Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images

The Detroit Lions lost 16-9 to the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday night and are now 6-4 on the season, third place in the division. As the standings sit now, they would miss the playoffs. Take heart. The Lions will make the playoffs. 

How can I be so sure? 

Detroit plays six of its final seven games in a dome. Only its final game, against the Bears, in Chicago, is outdoors with likely cold weather. The Lions will be, at worst, 10-6 by then. At the Rams, Week 15, is likely the only game the Lions will go in as the underdog. Two losses by the Chicago game, in Week 18, would mean they gave a game away.

With cold weather and Jared Goff trying to throw while wearing gloves out of the equation, I like the Lions’ chances. 

Sunday night’s loss can be blamed on poor pass protection. Goff faced pressure most times he dropped back to pass. The Eagles only sacked Goff twice, however. What seemed more apparent to this Detroit fan is that Goff threw ugly passes over and over. Credit the Eagles’ pass rush, but I blame the cold and windy weather. Goff needs dome conditions when the temperature drops. It was low 40s Fahrenheit, with winds over 25 miles per hour during Sunday night’s game. 

According to Google artificial intelligence, in 12 games with temperatures of 39 degrees Fahrenheit or colder, Goff is 224 for 394 (56.8 percent), for 2,485 yards (6.3 yards per attempt), 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions, for a passer rating of 75.5. Goff is a career 66.1 percent passer, 7.6 yards per attempt, 242 touchdowns to 97 interceptions, and a 96.9 passer rating.

Goff won’t need his gloves again until Chicago, in likely frigid winter weather. Rather than passing 37 times, like Goff did against Philadelphia, completing 37.8 percent, maybe run the ball with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery more than 18 times, combined, all game. That ratio should be reversed in cold weather. 

Next up, the Lions host the Giants. Then the Packers come to town. The Cowboys follow. These three home games should all be wins and improve the Lions’ record to 9-4, positioning Detroit as the seventh seed or better in playoff standings.

A visit to play the Rams could set them back, but then the Steelers at home and the Vikings in a dome could mean the Lions are a lock for the playoffs. Perhaps the Chicago game will not be a must win. 

The Lions’ defense proved tonight that the team can stop anyone. They defeated the tush push multiple times. They held the reigning champs to 16 points. Week 11 against the Eagles was a game the Lions could have won. Who knows what would have happened if the refs did not call a phantom pass interference penalty, that ultimately ended the game.

Tough loss, but better games are ahead. The Lions showed Sunday night they can hang with the best. 

The division title is within reach. Playoff success is possible. Get ready for a run, Detroit. 

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