The Lions' “playoffs” started early.
The Lions have no margin for error despite riding an 11-game winning streak and are coming off a tough test against the Packers in preparation for Sunday's Super Bowl preview against the Bills.
If something goes wrong, the Vikings and Eagles are poised to flip the NFC standings.
The Lions still have tough games remaining against the desperate 49ers and Vikings as they look to earn the NFC's No. 1 seed, a first-round bye, and home-field advantage for the entire playoffs.
But the Lions are humming on all sides of the ball at the right times, so it's no wonder they're still sitting atop the Post's power rankings in Week 15.
1. Lions 12-1 (1)
The Lions converted 4 of 5 fourth downs against the Packers in a 34-31 victory.
Head coach Dan Campbell's bravest directive was to avoid a potential game-winning field goal with time still remaining, shorten the kick, and save the rest of the game until Jake Bates' walk-off 35-yard goal. The goal was to lengthen the time.
Tim Patrick caught two touchdown passes, but then suffered two serious injuries, resulting in his first points since 2021.
2. Chiefs 12-1 (3)
Boom!
The Chiefs did it again – extending their NFL record with 15 wins.th They achieved back-to-back one-score games with a 19-17 victory over the Chargers.
Matthew Wright kicked a walk-off 31-yard field goal that hit the left upright and over the crossbar to clinch their ninth straight AFC West title.
Patrick Mahomes was 26 years old.th A come-from-behind victory in the fourth quarter of his career.
3. Eagles 11-2 (4)
Jalen Hurts passed for two touchdowns and ran for another to mask an off day. And Saquon Barkley broke the franchise's single-season rushing yards record with a 124-yard performance in a 22-16 win over the Panthers.
The Eagles survived a game-clinching touchdown catch (with the go-ahead PAT) when Xavier Leggett dropped the ball in the final moments.
4. Proposal 10-3(2)
Josh Allen could have further increased his MVP potential even if he lost the shootout to the Rams 44-42.
Allen became the first player in NFL history to pass for three touchdowns and run for three touchdowns.
Both teams combined for 902 yards of offense with no turnovers or sacks.
The Bills rallied after falling behind by 17 points in the fourth quarter.
5. Vikings 11-2 (6)
Sam Darnold threw for a career-high 347 yards and five touchdowns to double the Falcons' lead, 42-21, against Vikings predecessor Kirk Cousins.
The score was tied at the start of the fourth quarter, but Jordan Addison's second and third touchdown catches and Aaron Jones' 15-yard touchdown run kept the string of unanswered points to 21 points. .
6. Packers 9-4(5)
Two touchdowns, exactly two minutes apart, early in the third quarter erased a 10-point Packers lead at halftime, but the Lions had the ball for the last time in a game that was destined to remain decided. .
Josh Jacobs ran for three touchdowns, but Christian Watson was a one-man receiving show, catching 114 of Jordan Love's 206 passing yards.
7. Steelers 10-3(7)
Despite potentially being swept by the Browns for the first time since 1988, the Steelers overcame an early deficit and won 27-14 on Russell Wilson's two touchdown passes in the third quarter.
The defense forced two takeaways and the special teams added another.
Kicker Chris Boswell, the NFL's leading scorer, also contributed nine points.
8. Ravens 8-5(8)
Lamar Jackson spent his bye week licking his lips as he waited for a chance to get back on the field and use his legs more, at the behest of his mom.
Bad news for the hapless Giants, who lost by 14 points.
There's some drama surrounding receiver Diontae Johnson, who was acquired at the trade deadline and was suspended for one game after refusing to play in the final game.
9. Charger 8-5 (9)
The Chargers took a 17-16 lead with a field goal with 4:35 remaining, but were unable to get the ball back and lost to the Chiefs.
Daiyan Henry missed a tackle on Mahomes just after the two-minute warning, potentially giving quarterback Justin Herbert the final blow.
Gus Edwards and Quentin Johnston scored touchdowns in the third quarter to erase a 13-0 deficit.
10. Broncos 8-5 (10)
Patrick Surtain II was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month in November, following Bo Nix being named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month in October.
The Broncos come out of the bye week as three-straight winners and are in position to make the playoffs for the first time since winning the Super Bowl in 2015.
11. Texans 8-5 (11)
12. Commanders 8-5 (12)
13. Seahawks 8-5 (13)
14. Cardinals 6-7 (14)
15. Rams 7-6 (15)
16. Buccaneers 7-6 (16)
17. Dolphins 6-7 (18)
18. 49ers 6-7 (19)
19. Colts 6-7 (20)
20. Falcons 6-7 (17)
21. Bengals 5-8 (21)
22. Saints 5-8 (22)
23. Cowboys 5-8 (23)
24. Bears 4-9 (24)
25. Browns 3-10 (25)
26. Panthers 3-10 (26)
27. Jets 3-10 (27)
One of Aaron Rodgers' best games in years — his first time throwing for over 300 yards since Dec. 12, 2021 — but stopping the Jets from losing 32-26 in overtime to the Dolphins I couldn't.
The defense allowed two game-tying scores, including a 52-yard field goal with seven seconds left in the fourth quarter, and a 70-yard touchdown drive in overtime.
28. Jaguars 3-10 (32)
29. Titans 3-10 (28)
30. Patriots 3-10 (29)
31. Raiders 2-11 (30)
32. Giants 2-11 (31)
The Giants lost 14-11 to the Saints, giving up 13 points on special teams on penalties and missed blocks, including a missed field goal with 35 seconds left.
The defense's 11-game interception drought is over, but its eight-game losing streak remains.
Fans paid for planes with banners to fly over the stadium and begged owner John Mara to make changes.
