The Detroit Lions defeated the San Francisco 49ers 40-34 at Levi’s Stadium in one of the most exciting games of Week 17. However, that victory doesn’t yet secure the NFC No. 1 seed for the Lions, who still need a specific scenario to make it happen.
According to the NFC North standings, where both the Lions and Vikings have a 14-2 record, the Lions would need to beat Minnesota to secure the top seed, earning a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the NFL playoffs.
After the victory over the 49ers, Dan Campbell admitted the challenges he faced in that game to secure the win, acknowledging offensive and defensive struggles in stopping Kyle Shanahan’s team in San Francisco.
The Minnesota Vikings have a similar record, and worse yet, they haven’t lost a game since Week 8, when they experienced a two-game losing streak that began with a home loss to the Lions, 29-31. Since then, they’ve gone 9 weeks without a defeat.
Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions celebrates with quarterback Jared Goff (16) after a touchdown play in action during a game between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears on December 22, 2024 at Soldier Field in Cgicago, IL.
Eagles Don’t Threaten Lions’ Top Seed Pursuit
Good news for Campbell and the Lions: the Philadelphia Eagles aren’t a threat to their top seed hopes. With a 13-3 record and only one regular-season game left, the Eagles have nothing else to play for.
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Campbell Aims for Division Title
In the 2023 season, the Lions (12-5) claimed the NFC North title over the Packers (9-8), while the Vikings (7-10) posed no threat. That marked their first division title under Campbell’s coaching and their first NFC North title overall.
