The Lions are a game-and-a-half back of the Packers, and just a single game back of the Bears. Detroit’s odds of winning the division aren’t completely dead, but they’ll have to finish two games better than the Packers in the final four contests. Here are each team’s remaining games:

Christian Booher: The loss of Brian Branch is a brutal one for Detroit’s defense. Because of the timing and severity of the injury, there’s a chance he misses time next year and that would be a big loss for the Lions. Branch is one of the most versatile defenders in the league at his best, and will not be easily replaced.

The Central Michigan-Northwestern matchup should be a boon for GameAbove Sports Bowl organizers. The game's best attendance was in 2019, when 34,765 fans showed up to watch Eastern Michigan-Pittsburgh. The second-best attendance was in 2015, when 34,217 fans showed up to watch CMU-Minnesota.

On Sunday, Northwestern football announced that it would play the Central Michigan Chippewas in the GameAbove Sports Bowl, to be held at Detroit’s Ford Field on Dec. 26 at 12:00 p.m. CT. The GameAbove Bowl, previously known as the Motor City Bowl, is played annually between a Big Ten and MAC team.

The potential serious leg injury to Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones could have a massive impact on the playoff hopes of the Detroit Lions.

Metro Detroit starts the workweek with bitter cold, before another round of light snow arrives Tuesday. Sunday morning’s snowfall was modest but enough to coat area roads. Metro Detroit saw totals up to around 1.5 inches. Tuesday could see similarly light accumulations. Sunday’s snowfall observations in Metro Detroit:

A man is dead after a Thursday night shooting at a west Detroit gas station, police said. According to a preliminary investigation, two men got into a fight at about 7:30 p.m. inside the BP gas station on Woodward Avenue at West Seven Mile Road. Thursday, Detroit Police Department officials said.

DETROIT -- When Mayor Mike Duggan announced his plan to run for Michigan governor, he did so from a tower in the iconic but aging Renaissance Center overlooking Detroit. It's not the same city that Duggan inherited in January 2014.

Two Detroit Lions were fined against the Green Bay Packers following the Thanskgiving Day Classic. Linebacker Jack Campbell is lighter in the wallet $11,593 for incurring a facemask penalty in the third quarter. The former first-round pick was flagged for grabbing the mask of tight end Josh Whyle.

A ground stop for Delta flights at Detroit Metro Airport Friday morning has been lifted following a network outage affecting operations, according to airport officials.