Why a Week 18 loss to Bears is best thing for Detroit Lions’ future

ALLEN PARK -- Instead of talking astir playoff-clinching scenarios, we’re focusing connected fourth-place schedules and draught positioning for nan Detroit Lions.

That’s really accelerated life tin travel astatine teams successful nan NFL.

While Dan Campbell doesn’t person a tanking bony successful his body. A nonaccomplishment successful Week 18 for a squad pinch thing to play would beryllium a large boost for nan team’s semipermanent hopes.

“Yeah, I mean we’ve sewage 1 much left,” nan Lions coach said Monday. “And look, you tin ever find a batch retired pinch 1 to go. And no, we’re not playing for nan playoffs, but location are still things we tin find out. I expect nan guys that we person present to springiness it what they’ve sewage 1 much time. That’s nan expectation.”

A roadworthy nonaccomplishment to nan Chicago Bears this Sunday would clinch nan fourth-place schedule for nan Lions adjacent season. Thanks to nan Vikings sweeping nan Lions, location is moreover a way to nan fourth-place schedule pinch a triumph complete Ben Johnson and nan Bears. Minnesota would ain nan tiebreaker and decorativeness successful 3rd successful nan NFC North if some teams were to decorativeness 9-8.

And earlier asking really overmuch that mightiness matter for an expected contender aft a disappointing season, look to nan San Francisco 49ers, who are correct backmost successful nan operation for nan No. 1 seed aft regressing past year.

The Lions are already slated to play nan New York Jets and New Orleans Saints astatine location successful 2026. A fourth-place schedule would springiness nan Lions nan New York Giants alternatively of nan Washington Commanders; nan Tennessee Titans alternatively of nan Indianapolis Colts; and nan Arizona Cardinals alternatively of nan Los Angeles Rams aliases 49ers.

And nan crossover crippled pinch nan NFC West squad is nan only 1 of those scheduled to hap connected nan road.

That would guarantee that Detroit would play each existent last-place squad adjacent season, extracurricular of nan Las Vegas Raiders. And for a roster filled pinch stars for illustration this one, it’s difficult to understate really large a boost that would beryllium to nan team’s bonce-back potential.

Regarding draught positioning, Detroit is presently slotted 15th entering nan finale, pinch a jump to 13th aliases 14th successful nan cards pinch different loss. They can’t dip further than 18th, but location could beryllium a chance to adhd a much premium prime than expected successful 2026.

“I deliberation location are things that you can’t thief but deliberation astir since that crippled that spell done my mind a small bit,” Campbell said. “But astatine nan aforesaid token, I cognize we person 1 much and I beryllium it to these guys, to nan players and coaches to beryllium locked successful for different crippled here. Because it’s not adjacent to spell retired location and opportunity that we’re going to do everything we can, hole to win, but we’re not really doing that. Then we shouldn’t moreover spell retired there.”

Even Campbell noted really a questionable nickname intends thing different successful Week 18 erstwhile already eliminated from postseason contention, though. And nan Lions participate nan finale banged up each complete nan board.

Taylor Decker has been banged up, dealing pinch a enarthrosis wounded each season. He missed nan Week 17 crippled against nan Vikings owed to his enarthrosis and an illness. Fellow starting violative tackle Penei Sewell sewage banged up successful Minnesota past week, too. Even Amon-Ra St. Brown suffered a precocious injury, and he was already dealing pinch knee and ankle issues done nan past mates of weeks.

Other players who were questionable past week see cornerback Amik Robertson, moving backmost David Montgomery, protect lineman Alim McNeill, separator rusher Marcus Davenport and interior violative lineman Trystan Colon, among others. It’s a chance for nan Lions to get immoderate younger players much playing clip successful nan finale, aliases moreover to effort group astatine caller spots.

Giovanni Manu has been backmost astatine believe for a mates of weeks now. And while Campbell said his return was much astir believe reps than getting him connected nan field, location is simply a imaginable chance for him to get his second-career commencement if Decker aliases Sewell request rest.

Second-year protect lineman Mekhi Wingo has been a patient scratch for each but 1 crippled this season. And Isaac TeSlaa has handled a bigger domiciled and looked bully doing it successful caller weeks, meaning if St. Brown can’t go, nan Lions could unleash nan rookie wideout.

“I deliberation if we’re sitting location borderline and nan subordinate -- it could beryllium difficult aliases we deliberation they’re mounting themselves up for a semipermanent risk, past no, it’s not worthy it,” Campbell said. “But if it’s nan worldly doesn’t consciousness bully and it’s bumps and bruises and it’s -- past no, it’s for illustration nan adjacent crippled up.”

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• Ex-Lions QB Matthew Stafford keeps rising connected all-time NFL list
• Dan Campbell makes stance clear connected resting Lions players vs. Bears
• Lions still spot rookie arsenic imaginable halfway but will hold until offseason to explore

I screen nan Detroit Lions for MLive aft starting my profession pinch nan MLive sports desk, Jackson Citizen Patriot, MLive Detroit and nan trending news team. I americium a lifelong Michigander, Central Michigan...