MN Vikings-Detroit Lions Matchup Flexed To Sunday Night Football

MINNEAPOLIS — The NFC North title race is set for a dramatic finish, with the division crown and the NFC’s top seed on the line in the final game of the NFL's 2024 regular season on Sunday Night Football.

The Minnesota Vikings kept their hopes alive on Sunday with a nail-biting 27-25 victory over the Green Bay Packers at home, improving to 14-2 on the season.

The win sets up a high-stakes Week 18 showdown against the Detroit Lions, where the stakes couldn’t be higher. Not only will the division title be at stake, but the winner will also claim the NFC’s No. 1 seed, earning home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and a first-round bye.

The NFL announced Sunday that the Vikings-Lions clash will kick off at 7:20 p.m. on Jan. 5 and air on Sunday Night Football, closing out the league’s 272nd and final game of the regular season.

The Lions, currently 13-2, can match Minnesota’s 14-2 record with a win in Week 17’s Monday Night Football game against the San Francisco 49ers (6-9). Even if Detroit falls to San Francisco, the Lions can still secure the NFC North title with a win over the Vikings in Week 18.

With playoff positioning, bragging rights, and championship aspirations on the line, all eyes will turn to Ford Field this weekend.

It also will mark the Vikings’ first regular-season finale appearance since 2015, back when the NFL had a 16-game schedule. In that game, Minnesota clinched the NFC North title with a 20-13 win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

How to Watch: Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions

• When: Sunday, Jan. 5, at 7:20 p.m.
• Where: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
• TV: NBC
• Radio: KFAN 100.3 FM (Twin Cities)
• Gambling Odds: Lions are favored by 2.5 points