Packers-Lions earns 'SNF' slot with playoffs on the line

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) heads upfield past Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage (26) after catching a pass in the third quarter at Ford Field. Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Packers and Lions earn a Sunday Night Football slot with the playoffs on the line

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 1/2/23

There was a time this season when both the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions seemed down and out. Heading into the final weekend of the regular season boasting 8-8 records with a playoff spot on the line, though, both the Packers and Lions have to like their chances in what has essentially become a play-in game for the 2022-23 NFL playoffs.

It's a big game. So big, in fact, that the NFL has flexed Green Bay vs. Detroit to Sunday Night Football.

Sunday Night Football.

Win & we're in.#DETvsGB | #GoPackGo https://t.co/aL6WyIZ0Pd
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 2, 2023

This is a massive game for the Packers. They started the season 4-8 and seemed destined for a rare off-year with Aaron Rodgers not playing like the four-time MVP he is and the defense and special teams not living up to the sky-high preseason expecations.

Green Bay has won four straight since the calendar flipped to December, though, and that includes wins against a playoff hopeful in Miami down in Miami and then a 41-17 shellacking of the in-division rival Minnesota Vikings.

All the Packers need to do on Sunday Night is beat the Lions, and they'll clinch the NFC's No. 7 seed with a 9-8 record.

Dan Campbell's Lions had an equally impressive turnaround this season. After starting off the season 1-6 the Lions went on to have two separate three-game winning streaks and have won seven of their last nine.

Unfortunately for Detroit, a loss to the Carolina Panthers two weekends ago means they'll need a bit of help to get in as they no longer control their destiny for the playoffs. Not only will the Lions need to beat the Packers, but they'll also need the 5-11 Los Angeles Rams to beat the 8-8 Seattle Seahawks on the road in order to keep their playoff hopes alive.

There's a chance Detroit can come into Sunday night already knowing that its playoffs chances have been shot. With that said, if Seattle loses and the Lions come in with a chance to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016 -- there's a chance this could be one of the most intense games of this already wild enough NFL season.

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