The 2024 regular season has delivered terrific matchups time and time again, but none may be more exciting than the Week 18 primetime showdown between NFC North rivals.
The Detroit Lions (14-2) are hosting the Minnesota Vikings (14-2) at Ford Field. These divisional foes are tied for first place in the NFC North, and the winner tonight will claim the division crown.
More importantly, the winner of tonight’s ‘Sunday Night Football’ clash will be the NFC’s No. 1 seed, and the loser will enter the playoffs as the No. 5 seed. The victor will claim the highly coveted bye through the wild card round, and the loser will travel to the playoffs next weekend.
These teams met in October when the Lions defeated the Vikings in a back-and-forth 31-29 matchup. Detroit has won four straight against Minnesota; however, each side looks quite different from the first meeting in Week 7.
The Lions are without David ‘Knuckles’ Montgomery in the backfield, forcing Jared Goff to be the focal point of the offense. Detroit’s defense has suffered a litany of injuries and has allowed at least 31 points in three of its last four.
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Meanwhile, Minnesota is remarkably healthy heading into the final game of the regular season and is riding a nine-game win streak. Justin Jefferson will look to put his stamp on this one. He has amassed 597 yards on 34 receptions in his last three games in Detroit.
USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates, highlights and more from the Week 18 ‘Sunday Night Football’ matchup between the Lions and Vikings below.
Lions vs. Vikings start time
Date: Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025
Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
The Lions and Vikings game will wrap up Sunday Week 18 with ‘Sunday Night Football’ at 8:20 p.m. ET. This will be the last game of the 2024 NFL regular season.
Lions vs. Vikings TV channel
Cable TV: NBC
Lions vs. Vikings predictions, picks
Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Week 18 ‘Sunday Night Football’ matchup between the Vikings and Lions will shape up:
Lorenzo Reyes: Lions 33, Vikings 28
Richard Morin: Vikings 28, Lions 26
Jordan Mendoza: Lions 34, Vikings 31
Lions vs. Vikings live stream
Livestream: Peacock; Fubo
‘Sunday Night Football’ will stream on NBC’s streaming service, Peacock. Football fans can also watch the final ‘SNF’ game with a subscription to Fubo.
Watch’Sunday Night Football’with a Peacock subscription
Vikings inactives vs. Lions
QB Brett Rypien (emergency third QB)
CB Fabian Moreau
LB Calvin Munson
DL Levi Drake Rodriguez
C Dan Feeney
OT Walter Rouse
LB Pat Jones II
Lions inactives vs. Vikings
RB David Montgomery
QB Teddy Bridgewater (emergency third QB)
OL Giovanni Manu
OL Kayode Awosika
OL Colby Sorsdal
DL Jonah Williams
DL Brodric Martin
Lions vs. Vikings odds, moneyline, over/under
The Lions are favorites to defeat the Vikings, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Not interested in this game? Check out expert picks and best bets for every NFL game this week.
Spread: Lions (-3)
Moneyline: Lions (-155); Vikings (+130)
Over/under: 56.5
When do the NFL playoffs start 2025?
Start date: Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025
The format remains unchanged from previous years, with wild-card weekend getting things started Jan. 11. Sunday will feature a tripleheader before the round wraps up on Monday, Jan. 13.
Which NFL team has the most Super Bowl wins?
The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for the most Super Bowl wins with six.
The Lions are among four NFL teams that have never appeared in a Super Bowl. The Lions, however, were a powerhouse team before the advent of the Super Bowl, winning four NFL championships, including three in the 1950s.
The Vikings have made four Super Bowl appearances, but have yet to win a Lombardi Trophy. Minnesota’s last Super Bowl appearance came in Super Bowl XI during the 1976 season.
NFL franchises with most Super Bowl wins:
New England Patriots — 6
Pittsburgh Steelers — 6
Dallas Cowboys — 5
San Francisco 49ers — 5
Green Bay Packers — 4
Kansas City Chiefs — 4
New York Giants — 4
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