Roaring Lions Could Bite New York’s Jets and Giants With A Win

New York football was riding high after Week 9 of the NFL season ended. All three franchises, the Bills, the Jets and the Giants were securely playing into the playoff picture, much to the surprise of Big Blue and some Gang Green fans. In Detroit, going into Week 9 was, unfortunately, more of the same for Lions. Head coach Dan Campbell's team was 1-6 and fans were beginning to lose patience. Oh, what a difference a few weeks make.

Following Week 14, only the Buffalo Bills and the New York Giants remain in playoff positions, in their respective conferences, with the G-Men hanging on by a thread in the #7 spot. The Jets have fallen into a #9 seed "bubble" position with the Lions coming to MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Their home-field roommates, the Giants will be in Washington taking on another current playoff team, the Commanders. Chasing the Giants and Washington are the Detroit Lions. Really? The Lions? What happened to the 1-6 start?

Things have changed for America's Thanksgiving Day team. Dan Campbell has a talent-filled roster rolling. Remember, they pumped Big Blue in Week 11 by a score of 31-18? Detroit is coming off a convincing victory over the (10-3) Minnesota Vikings 34-23. Quarterback Jerad Goff is playing the best football of his career. Overall #2 pick in this year's draft, defensive end, Aidan Hutchinson is creating havoc for opposing offenses. Since Week 9, the Detroit Lions have gone (5-1) and with a victory on Sunday over the Jets, could be one game out of the NFC playoff picture. Detroit's final three games after the Jets are against the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. All 3 are very winnable games given the way the Lions have been playing.

One thing for sure is that Dan Campbell has done in Detroit, what Robert Saleh and Brian Daboll have done in New York, brought respectability back to these franchises. All three have been very bad for a long time and haven't played many meaningful games in the month of December. Now all three fanbases have a legitimate opportunity cheer on their teams to make the playoffs this year, for some, earlier than expected. Giants fans will certainly be rooting for the Jets this weekend.