These 3 teams kept their seasons alive with big Week 10 wins
By Josh Hill
Detroit Lions
NFC North, (5-4)
Result: 38-24 near-disaster against Cleveland Browns
While it’s true the NFC Wild Card picture is still wide open, the Lions are playing for their season from here on out. Almost losing to the Browns at home isn’t what you’re looking for out of a playoff contender, but it looked like that might be the case in Detroit for most of Sunday. A final score of 38-24 doesn’t accurately get across how much of a nail-biter this was, and it should never have been.
It was 24-24 at one point, which came after the Lions had fallen into a 10-0 hole to start the game. That’s the type of thing that makes you think the Lions aren’t going to be a serious threat in the postseason should they make it there. Look at the Saints, who after a 0-2 start have turned things around in a big way. Detroit doesn’t have confidence factor, which could be a problem in the playoffs. Matthew Stafford is a comeback artist, the running game has power if not prowess, and the receivers are serviceable. Detroit’s problem is its defense — one that allowed 52 points on the road against New Orleans and let DeShone Kizer throw for more than 200 yards. That is absolutely not going to get it done against the Seahawks and Eagles of the world.
Nevertheless, the Lions did what they needed to do. A win makes Detroit 5-4 on the year and keeps them very much alive in the wild card hunt. Minnesota seems to have the division locked up, but one of Detroit’s wins is against the Vikings so this story in the NFC North is far from being written.