What’s at stake in the NFL playoff race in Week 18? Three division titles, NFC’s top seed and more

That is the opposite storyline concerned in that Vikings-Lions sport, and it is much more important. The winner of that sport lands the coveted first-round bye, now that Philadelphia has fallen out of the race for that prize. There’s additionally little question about which group wants it extra. The Lions would profit immensely from every week of relaxation, given all their well being issues. In addition they perceive how a lot a possible residence sport for the NFC championship might imply to their Tremendous Bowl desires. In spite of everything, the Lions held a 17-point halftime lead over San Francisco on the street in final 12 months’s convention title sport, solely to observe the 49ers rally to win. That would possibly have been a distinct consequence had Detroit been enjoying in entrance of its residence crowd. The Vikings followers will be equally raucous and an immense help to a disruptive protection that has ranked among the many league leaders in sacks all season. Let’s additionally not overlook how deep the NFC area can be on this postseason. At the very least two NFC North groups can be wild playing cards (the Packers and both the Lions or Vikings), and all of them can be arduous to beat. So, it is best to have every week away from that carnage. It says right here that the Lions earn that privilege, as effectively.