Jim Caldwell

Lions coach Jim Caldwell is trying not to get too down after his team's loss Sunday against Arizona. They are, after all, still No. 2 in the conference -- for now. (AP Photo)

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Detroit Lions lost an opportunity to climb to the top of the NFC in Sunday's 14-6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

The setback also killed any realistic chance for Detroit (7-3) to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, now that it trails Arizona (9-1) by two games and would lose in a head-to-head tiebreaker.

They remain the NFC's No. 2 seed, though, thanks to Philadelphia's embarrassing loss in Green Bay, and remain in a battle for a first-round bye with six weeks to play.

Both Detroit and Philadelphia are 7-3, but the Lions earn the tiebreaker because of their conference winning percentage. They are 5-2 against the NFC, an excellent record that could come in handy in several tiebreaker scenarios.

The Lions' biggest postseason concern should be Green Bay (7-3), which pulled even with Detroit atop the NFC North after smoking the Eagles 53-20 on Sunday.

Detroit beat the Packers in Week 3, but Green Bay has won six of its last seven games.

Remember, Detroit finishes the regular season in Green Bay against the Packers. That one could be a doozy, with the Lions not only trying to end their 23-game losing streak at Lambeau Field, but attempting to win their first ever NFC North title.

"It's tough (to lose against Arizona)," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. "But the thing about it is, everything we set out to do, in terms of the season, is still in front of us. It's not like we got knocked out of contention or anything of that nature."

Here's a quick look at all the playoff contenders and where they're currently slotted with six weeks to play:

1. Arizona (9-1)

Division: 2-0

Conference: 7-0

Last game: Beat Detroit 14-6

Remaining schedule: at Seattle, at Atlanta, Kansas City, at St. Louis, Seattle, at San Francisco

Strength of schedule in remaining games: Fifth

2. Detroit (7-3)

Division: 2-0

Conference: 5-2

Last game: Lost to Arizona 14-6

Remaining schedule: at New England, Chicago, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, at Chicago, at Green Bay

Strength of schedule in remaining games: 14th



3. Philadelphia (7-3)

Division: 2-0

Conference: 4-3

Last game: Lost to Green Bay 53-20

Remaining schedule: Tennessee, at Dallas, Seattle, Dallas, at Washington, at Giants

Strength of schedule in remaining games: 21st

4. Atlanta (4-6)

Division: 4-0

Conference: 4-4

Last game: Beat Carolina 19-17

Remaining schedule: Cleveland, Arizona, at Green Bay, Pittsburgh, at New Orleans, Carolina

Strength of schedule in remaining games: Third

5. Green Bay (7-3)

Division: 3-1

Conference: 5-3

Last game: Beat Philadelphia 53-20

Remaining schedule: at Minnesota, New England, Atlanta, at Buffalo, at Tampa Bay, Detroit

Strength of schedule in remaining games: 16th

6. Dallas (7-3)

Division: 1-1

Conference: 4-3

Last game: BYE

Remaining schedule: at Giants, Philadelphia, at Chicago, at Philadelphia, Indianapolis, at Washington

Strength of schedule in remaining games: 20th

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7. San Francisco (6-4)

Division: 1-2

Conference: 5-3

Last game: Beat Giants 16-10

Remaining schedule: Washington, Seattle, at Oakland, at Seattle, San Diego, Arizona

Strength of schedule in remaining games: 19th

8. Seattle (6-4)

Division: 0-1

Conference: 4-2

Last game: Lost to Kansas City 24-20

Remaining schedule: Arizona, at San Francisco, at Philadelphia, San Francisco, at Arizona, St. Louis

Strength of schedule in remaining games: First

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