Week 12 Detroit Lions rooting guide

The Detroit Lions are on a three-game winning streak and that has some fans talking playoffs. But even if you aren't deluding yourself with postseason hopes, almost every game on Sunday affects the Lions in one way or another. Here's your Week 12 rooting guide for a Lions-less Sunday:

Oakland Raiders (4-6) at Tennessee Titans (2-8) -- 1 p.m. ET, CBS

This game has no bearing on the Lions in terms of playoffs, since both teams are AFC contenders. However both teams are toward the bottom of the standings, which means the Lions are contending with these teams for a good draft pick next year.

If you're rooting for playoffs: Doesn't matter, they're AFC teams.

If you're rooting for draft position: Root for the Titans. Either team losing benefits the 4-7 Lions, but the Titans are a team less likely to go on a winning streak. One Titans win will not catch the Lions but it'll inch them closer.

Minnesota Vikings (7-3) at Atlanta Falcons (6-4) -- 1 p.m. ET, FOX

This is a big game for the NFC playoff race. The Vikings have a chance to overtake the Packers, after losing to them last week. While the Falcons are just trying to hold onto a wild card spot, having lost four of their past five games.

If you're rooting for playoffs: Root for the Vikings. I know that may seem counterintuitive, since the Vikings are a divisional opponent, but the Lions are not going to win the NFC North this year; they just aren't. That being said, the Vikings seem like a team that have a playoff spot locked up. The Falcons are in free fall, and if the Lions get hot, they could certainly overtake them in the NFC.

If you're rooting for draft position: Root for Falcons. As I said before, I don't think it's out of the question that the Falcons could fall below the Lions with the current trajectory of both teams. A Falcons win this week would pretty much put that to bed.

St. Louis Rams (4-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (8-2) -- 1 p.m. ET, FOX

The Rams are looking to cling to playoff hopes while the Bengals are hoping to put an end to a two-game losing streak.

If you're rooting for playoffs: Root for the Bengals. Always root AFC over NFC.

If you're rooting for draft position: Root for the Rams. A Rams win puts them at 5-6, one game better than the Lions, meaning the Lions would be in a spot to pick before them.

New Orleans Saints (4-6) at Houston Texans (5-5) -- 1 p.m. ET, FOX

The Texans are shockingly in the driver's seat for the AFC South, while the Saints are a team that has no business being in the wild card race, yet find themselves in the midst.

If you're rooting for playoffs: Root for the Texans. AFC over NFC.

If you're rooting for draft position: Root for the Saints. Either team winning would be helpful for the Lions' draft position, but the Saints are the more likely team to find themselves at the bottom of the standings this season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-5) vs. Indianapolis Colts (5-5) -- 1 p.m. ET, FOX

A pair of 5-5 teams face off, both with playoff hopes still intact. The Colts have a good shot at the division, while the Bucs find themselves just one game out of the wild card.

If you're rooting for playoffs: Root for the Colts. Again, AFC over NFC.

If you're rooting for draft position: Take your pick. It looks like the Bucs have the more difficult schedule ahead of them, making them more likely to finish with a worse record. So I would lean rooting for them. But it's essentially a toss-up.

San Diego Chargers (2-8) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-6) -- 1 p.m. ET, CBS

The worst matchup on paper features two AFC teams, but the game could have big implications on the 2016 NFL Draft order.

If you're rooting for playoffs: Doesn't matter, two AFC teams.

If you're rooting for draft position: Root for the Chargers. San Diego seems like a team much better than 2-8, especially with their performance against the Lions still lingering in the back of my subconscious. A win here from the Chargers would inch them closer to the Lions record.

Buffalo Bills (5-5) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (5-5) -- 1 p.m. ET, CBS

The Chiefs have somehow climbed their way into a wild card spot, despite their 1-5 start. The Bills are just on the outside looking in, but a win could give them control of their own destiny.

If you're rooting for playoffs: AFC teams, move along.

If you're rooting for draft position: Toss up. Either team winning will push them another game ahead of the Lions.

Miami Dolphins (4-6) vs. New York Jets (5-5) -- 1 p.m. ET, CBS

The Jets are another team that is just on the outside of a playoff spot, while the Dolphins are still in the hunt at 4-6.

If you're rooting for playoffs: Man, there are a lot of AFC matchups this week.

If you're rooting for draft position: Root for the Dolphins. I'm pretty convinced the Dolphins are the worse team here. If the Dolphins lose, the Lions could theoretically fall behind them in the draft order, depending on each team's strength of schedule.

New York Giants (5-5) vs. Washington Redskins (4-6) -- 1 p.m. ET, FOX

This may be a pedestrian-looking matchup between two mediocre teams, but this game will actually be for the lead in the NFC East.

If you're rooting for playoffs: Root for the Giants. The Lions' best chance at playoffs involve one team in the NFC East running away with the division and everyone else falling apart. The Eagles and Cowboys did their part on Thanksgiving, and if the Redskins lose, the Lions could jump them in the standings.

If you're rooting for draft position: Root for the Redskins. If Washington loses, the Lions may fall below them in the draft order.

Arizona Cardinals (8-2) vs. San Francisco 49ers (3-7) -- 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX

The most lopsided matchup of the day features a Cardinals team that has a commanding three game lead in the NFC West and a 49ers team that looks hopeless.

If you're rooting for playoffs: Root for the Cardinals. Arizona pretty much has the division wrapped up, and the Lions have virtually no chance of catching them. The 49ers aren't likely to make a postseason run, but just to make sure, let's go Cardinals.

If you're rooting for draft position: Root for the 49ers. San Francisco is one of a five teams with fewer wins than the Lions. Another win from the 49ers could place them below the Lions in the draft order.

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) vs. Seattle Seahawks (5-5) -- 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

The Steelers, despite all the turmoil this season, actually currently hold the first wild card spot. The Seahawks, who have dealt with their own fair share of adversity, are just one spot out of the playoffs.

If you're rooting for playoffs: Root for the Steelers. This is a huge game for the Lions' playoff chances. Since the Seahawks hold the tiebreaker over the Lions, Detroit will have to finish with a better record to overtake them. The Steelers are an AFC team, so a win for them is harmless.

If you're rooting for draft position: Root for the Seahawks. The Steelers have the better record and the more favorable schedule. The Lions are not going to finish with a better record than them. The Seahawks aren't likely to fall below the Lions' record either, but there is a chance.

New England Patriots (10-0) vs. Denver Broncos (8-2) -- 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC

Even though the Peyton Manning era may be over this remains the premier matchup of the week, but it has no bearing on the Lions' playoff nor their draft order position. Enjoy the game as a neutral party.

Baltimore Ravens (3-7) vs. Cleveland Browns (2-8) -- Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

The Monday night matchup isn't quite as exciting as the Sunday night game. The Ravens and Browns have combined for five wins on the season.

If you're rooting for playoffs: These are two AFC teams. And two AFC teams that aren't making the playoffs.

If you're rooting for draft position: Root for the Ravens. The Browns are really bad right now, and Lions fans may just have to accept that Cleveland will be drafting ahead of them. The Ravens, however, are a team that feels like they could string together some wins, if they ever get on the other side of lady luck.