To name this an enormous matchup can be an understatement. The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings play in Week 18 for all of the marbles within the NFC. Each groups come into this matchup at 14-2 and each groups are locked into the playoffs, however there are large implications on the road so far as playoff seeding is anxious. This Lions-Vikings sport goes to be intense.
The winner is the NFC’s No. 1 seed they usually’ll get to take pleasure in a primary spherical bye. In the meantime, nearly inexplicably, the loser can be a 14-3 fifth seed and should play a sport on the highway within the Wild Card spherical.
It doesn’t matter what, every workforce may have its personal challenges making an attempt to win a Tremendous Bowl. Be mindful, neither workforce has ever gained a Tremendous Bowl and the Lions have by no means even been within the sport. They every have a ton of historical past going towards them that they will have to beat in these playoffs in addition to sure issues right here within the 2024-25 season.
For the Lions, it is a bevy of accidents, particularly on the defensive facet of the ball. For the Vikings, it is arguably the shortage of playoff expertise. Head coach Kevin O’Connell led the Vikings to the playoffs in his first season with the workforce however they misplaced within the Wild Card spherical. In the meantime, beginning quarterback Sam Darnold has by no means performed within the playoffs as a starter.
As such, the chance to have house discipline benefit and a bye over Wild Card weekend is a big benefit for each groups, so there’s a lot on the road on this sport. The winner will inevitably be the favourite to symbolize the NFC within the Tremendous Bowl.
As we proceed to preview this sport, listed below are the 4 gamers (two on all sides) who can be most essential to the end result.
Will the legend of Sam Darnold’s turnaround proceed to develop?
This deep into the season it is nearly laborious to keep in mind that Darnold was introduced into the Vikings’ group to be a veteran presence for rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy — who the Vikings chosen with the tenth total choose within the 2024 NFL Draft. So far in his profession, Darnold has been labeled as draft bust for the New York Jets — who chosen him with the third total choose in 2018 — and he wasn’t capable of benefit from his second likelihood with the Carolina Panthers.
Darnold spent 2023 as a backup for the San Francisco 49ers and he was anticipated to be a profession backup from then on out, however he seized the chance in Minnesota when McCarthy was misplaced for the season within the preseason and he hasn’t regarded again. In actual fact, he is arguably an MVP candidate because of his 4,153 yards and 35 touchdowns (in comparison with 12 interceptions) thrown this season.
Darnold has been unimaginable in 2014. He threw for 377 yards and three touchdowns with one interception in Minnesota’s large win towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers in Week 17. He is the straw that stirs the drink for the Vikings’ offense, and he has an opportunity so as to add one other chapter to his rising legend in Minnesota by beating Detroit on this one.
Will Jared Goff’s legend proceed to develop with the Lions?
There’s an fascinating parallel between Jared Goff’s profession and Darnold’s. Goff was seen as nearly a throwaway piece within the commerce that despatched Matthew Stafford from Detroit to the Los Angeles Rams. He is since absolutely embraced Detroit’s underdog spirit, although, and he is shortly develop into a legend in his personal proper amongst Lions followers. Tune in to any Lions sport (or any sport in Detroit for that matter) and you will hear the chants of Ja-red Goff. They love him in Detroit, and he is executed greater than sufficient to earn that love.
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Goff is an MVP candidate himself with 4,398 yards and 36 touchdowns to his title in comparison with simply 10 interceptions. Solely Joe Burrow has thrown for extra yards this season and solely Burrow, Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson have thrown extra touchdowns. In relation to passer score, solely Jackson’s (121.6) is best than Goff’s 113.6.
He is amongst the highest quarterbacks within the league this season and beating Minnesota on this massive spot on Sunday Night time Soccer may seal an MVP vote or two for Goff, particularly contemplating all of the historical past he is been combating towards for the Lions.
Kerby Joseph has develop into a sport changer for the Lions
There are some massive defensive names within the NFC playoffs. Xavier McKinney has been the catalyst for an incredible turnaround for the Inexperienced Bay Packers’ secondary as a free agent pickup and there are two gamers on the Vikings’ roster — Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard —who’ve over 10 sacks on the season.
None have had the affect that Kerby Joseph has had for the Lions, although. He is been an absolute game-wrecker for them within the secondary. On a workforce that has misplaced a number of key gamers on the defensive facet of the ball, he is been a constant presence, and he is helped Detroit win a number of video games.
Joseph leads the NFL in interceptions with 9. He picked off Brock Purdy twice on Monday Night time Soccer in Week 17 and he is completely going to need to be a participant Darnold keys in on for each snap on this large Week 18 matchup.
Justin Jefferson can put the Vikings excessive
Justin Jefferson is once more one of many high huge receivers within the NFL, and he is completely Minnesota’s high offensive weapon. He is caught 100 passes this season for 1,479 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 14.8 yards per reception. Detroit’s greatest weak point proper now could be its incapability to cease anyone on protection — the Lions are giving up 347.4 yards per sport on protection — and Jefferson can completely be the Vikings’ trump card on this considered one of it finally ends up being a high-flying affair.
He is among the best route runners within the league however he is additionally devastating with the ball in his fingers relating to yards after the catch. If the Vikings deal with feeding Jefferson on this one, there’s nearly no manner the Lions will be capable of sustain with them.