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NFL Week 15 panic meter: Lions, Packers losing hope
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell. Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

NFL Week 15 panic meter: Lions, Packers losing hope

With only three weeks remaining in the NFL regular season, bubble teams are running out of time to make a final push to the playoffs. Which Week 15 losers should be worried, and which ones should hold off on smashing the panic button?

Detroit Lions

Panic meter rating: 8.5/10

It's officially full-on panic mode in Detroit. The Lions gave up 24 second-half points to the Los Angeles Rams in their 41-34 loss on Sunday, dropping them to 8-6 on the year. Dan Campbell's squad now has a 41 percent chance to make the playoffs, according to NFL.com, but it'll need some help.

If the Lions finish the season 3-0 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears, they'll need either the Bears or Green Bay Packers to go 1-2 or worse, or the San Francisco 49ers to go 0-3. If they go 2-1 to close the year, they'll need the Bears or Packers to go 0-3. Detroit's best chance is to win its next two games and hope the Bears lose to the Packers or 49ers, which would set up a win-and-in showdown against Chicago in Week 18. 

Green Bay Packers

Panic meter rating: 7.5/10

The Packers had an opportunity to stay within striking distance of the No. 1 seed in the NFC in Week 15, but they blew a 23-14 second-half lead to the Denver Broncos and fell to the No. 7 seed. To make matters worse, star pass-rusher Micah Parsons suffered a torn ACL in the game and will miss the rest of the season. 

Green Bay will now be without Parsons and tight end Tucker Kraft for its potential playoff run, which severely limits this team's upside. The Packers should have no problem grabbing a playoff spot, but their Super Bowl hopes might be down the drain.

New England Patriots

Panic meter rating: 2.5/10

Patriots fans were thinking Super Bowl when their team took a 21-0 lead against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, but Josh Allen led a ferocious comeback to knock off New England, 35-31. The path to the No. 1 seed in the AFC isn't as clear now, but the Pats still have a good chance to lock up the AFC East and the No. 2 seed in the conference. 

If New England beats the lowly New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins, it will secure the AFC East title even if it loses to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16. The Patriots still have all their goals in front of them if this young roster can learn from its mistakes in Week 15.

Jack Dougherty

Jack Dougherty has been writing professionally since 2015, contributing to publications such as GoPSUSports. com, Centre Daily Times, Associated Press, and Sportscasting. com

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