To clinch a playoff spot the 49ers needed the Pittsburgh Steelers to beat the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday. The seven-point underdog Steelers did San Francisco a favor by upsetting the Lions 29-24 while the 49ers sat in Indianapolis awaiting their Monday night showdown with the Indianapolis Colts.

Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers meet on Monday Night Football in NFL Week 17. Check out the recap of the Lions' 40-34 victory.

The 49ers clinched a playoff berth Sunday courtesy of the Pittsburgh Steelers. When the Steelers held on to beat the Detroit Lions 29-24 Sunday, it punched the 49ers’ ticket for the postseason with three games remaining.

The Lions are on the outside of the NFC playoff picture entering Week 16. Here's a look at their playoff chances and scenarios.

The Rams can clinch a playoff spot vs. the Lions, but 49ers analysts and fans are openly rooting for Detroit to win and keep the NFC West race alive.

It also narrowed Detroit's postseason path to just about the narrowest one possible. The Packers (9-5-1) remained 1.5 games up on the Lions with two games to go for both teams, meaning the Lions' only path to the playoffs is to win both of their next two games AND have the Packers lose both of their next two games.

What should Detroit Lions fans be rooting for in Week 16 in order to position the franchise back toward the NFL playoffs?

The Detroit Lions' shot to get to the postseason just took another turn, and it's not for the better, it's for the worse.