The Detroit Lions’ victory on Monday Night Football sets the stage for a historic showdown in Week 18

The Detroit Lions’ victory on Monday Night Football sets the stage for a historic showdown in Week 18



CNN

The offensive juggernaut that is the Detroit Lions continued to roll, earning a 40-34 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday in a rematch of the 2023 NFC Championship Game.

The win puts the Lions back at the top of the NFC group heading into the final week of the regular season, but Monday night’s contest was anything but a walk in the park for Detroit.

The 49ers got off to a hot start, scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions of the game and entering halftime with an eight-point lead, 21-13.

The Lions started the second half with a touchdown drive and a two-point conversion to tie the game at 21, but the Niners answered with another touchdown to retake the lead.

Two interceptions by Lions safety Kirby Joseph turned the tide in Detroit’s favor, and the Lions’ potent offense continued to pile up points en route to their 14th win of the season.

Joseph now leads the NFL with nine interceptions this season, two more than the next closest player.

Lions quarterback Jared Goff recorded his sixth 300-yard passing game of the season and threw three touchdown passes to set a new career high with 33 TD passes this season.

Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs posted a game-high 117 rushing yards, highlighted by a 30-yard touchdown run that showcased his blistering speed and put the game out of reach for the Lions.

While Detroit is enjoying arguably the best season in the franchise’s nearly 100-year history, there is still cause for concern in the Motor City as the postseason approaches.

Although the Lions have scored an NFL-best 533 points this season, the team’s injury-plagued defense has been exploited in recent weeks. Detroit’s opponents have averaged 30 points per game over the last five games.

San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy caught the best pass of his career with 377 yards on Monday as the 49ers’ offense moved the ball up and down the field with ease, even outrunning Detroit in the game.

The other elephant in the room is the Minnesota Vikings.

Despite already winning more games in a season than any other Lions team, Detroit still hasn’t won its division.

The Vikings have a corresponding record of 14-2 and the two teams will meet in Week 18, with the NFC North title, a bye week and home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs going to the winner.

Whichever team loses Sunday’s showdown will drop to the fifth seed in the NFC and have to start the playoffs on the road. The loser will also make dubious history by becoming the NFL’s first wild card team with 14 wins.

To the delight of football fans, the NFL announced Sunday that the decisive game of Week 18 will be played in prime time as the final game of the 2024 regular season.

The Lions will be the home team at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday at 8:20 p.m. ET.

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