NFL Makes Huge Announcement for Lions' Week 18 Schedule
The Detroit Lions face the San Francisco 49ers in the final game of the Week 17 slate in a rematch of last year's NFC Championship. While the Lions can enact revenge with a win over the 48ers this week, their goal is to reach the Super Bowl. The first step of that goal requires the Lions to win the NFC North, clinch the No.1 seed, and earn the first-round bye.
However, to the Lions' chagrin, winning the NFC North and attaining the No.1 seed is guaranteed to be decided in Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings. This is far and away the most marquee matchup of Week 18, so fans assumed it would be the final game of the regular season on Sunday Night Football.
Despite that, no one knew for sure until the NFL released the schedule for Week 18 on Sunday night. Following Week 17, NFL insider Adam Schefter confirmed the Vikings and Lions game will be on Sunday Night Football in Week 18.
Flex: Vikings at Lions will be next Sunday night’s game. Winner captures the NFC North title and the conference’s No. 1 seed.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 30, 2024
Lions news: Lions to End the Season on Primetime Against Vikings
If you were to go back to the start of the year and ask NFL fans what game they thought would be the final televised game of 2024, few would have said Vikings vs Lions. That's not a knock on Detroit, as they were considered Super Bowl favorites entering the season. Instead, the Vikings and Sam Darnold were the surprise of the 2024 season.
The Vikings sustained success during the campaign was not something Lions fans wanted to see. Nevertheless, that success has led to the first final week matchup that will determine a conference's No.1 seed and a division winner since the Cowboys and Giants in Week 17 of the 1993 season, according to Field Yates.
The Week 18 game between the Lions and Vikings will be the first final week matchup that will determine a conference’s number one seed since the Cowboys and Giants played in the final week of the 1993 season.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 30, 2024
Hard to find better Week 18 stakes.
While that's an interesting tidbit, Lions fans would much rather already have the division locked up. That last time these two teams played, in Week 7, the Lions escaped with a 31-29 victory on a last-second field goal.
While the Week 7 game brought Lions fans a lot of stress, this one will bring even more since everything is on the line. Hopefully, this battered Lions defense can find ways to slow down a high-powered Vikings offense.
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