The Lions and the Seahawks lost, diminishing their chances of making the playoffs, while the Packers and the Panthers kept hope alive.
For most of us, it’s the crescendo of the holiday season, but for the N.F.L., it’s do-or-die time. The Packers preserved their N.F.C. playoff prospects Sunday with a win over the Dolphins. On Saturday, two scrappy underdogs, the Lions and Seahawks, saw their playoff chances shrink with painful losses, while the Panthers extended their hopes for at least another week.