The Lions can reach the playoffs with a win, and they head our best bets for the regular season's final weekend...
Baltimore Ravens to beat Cincinnati Bengals – {ODDS:128016535:20/21}
In a dead rubber between AFC North rivals, it is the Ravens who will likely end their season with a victory.
Baltimore were beaten in the final minute by the Steelers last weekend, but that was just their third defeat in the past eight weeks.
In fact, the three sides to have beaten the Ravens in that period – Pittsburgh, New England and Dallas – have a combined total of 36 wins.
They only lose to the best teams in the league, and the Bengals – losers of two in a row and five of their last seven – are not among that group.
The Ravens’ defence has allowed just 19.6 points per game this season, and is ranked seventh in the NFL.
They are simply the superior team, and should prove as much on Sunday.
Indianapolis Colts to beat Jacksonville Jaguars – {ODDS:128016816:5/11}
These teams have both missed the playoffs, and with a combined total of 10 wins and 20 defeats, neither has looked worthy of a place in the postseason all year.
But the Colts are now at least showing some of their old offensive firepower, averaging 29.25 points per game over the past four weeks.
They rank eighth in scoring, and should be able to breeze past the Jaguars, who have conceded an average of 25.1 points per game this season – the league’s seventh-highest mark.
Jacksonville have been particularly poor away from home this year, winning just one of their seven away games.
It’s hard to see them adding to that total in the season’s final week.
Kansas City Chiefs to beat San Diego Chargers – {ODDS:128017569:20/49}
The Chiefs are in the playoffs, but still have plenty to play for here.
They can earn a first-round bye by beating their AFC West rivals here, providing other results fall in their favour.
Kansas City and their fifth-ranked defence have been tough to stop recently, with the Titans and Buccaneers the only teams to beat them in the past 11 weeks.
The Chargers, who have lost four consecutive games, are unlikely to join that group.
San Diego handed the lowly Browns their first victory of the season last week with a putrid performance and, with nothing to play for, they should put up little fight again this weekend.
Detroit Lions to beat Green Bay Packers – {ODDS:128016722:31/20}
This is the most important game of the weekend, with the winner advancing to the playoffs as NFC North champions and the loser likely missing the postseason entirely.
Green Bay triumphed in a close game at Lambeau Field when these sides met earlier this season, but a repeat of that result is no certainty this weekend.
The Packers have been a completely different team away from home – losing four of seven – and have not beaten a playoff team on the road all season.
Detroit, meanwhile, have been excellent at home, winning six of their seven contests.
They rattled off five consecutive wins before losing their last two games away against the Giants and Cowboys – both of whom have booked their places in the postseason.
The Lions can do the same here, and led by their superior defence, they should be able to see off the Packers.
