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Pleasant surprise: LB James Houston

Nicknamed "Da Problem," Houston is living up to the name. The Jackson State product has been wreaking havoc over the past four weeks. The rookie was elevated from the practice squad ahead of the Thanksgiving Day game against Buffalo and has been a solid contributor, registering five sacks in his first four career games. He is the third player since sacks became official in 1982 to record at least one sack in each of his first four contests, joining Terrell Suggs in 2003 and Santana Dotson in 1992, per ESPN Stats & Information research.

The Lions can win ugly, too. Dan Campbell's Grit Monsters went to the Meadowlands and struggled to break through against a stellar Jets defense ... until it mattered most. Facing fourth-and-inches at midfield with two minutes to play, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson (his head coach stock going up by the week) called a brilliant misdirection play that resulted in a 51-yard touchdown for Brock Wright. The Lions have won six of seven with an opportunity to move into NFL playoff position if they can take out the Panthers on Sunday. "A lot of these close games are starting to lean more toward us than them," said Jared Goff. "That hasn't always been the case around here. We fully believe in each other and know that somebody's going to make a play to do something right."

After a 1-6 start, they have won six of seven games to get into the playoff race. They play another big road game this week at Carolina.

Feels like Dan Campbell's bandwagon is filling up with plenty of folks far removed from Motown. Detroit closes with Carolina, Chicago and Green Bay ... which projects as a nice formula for the Lions' first playoff venture in six years.

There won't be any kneecaps left in the Detroit metro area if Dan Campbell's Lions are able to pull off this rally to the playoffs. After Jared Goff hit Brock Wright — a real high-water mark season for Brocks leaguewide — for a 51-yard game-winning touchdown to beat the Jets, Detroit has a 57.6 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to Mock's projections. Its schedule the rest of the way looks there for the taking, but there isn't a Lions fan alive who feels comfortable. And if they don't pull it off, well, there might not be any Lions fans alive.

The Lions are 6-1 in their last seven games, and the playoffs are starting to feel like a real possibility with remaining games against the Panthers, Bears, and Packers. How did this happen? Fitted with a top-flight offensive line and an improving cast of weapons thanks to the return of receiver DJ Chark and the debut of rookie wide receiver Jameson Williams, the Lions rank no. 3 in offensive EPA per drive since Week 9. Defensively, Detroit has gone from 32nd in offensive points allowed per game (29.1) to ninth (19.8) in the last seven weeks. You'd be hard-pressed to find a team pulling off a better turnaround in football than the Lions right now.

The Jets game seemed like the one Detroit needed in the playoff race. And it came down to executing a fourth-and-inches play that went 51 yards to tight end Brock Wright for a touchdown. When is the last time the Lions made a clutch play like that? The Lions are far from a lock to make the playoffs but given how well they're playing, you have to like their chances.

Thirty-one years after their last playoff win, maybe they'll have another one.