The Detroit Lions kept their playoff hopes alive with a 44-30 victory over the Cowboys on Thursday night, improving 8-5 on the season and keeping the heat on both the Green Bay Packers (8-3-1) and Chicago Bears (9-3) this weekend.

As it stands, the Lions remain on the outside of the playoff picture. They're eighth in the NFC, meaning they sit just one spot outside of the seven-team playoff field. In the NFC North, they are in third place behind the Green Bay Packers (8-4-1) and the Chicago Bears (9-3), which currently hold the top seed.

The Detroit Lions have a 7-5 record and are third in the NFC North, while Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears are 9-3 and on top.

One of the most historic rivalries in sports renews as the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears clash for the first time this season, and control of the NFC North is on the line.

Los Lions de Detroit tendrán un breve descanso. Detroit logró una victoria muy necesaria el jueves 44-30 sobre los Cowboys de Dallas, para tener

The Chicago Bears announced signing former Detroit Lions team captain and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin to their practice squad Tuesday.

With the Bears and Packers facing off at 4:25 p.m. ET, the Lions will inch closer to one of them. If the Bears win, the Lions will be a half-game back of the Packers. If Green Bay wins, the Lions will only be a game back of Chicago—with a big Lions/Bears game looming in Week 18.

The Vikings scored only 42 points in their four-game losing streak, including a 26-0 blanking by the Seahawks last week when rookie quarterback Max Bosmer made his first NFL start.