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Detroit Lions have an unlikely path to No. 2 seed in NFC: Here’s what needs to happen
The Detroit Lions had a slim hope for the top seed in the NFC playoffs entering Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys, but the controversial 20-19 loss that featured an illegal touching penalty that nullified Detroit’s go-ahead 2-point conversion wiped out any chance of securing a first-round bye.
The Lions enter Week 18 locked into a playoff spot after securing the NFC North. Detroit is currently the third seed in the NFC, behind the Cowboys at No. 2 and the San Francisco 49ers, who secured the No. 1 seed with a win and Detroit’s and the Philadelphia Eagles’ loss last week. The Lions have a small chance to secure the No. 2 seed with a win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18 and some help from teams playing the contenders in the NFC East.
If the Lions were to move up to the No. 2 seed, they would be guaranteed a home playoff game in the wild card round and, with a win, in the divisional round. Here is a quick breakdown of what needs to happen:
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Week 18
The formula for the Lions to move up is pretty simple as the team enters the final week in a three-way tie with the Cowboys and Eagles at 11-5, but trailing them in necessary tiebreakers to finish ahead. The Lions need to beat the Vikings at home, have Dallas lose on the road to the Washington Commanders, and the Eagles to lose on the road to the New York Giants.
It starts with a win against the Vikings in the final home game of the regular season, and the first with the new division banner hanging in the rafters. The Lions beat the Vikings, 30-24, in Week 16 to secure the division title for the first time in 30 years. The game came down to the wire, but four interceptions by the defense coupled with three rushing touchdowns from Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery was enough to leave Minneapolis with a win and playoff berth. The Lions are 3½-point favorites to get the season sweep over the Vikings.
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If the Lions win the early afternoon game, fans can sit back and root against the Cowboys and Eagles while they both play in the 4:25 window. The Cowboys have the inside track to the NFC East title with a win, while the Eagles need a win and Cowboys loss to avoid a wild card seed and first-round road playoff game.
The Cowboys are on the road against a Commanders team that has lost seven straight games and is currently No. 2 in the 2024 NFL draft order with a 4-12 record. During the first meeting of the season, the Cowboys won, 45-10, in a four-touchdown performance from Dak Prescott. The Cowboys are currently listed as a 13-point favorite and have -900 odds to win the game outright.
The Eagles, also hoping for a Dallas loss, are also favorites against the Giants. The Eagles lost control of the NFC East after unexpectedly falling to the 4-12 Arizona Cardinals last week, dropping them to the No. 5 seed. The Eagles beat the Giants ,33-25, in Week 16 thanks to a last-second defensive stop. Philadelphia is a 4½-point road favorite against New York in Week 18 with minus-250 odds to win.
What is Newlab?
Originally founded in Brooklyn, Newlab provides tech startups with a place to develop their products and expand their manufacturing capabilities. Located in the Albert Khan-designed former Detroit Public Schools Book Depository building in Corktown, Newlab Detroit is the venture platform’s second development center. The 270,000-squarefoot facility opened in 2023 and is situated within the 30-acre Michigan Central Innovation District. Newlab Detroit attracts global and local startups like metro Detroit’s Sharrow Marine, which makes advanced propellers.
“Detroit is still the best place in the world to make anything,” says Greg Sharrow, founder and CEO of Sharrow Marine. “It’s incredible that Michigan Central and Newlab exist here and that inventors are able to take advantage of those resources.”
How can a business become a member at Newlab Detroit?
More than 100 companies apply for Newlab Detroit residency every year, making membership an exclusive commodity. While membership is not restricted to hard-tech startups, the space is primarily designed to accommodate them. If an application is accepted, the monthly membership cost is $250.
What does Newlab Detroit provide members?
In addition to a fl oating desk, one of the biggest advantages Newlab o ers is access to the workshop. There, members can learn how to use state-ofthe- art technology that would otherwise be too costly for a startup to purchase. Other perks include access to Newlab’s manufacturing network and community of investors.
How many startups operate out of Newlab Detroit?
Currently, a blend of more than 100 local, national, and global companies operate out of Newlab Detroit. International startups currently make up roughly 15% of the community.
What kinds of products come out of Newlab Detroit?
The products developed at Newlab are as diverse as the people who create them. Technologies range from body temperature-reactive heating and cooling tiles to underwater robots designed to prevent water main breaks.
This story originally appeared in the June 2026 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Click here to get our digital edition
Emerging as the PWHL’s Defender of the Year made Tuesday night a special one for Megan Keller. Doing so in her hometown made it doubly so.Keller, a Farmington Hills native, earned recognition as the PWHL’s top blueliner this season with the Boston Fleet during a ceremony at One Campus Martius. She recorded 22 points in 30 games in addition to her stout defense.
“It’s an incredible honor,” Keller said. “Obviously, though, it’s a reflection of the team. I’ve got such great teammates. My D partner, also up for the award, Haley Winn.
“And goaltending Aerin Frankel, MVP, one of the best goalies in the world — makes my job super easy, and it was just so fun to come to the rink every day. We had such a special group, so to be a part of that, I’m just really thankful.”Winn earned Rookie of the Year, and Boston Fleet coach Kris Sparre earned Coach of the Year in his first campaign at the helm. He’s on to PWHL Hamilton next year, one of four expansion teams alongside Detroit. He had high praise for Keller, particularly for her athleticism and skill set. “I’ve said this before, and I’m sure this will ruffle some feathers from players that I’ve coached in the past, but she’s hands down my favorite professional athlete that I’ve coached in my 11 years,” Sparre said. “She deserves all the accolades that she gets.”
Keller’s name may ring a bell for her Olympic heroics, particularly February’s nifty move she used to score the golden goal for Team USA over Canada in the Milano-Cortina games. That’s the 30-year-old’s second Olympic gold medal of her career.Keller has also been a major proponent of expanding women’s hockey in Michigan, through both the creation of a varsity team at the University of Michigan and through a PWHL team. Fans who chanted “we want a team” at Little Caesars Arena will get their wish this year. Keller is ecstatic.“I’m so happy for the city of Detroit, the state of Michigan,” Keller said. “I think they’ve deserved a team for a long time.“I’ve gotten the opportunity to come back and play in the takeover tour games here at LCA, and the crowd that showed up, all the girls that were in the stands — I was a youth hockey player just like them growing up in all these rinks across Michigan.
“And for them to have a women’s professional team and role models to look up to every single night is going to be huge for them. I thought I was going to play on the Red Wings growing up, and to see their role models each and every day and know that they have a dream that can turn it into reality — it’s super special, and I’m so excited for what’s to come for them.”cearegood@detroitnews.com
@ConnorEaregood
J.T. Compher and Jesse Compher are the first NHL/PWHL siblings to play in the same city.
J.T. Compher and Jesse Compher are the first NHL/PWHL siblings to play in the same city.
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