The Lions and Vikings are poised to make NFL history when they face off on Sunday night.
With both teams boasting 14 wins, the Week 18 clash will feature the most combined wins between two teams in a regular season game in league history. The previous record of 25 total wins was set in two earlier matchups: the 2007 season finale between Tom Brady’s Patriots and Eli Manning’s Giants, and a Week 16 game from the 2005 season between Seattle and Indianapolis.
Despite the NFL-record 28 total wins between Dan Campbell’s Lions and Kevin O’Connell’s Vikings, the losing team in this highly anticipated 2024 regular season finale will start its playoff campaign on the road as the NFC’s No. 5 seed. They will also face the winner of the NFC South—either a 10-win Buccaneers team or a nine-win Falcons squad—in the wild-card round.
Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, echoing the sentiments of many fans and analysts, is not pleased with the prospect of a 14-win team starting the playoffs away from home.
“I think the rule should be changed,” the All-Pro receiver stated Thursday. “Obviously if you win the division, you should obviously make a playoff spot, but having a 14-win team having to go on the road is kind of crazy. I don’t make the rules. Hopefully we can get a win and get home-field advantage.”
Meanwhile, the winner of this primetime contest will secure the NFC’s No. 1 seed, earning a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Given the current injury-plagued state of Detroit’s roster, a playoff bye would certainly be beneficial for St. Brown and the team.
“I think it would be big,” the fourth-year receiver remarked about the potential bye. “We have a lot of injuries obviously. But, just to be able to get some rest, I think would be nice. But, either way, I feel like we’ll be fine, whether it’s going on the road or having a bye week and playing at home. I think we’re built for either or.
“We have the best fans in the world to help us if we were at home, and if we weren’t at home, we’ve been pretty good on the road this year. So, either way, I think we’ll be fine, but we’d love to have home-field advantage in the playoffs.”
In their first encounter this season (Week 7), Detroit triumphed 31-29 at U.S. Bank Stadium. The rematch is set for 8:20 p.m. Sunday at Ford Field.
