The Detroit Lions may have one of their most intense rivalries with the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North, but for at least one week, the Lions will be rooting for Green Bay. The Lions are in a position to clinch their second consecutive NFC North title and secure the top seed in the NFC playoffs, but they need the Packers to defeat the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday to make that happen. If the Packers win, Detroit can confirm their division win with a victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.
However, if the Vikings defeat the Packers, the upcoming Lions-Vikings game will become a crucial showdown for both the division title and a first-round playoff bye. Amon-Ra St. Brown, a wide receiver for the Lions, expressed that the team is hoping Green Bay will come through in their matchup against Minnesota. “I think we all do,” St. Brown said, acknowledging the Packers’ importance in the Lions’ playoff hopes. Despite being division rivals, Detroit finds themselves needing Green Bay’s help in this critical scenario.
With only two games remaining in the regular season, both the Lions and Vikings hold identical 13-2 records, tying for the top spot in the NFC North. The Packers, in third place, have an 11-4 record. This sets the stage for a competitive finish, with the division set to be the first since 2020 to have three teams with at least 11 wins. In 2020, the AFC North featured the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Cleveland Browns all finishing with 11 or more wins, with Pittsburgh ultimately claiming the division title.
If the Lions and Vikings both win this week, next week’s game at Ford Field will be a high-stakes contest. The loser of that game will surpass the 1999 Tennessee Titans for the most regular-season wins by a wild-card team. The Titans that year finished 13-3, just behind the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Central, and went on to defeat the Jaguars in the AFC Championship to reach the Super Bowl. This adds even more drama to an already intense division battle.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff emphasized the need to stay focused on the task at hand, regardless of the scenario. “We know the scenario, but we certainly don’t want to overlook anything or try to hope something happens,” Goff said. “Whatever happens, happens, so we’ll see.” His comments reflect the team’s dedication to focusing on their own performance while acknowledging the broader context of the division race.
In lighter news, Lions running backs coach Scottie Montgomery shared an amusing story about a new pet his kids received for Christmas—a python snake. Montgomery admitted he’s not yet comfortable with the idea of having the snake in the house, though he’s adjusting for the sake of his children’s happiness. His youngest son had requested the snake after a visit to a reptile zoo, and the family named it “M.K.”—short for “Minion King,” though Montgomery is unclear about the meaning behind the name.
Montgomery also joked about taking precautions to ensure the snake stays contained, saying he might need to put a lock on his son’s door in case the snake escapes. His humor adds a lighthearted touch to the holiday season, as he adapts to the new family pet. Meanwhile, Goff also shared his holiday gift for his offensive linemen, revealing that he gave them “a nice Yeti package with a ton of wagyu and steaks and beef” for Christmas. Goff acknowledged the challenge of keeping up with the extravagant gifts of others, like the Toyota trucks given by 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy to his linemen, but he hoped his gifts would be appreciated.