In one of the biggest regular-season finales in the history of the franchise, the Minnesota Vikings will head out on the road next weekend to take on the Detroit Lions in a matchup that will have a gigantic impact on the NFC seeding in the playoffs.
After the Vikings defeated the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, the exact time and date of Minnesota's Week 18 contest against the Lions was unknown. But following the conclusion of the Washington Commanders defeating the Atlanta Falcons on NBC's "Sunday Night Football" on Sunday, we now know the Vikings and Lions will be taking place next Sunday at 7:20 p.m. CST on NBC.
Game 272.@Vikings vs. @Lions for the NFC North and the No. 1 seed.
— NFL (@NFL) December 30, 2024
Sunday Night Football. pic.twitter.com/DC8urE2Y0r
Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions in Week 18 is esssentially a playoff game
With the NFC North title, the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and home-field advantage on the line, next week's divisional showdown between Minnesota and Detroit is going to be one of the most playoff-like non-playoff games in the history of the NFL.
Ford Field is going to be packed full of Lions fans and they will be doing everything they can to make it as difficult as possible for the Vikings offense whenever they get the ball.
Next week will also be the second meeting between Minnesota and Detroit this season. The two teams faced off earlier this year in Week 7 inside U.S. Bank Stadium and the Lions escaped the Twin Cities with a 31-29 win.
That was a game the Vikings could have definitely won, so they will be out to get revenge inside Detroit's home stadium next week, a building where Minnesota hasn't earned a victory since Week 17 of the 2020 season.
If the Vikings are able to end their 2024 regular season with a win next weekend, then they will capture their second NFC North title in three years under head coach Kevin O'Connell, and they will enter the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the first time since 1998.