Game 272 of the 2024 NFL regular season is a special one. In a year where so much of the playoff dust settled early, one Week 18 game stands out, not just for this season but in the history of the league, with the 14-2 Minnesota Vikings taking on the 14-2 Detroit Lions in the first regular-season game between two teams with 14 wins. The stakes are simple but extremely high: the winner is the NFC North champion and the No. 1 seed, with a first-round bye in the loaded NFC; while the loser is the No. 5 seed and will open the playoffs on the road during wild-card weekend. If the game should end in a tie, Detroit would win the division and be the 1-seed, thanks to winning the first matchup between the teams back in Week 7.
No matter how the game ends, this will be the first time in league history a wild-card team will have 14 wins. The only time a wild-card team had 13 wins in a season was 1999, when the 13-3 Tennessee Titans finished second in the AFC Central to the 14-2 Jacksonville Jaguars. Tennessee won the AFC championship game in Jacksonville that season before losing to the Rams in Super Bowl 34.
Live21 updates
Jonathan Greenard sacks Jared Goff on 3rd down
Minnesota quickly cleans up to force a punt, and the Vikings will take over around the 50-yard-line, looking to even up the score early in the second quarter.
Andrew Van Ginkel. Hit stick.
Some ELITE company for Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit
Vikings to punt after the sack
Thats a quick three-and-out, and it’s looking like the Lions are swarming on defense to close the first quarter with a 7-0 lead.
Za’Darius Smith with an enormous first down sack to back the Vikings up
Minnesota will now have 2nd and 27 in the shadow of their own goal posts.
Lions cash in conversion with Jahmyr Gibbs 25-yard touchdown run
Great patience by Sonic with his 17th touchdown — tying the single-season Lions record — and the Lions are on the board first with a 7-0 lead.
Lions pick up HUGE 4th down
Jared Goff stands in against a 0-blitz and Jameson Williams marches Detroit to the 25.
Amon-Ra St. Brown with the first big one of the game
A catch and run of 23 yards to get Detroit on the move on its second drive has the Lions across midfield for the first time.
The Vikings and Lions trade punts on their first drives. Minnesota had a false start on a 2nd and 4 that backed them up and hurt the momentum of the drive, and after a return to the 22, the Lions’ offense will have a second crack at it.
Aaron Jones makes first down catch
The first-year Viking make the play on a 3rd down to move the sticks for the second first down of their opening drive.
Minnesota’s offense takes over
The Vikings entered Week 18 12th in total offense and 9th in scoring offense. They’re likely to need to put some points up to keep up with the Lions, who come into Week 18 leading the NFL in scoring at 33.3 points per game.
Vikings win the second third down
This second one was a 3rd and 8 and Jonathan Greenard wasn’t fooled by a draw play and wrapped up Gibbs in the backfield for a loss forcing the punt. Vikings take over just short of their own 15.
Gibbs picks up a first down
After motioning out of the backfield, he beats Blake Cashman in man coverage and spins away for a first down after getting to a quick third down on the opening series.
28 combined wins in an NFL regular season game. This one should be fun
The Lions have been in the NFL since 1930. They’ve never been the No. 1 seed in the playoffs
The franchise has only won two playoff games since 1991 and this year, they’re dealing with tremendous injuries on the defensive side of the ball.
The Vikings will be the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the first time since 1998 with a win
The Vikings fell in overtime to the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game that year after going 15-1 with a ridiculous offense, led by Randal Cunningham and Cris Carter and rookie Randy Moss both topping 1,000 receiving yards.
Detroit in all black for this Sunday night special
It’s simple for both Minnesota and Detroit tonight
