The NFL’s Week 18 regular season finale on Sunday features a pivotal matchup between the Detroit Lions (14-2) and the Minnesota Vikings (14-2).
With significant implications on the line, the winner will clinch the NFC North, secure the NFC’s No. 1 playoff seed, and gain home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The loser will drop to the No. 5 seed, facing a Wild Card road game in the first round.
NBC will air the final “Sunday Night Football” game of the regular season. Additionally, the network revealed exciting news just days before the game, announcing that its popular “Football Night in America” show will be broadcast live from Detroit’s Ford Field instead of its usual studios in New York City.
According to NBC Sports’ press release, “This marks the first time that ‘Football Night’ will have its full studio team on-site at a regular-season finale since the show’s inception in 2006.”
The full studio team will include hosts Maria Taylor, Jason Garrett, Devin McCourty, Chris Simms, and Matthew Berry. For the in-game broadcast, Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark, and Terry McAulay will be on the call as usual.
ESPN BET lists the Lions as 3-point favorites, giving them a 64% chance of defeating Minnesota in Week 18 after their 31-29 victory at U.S. Bank Stadium in Week 7. The Vikings lead the all-time series 80-44-2, but Detroit has won the last four encounters, dating back to 2022.
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Lions Expected to Lose Super Bowl Champion Defender in Recent Offseason Projection
The Detroit Lions are 13-2 as they enter Week 17 of the NFL season, holding the top seed in the NFC and looking to secure a postseason run through Ford Field. The team has been one of the league’s best and aims to bring home the Lombardi Trophy. While that remains the primary focus, offseason discussions have already begun.
Several teams have been eliminated from playoff contention and are now focusing on ways to improve. Bleacher Report’s Scouting Department recently published an article highlighting potential free agent acquisitions for these teams.
In that article, they suggested the Baltimore Ravens might sign cornerback Carlton Davis. The report noted, “The cornerback position has been a headache throughout the season for the Ravens. Adding Tre’Davious White in the middle of the campaign didn’t help, and Brandon Stephens has been a liability all year. They have a good long-term answer in Nate Wiggins, but he’s still a rookie who has dealt with some injuries. The solution might lie in making a real investment in a veteran on a short-term contract. Carlton Davis has helped the Lions stabilize their secondary and could show up to do the same thing in Baltimore.”
The Ravens have struggled all season with their pass defense, ranking 29th in the league at 248.5 yards allowed per game. Given their ongoing issues, they might target Davis as a potential solution.
In March, the Lions traded for Davis to strengthen their secondary. Over 13 games with Detroit, Davis has tallied 56 total tackles, 11 pass deflections, and two interceptions. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), the Auburn alum has earned a 74.5 overall grade and a 72.1 coverage grade.
At 27 years old, Davis is a Super Bowl LV champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and brings valuable postseason experience. While the Lions might look to re-sign him for 2025, retaining him won’t be easy, as several teams, including the Ravens, could show interest.
Davis is currently dealing with a broken jaw, and his ability to return this season is uncertain, potentially marking the end of his time with the Lions. If that happens, expect the Ravens to be a team to watch when free agency opens in March.
