The NFL playoffs are fast approaching and with Week 15 in the books after the Baltimore Ravens defeated the Detroit Lions to give the team its fourth loss in five weeks, things are starting to take shape in the standings in the AFC and the NFC and the Bears now have the inside edge in the division.
The loss dropped the Lions behind the Bears and the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North and now the team is on the verge of collapse after leading the division a few weeks ago. The Packers tie could make things tough for the Detroit Lions to make up the lead in the division and now they could be out of the playoffs altogether. The Carolina Panthers and the San Francisco 49ers are in prime position for the wild cards and with the Arizona Cardinals leading the pack of teams on the fringe with nine wins, the Lions and Packers need the Bears and the Cardinals to lose their final two games.
The Panthers have a shot at winning the NFC South if they win out the schedule, as they play the Saints on Sunday and that game could be huge as Cam Newton tries to win his first division title. The Seahawks have a chance to wrap up the number one seed in the NFC and the conference has plenty to shake out over the next couple weeks.
Justin Tucker has himself quite the game, scoring 18 points for the Ravens as they defeated the Lions, including a massive 61-yard kick that won the game.
Check here for the AFC and NFC playoffs and wild card standings and here is a look at the game from Reuters.com:
Tucker kicked a game-winning 61-yard field goal and accounted for all of Baltimore's points on Monday to send the Ravens to an 18-16 win over Detroit that kept them firmly in the playoff race.
Tucker made six field goals in all, with his final long-range blast providing the winning margin with just 38 seconds remaining.
Matthew Stafford had put the Lions ahead 16-15, on a 14-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Fauria, about two minutes earlier but the lead did not hold up.
Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco completed a clutch 27-yard pass to Jacoby Jones to drive his team back down field and set up the winning boot.
The Ravens' (8-6) fourth straight win ties them with Miami (8-6) for the sixth and final playoff spot in the AFC. Baltimore own the tiebreaker over the Dolphins.
The sinking Lions (7-7) fell a game behind Chicago for first place in the NFC North after their fourth loss in five games. (Reuters)
