As the Detroit Lions get prepared for a Thursday Night Football duel against the red-hot Dallas Cowboys, they find themselves on the outside of the NFC playoff picture just one year removed from a 15-win season and the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Detroit not only needs to go on a winning streak to beat out many of the other top teams in the NFC, but they must also hope that those who are close to them in the standings end up faltering.
With multiple Week 14 games that could throw the balance of power in the NFC out of whack, it worth checking on which possible outcomes would be more advantageous for an injured Lions team who needs all the help they can get to force their way back into the playoff picture.