Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press

The Detroit Lions haven't locked up a playoff spot yet, but they remain on track to reach the postseason for the second time in three years after beating the Saints in New Orleans last weekend.

They've won seven of their last eight games with a defense that's tied for 11th in the league in points allowed as they head into the final quarter of the season.

Last week, the New York Times gave eight reasons that the Lions, despite their recent hot play, won't win a playoff game this year.

Maybe they'll be proved right. But with 8-4 record and two-game lead in the NFC North, we decided to counter the Times' arguments (all valid) and offer eight reasons the Lions will win their first playoff game in 25 years.

1. Matthew Stafford. Tom Brady is still the best quarterback in the NFL, and Derek Carr is a popular MVP candidate right now, but Stafford has had as fine of a season as any signal caller in the league. His numbers don't compare to Drew Brees' nor Matt Ryan's nor Kirk Cousins', but he has played well for a 20-game stretch, is taking superb care of the football (just five interceptions) and is as clutch as anyone late in games.

2. That late-game success. Seven of the Lions' wins have been in come-from-behind fashion after trailing in the fourth quarter. And while that's not ideal, it is a sign that they're comfortable playing in any situation. Fall behind a couple touchdowns early? No big deal with Stafford's arm. Need a score with a minute on the clock? Been there, done that. More than anything, the Lions believe in themselves late in games, no matter the down, distance or situation.

3. Special teams. The Lions don't have an elite offense -- they rank 21st in the league overall -- and their defense is mostly opportunistic. But they do have one of the best special teams units in the league, with Sam Martin punting the ball, Andre Roberts (two touchdowns) on returns and the trusted Matt Prater handling kicking duties. Prater has made all five of his attempts of 50-plus yards this year and is a perfect 25-for-25 in his career on game-winning or game-tying field goals in the fourth quarter or overtime. Not many teams can match the Lions in the kicking game.

4. Good health. No team is injury-free this time of year, but the Lions have enjoyed good health when compared with their peers. The Minnesota Vikings have been decimated by injuries; the Green Bay Packers are just starting to get players back; Washington's best offensive weapon, tight end Jordan Reed, is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury; and the Seattle Seahawks just lost safety Earl Thomas (broken leg) for the season. The Lions have lost just one starter to injured reserve, running back Ameer Abdullah, whom the team still hasn't ruled out from returning to practice.

5. Bad teams. OK, maybe not bad teams, but are there are any dominant teams in the NFL right now? The Dallas Cowboys are the cream of the crop in the NFC, at 11-1, and they're very good (albeit a little light on defense). The Seahawks are the next best team in conference, even without Thomas. But beyond that, who scares you? The Packers have been a sieve defensively. The Lions already beat Washington. The New York Giants couldn't do anything offensively against the Steelers on Sunday. And the NFC South is the second-worst division in football. The Lions can beat (or lose to) any team they'd face in the first round.

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6. Ford Field. Do you know how electric Ford Field will be in January? The Lions haven't hosted a playoff game in 23 years, but they're on track to get at least one this winter. Sure, they have to win the division first. But if they do, they'll have a home date against the Giants, Packers or maybe the Atlanta Falcons. The Lions are 5-1 at Ford Field with two games left to play.

7. Playoff experience. The Lions, as an organization, don't have much playoff experience, but coach Jim Caldwell and his players do. Caldwell won two Super Bowls as an assistant and went to another as a head coach. Stafford has made two postseason starts (both losses, but at least he has experienced it). And key starters such as Golden Tate, Anquan Boldin, Haloti Ngata and Tavon Wilson have Super Bowl rings.

8. It's their time. This may not be grounded in logic, but look at some of the breaks the Lions have caught this year, from a bad third-and-1 snap by the Saints on the opening series, to Blair Walsh's implosion in Minnesota, to Ryan Mathews' late-game fumble and all the other late-game comebacks. Good teams create their own fortune, and the Lions have had plenty this year.

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

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