The final fixture of the season is coming in hot as the Detroit Lions are slated to bring in a massive showdown to remember, and it cannot be denied that this is going to be the main highlight of Week 18 as the season wraps up with a bang now more than ever. But which team will come out on top of this massive battle?

This battle between the Lions and Vikings is slated to be the 272nd and final game of the 2024 NFL season – and wouldn’t you know it – it is a spectacle that fans should not miss! The Lions are seeking a chance not just to clinch the NFC North but also the no. 1 seed in the NFC on the line, and this has some serious implications in the playoffs now more than ever.

The winner between the two teams will earn the home field advantage for the rest of the NFC playoffs and a first-round bye. The losing team, on the other hand, will then have to take on the longer path on the road to battle either the Los Angeles Rams or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next weekend, which just shows how crucial this series is going to be in the long run.

Winning Predictions

As of the time of writing, Detroit holds the tiebreaker for the top spot in the NFC, and it does seem that this is going to be quite a showdown to remember. We have all seen how the Lions’ defense has been quite a menace in the game, but with a lot of injuries at hand, it does seem that they can only take so much as the likes of the Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, and the San Francisco 49ers have dropped 30+ points against them in the last four weeks.

While they are still winning, it is a sign that the Lions are in dire need of a boost to make the best of their playoff chances. Considering that David Montgomery is still out of the picture, while both Penei Sewell and Kalif Raymond remain questionable, the defense will definitely need some help if they are going to deliver a win to finish the season.

At this point, the Lions are still the favorite on the moneyline with odds of -148 compared to the Vikings’ +124. Still, it is projected that there are going to be intense performances between the two teams, which will make it a promising battle to look out for.

Key Players to Look Out For

The Minnesota Vikings are expected to see the best from Justin Jefferson as he continues to be the biggest difference-maker for the team. As of the time of writing, he has notched a total of 100 receptions this season and is expected to put up a clutch performance on the biggest game of the season now more than ever.

On the other hand, Jared Goff may be the elite performer to watch for the Vikings, but it has been Jahmyr Gibbs’ performances that has proven to be a boost following Montgomery’s injury. He has already notched a total of 1,200 yards on the ground with a blitzing statline of 5.6 yards per carry – and he may well be the piercing sword that will push past the Vikings defense to wrap up the campaign.

At this point, whoever wins game 272 will definitely be in a prime position to win it all, and it all comes down to a massive set of quarters that will show which team is the best in the NFC to close out the regular season.