Here Are The Massive Stakes In Next Week’s Vikings-Lions Game

MINNEAPOLIS — The 14-2 Sam Darnold-led Minnesota Vikings are on the verge of claiming the NFC’s top seed and securing home-field advantage in the playoffs.

However, their fate hinges on next week’s road game against the Detroit Lions. A win cements their dominance, while a loss would drop them to the fifth seed as a wild card team, forcing them to hit the road for the playoffs.

This pivotal matchup will determine if the Vikings can maintain control of their postseason path or face the challenges of playing away from home.

Detroit will host Minnesota on Jan. 5, and the game is likely to be "flexed" into the Sunday Night Football prime-time slot. If so, the matchup will air on NBC at 7 p.m., adding to the high stakes of this pivotal contest.

The Vikings defeated the Packers by a score of 27-25 on Sunday. The 11-5 Packers will have either the sixth or seventh-seed wildcard spot in the NFC, depending on if they can defeat the Chicago Bears in Green Bay next week.