Sports

Bacon: With playoff hopes in jeopardy, Lions' last two games will be nailbiters

Michigan Public | By Josh Hakala

Published December 19, 2016 at 4:17 PM EST

Did the sun set on the Lions' playoff hopes at MetLife Stadium on Sunday?

Our conversation with John U. Bacon, Michigan Radio's sports commentator

There were plenty of missed opportunities, but in the end, the Detroit Lions fell short against the New York Giants on Sunday. They lost 17-6 and while they are still sitting in first place in the NFC North division with two games to play, they have a tough task ahead of them.

Watch highlights of the Lions at the Giants below:

https://youtu.be/qIJe7zAh000

They travel south for a showdown on Monday Night Football with the Dallas Cowboys, the team tied for the best record in the NFL (12-2). Then, they finish the season on New Year's Day with a home game against the Green Bay Packers.

If they lose both games, there's a chance they will go from being in first place by two games to not making the playoffs at all.

(Tip for Lions fans: If Detroit loses their final two games, they could still get into the playoffs, but they need the Washington Redskins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to lose games)

John U. Bacon joined Stateside for his weekly sports roundup and he's not feeling very confident about the Lions.

Playing the Cowboys on the road is asking a lot as it is, which would set up a winner-take-all finale at Ford Field against the Packers, who are playing very well (they've won four straight).

To make matters worse, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is playing with a dislocated finger on his throwing hand. Although Bacon was quick to point out that Stafford played really well in the Giants game despite the painful injury and the custom glove he has to wear.

Listen to the full interview to hear if Bacon thinks missing the playoffs could cost Lions head coach Jim Caldwell his job, what's wrong with the Red Wings (who just snapped a four-game losing streak) and the puzzling question of why Central Michigan's football team is playing a bowl game at 2:30 p.m. on a Monday afternoon.

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