DETROIT - Well, the Packers know what they're playing for now.

Thursday night's 34-31 loss to the Lions at Ford Field has simplified the playoff picture for Green Bay.

The NFC North is basically out of reach, with 12-1 Detroit up three games on the 9-4 Packers with four games to play. So a wild-card berth is now the aim.

The good news is the Packers are in great shape to earn one. With several NFC wild-card contenders, like the Rams, Cardinals, Falcons and Buccaneers (the latter two are tied for the NFC South lead currently) sitting at six losses, 11 wins would almost assure the Packers of a playoff spot.

Because as soon as any of those six-loss teams pick up a seventh loss, the Packers would guarantee themselves to finish ahead of them with 11 wins.

Not that Green Bay doesn't want to win them all, but two wins over the last four games is a reasonable target. Nothing can be taken for granted, however.

"We have to continue to take it one week at a time like we talk about," quarterback Jordan Love said. "We're trying to finish on the right side and win out ... handle business, take it one game at a time and see what happens postseason time."

With any path to the Super Bowl for the Packers likely going through Detroit, a third shot at the Lions is what they realistically have to hope for. But again, nobody's getting ahead of themselves.