(Junfu Han)
The Lions nearly had to start the playoffs on the road after the best regular season in franchise history, but they avoided that fate with a win over the Vikings in Week 18. Now, the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC goes through Detroit.
While the conference’s other six playoff teams fight for their lives on wild-card weekend, the Lions have the luxury of being able to wait patiently to find out their divisional round opponent. They might not know until the very end of the weekend.
Could an NFC North rematch be on tap for Dan Campbell’s squad?
Here’s a look at who the Lions could face in their playoff opener.
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Who do the Lions play next?
The Lions will face the NFC’s lowest remaining seed in the divisional round. At the start of the weekend, that leaves four teams as possible opponents.
No. 4 Los Angeles Rams
The Rams would need a win over the Vikings and losses by both the Commanders and Packers to secure a playoff rematch with the Lions. L.A. faced the Lions at Ford Field in the wild-card round last season, only for Matthew Stafford to lose a close battle against his former team. This time, the Rams would be moderate underdogs — but with a Super Bowl-winning quarterback under center, anything is possible.
No. 5 Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are in the same boat as the Rams, needing a win and losses by the Commanders and Packers to secure a third matchup with the Lions. Two of Minnesota’s three losses this season came at the hands of Detroit, including a 31-9 defeat in Week 18. Campbell told Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell after the game that he expected to see Minnesota again in two weeks, and that could come true with the right combination of results.
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No. 6 Washington Commanders
The Commanders would face the Lions with a win over the Buccaneers and a Packers loss. Washington is riding plenty of momentum into the playoffs after a surprise 12-win season, and the franchise’s first playoff win in 19 years would set up a trip to Detroit as long as the Packers don’t pull off an upset over the Eagles.
No. 7 Green Bay Packers
As the lowest playoff seed in the NFC, the Packers simply need to defeat the Eagles to set up a third matchup with the Lions. Green Bay is going into Philadelphia as an underdog after losing to the Eagles in Brazil in Week 1, but after two losses to the Lions in the regular season, the chance to go to Detroit and get the last laugh has to be very attractive for Matt LaFleur’s team.
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