 3 minutes and would have wanted those timeouts for going back the other way.

Besides, they kicked it on third down. Wouldn't they have another shot at it? I know that used to be the case, but with all these rule changes....

[bmw]

Only if he didn't actually kick it.

So now onto Detroit's scenarios:

Clinch the division with any of the following:
-Win either game against the VIkings
-Win tonight and against Dallas
-Minnesota lose both of their remaining non-Detroit games

Clinch a playoff berth with:
-A win tonight plus an Eagles win this weekend (though this would hurt Detroit's chances at a bye)

[moldyoldie]

Only if he didn't actually kick it.

I guess the operative action is the ball crossing the line of scrimmage, so a blocked FG recovered by the offense would also allow a rekick on fourth down.