The Lions and Vikings are poised to make NFL history when they face off Sunday night.
With 14 wins each, their Week 18 matchup will mark the most combined wins by two teams in a regular season game in NFL history. The previous record of 25 combined wins was set twice before: in the 2007 season finale between the Tom Brady-led Patriots and Eli Manning’s Giants, and a Week 16 clash in 2005 between Seattle and Indianapolis.
Despite the NFL-record 28 combined wins between Dan Campbell’s Lions and Kevin O’Connell’s Vikings, the loser of this highly anticipated regular-season finale will begin the playoffs on the road as the NFC’s No. 5 seed. They’ll face the winner of the NFC South—either the 10-win Buccaneers or the nine-win Falcons—in the wild-card round.
Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, like many others, believes a 14-win team shouldn’t have to start the playoffs away from home.
“I think the rule should be changed,” the All-Pro receiver said Thursday. “Obviously, if you win the division, you deserve a playoff spot, but having a 14-win team go on the road is kind of crazy. I don’t make the rules. Hopefully, we can get a win and secure home-field advantage.”
The winner of this primetime showdown will clinch the NFC’s No. 1 seed, earning a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
With Detroit’s roster currently dealing with numerous injuries, a playoff-opening bye would be invaluable for St. Brown and his teammates.
“I think it would be big,” the fourth-year receiver said about the potential bye week. “We have a lot of injuries, obviously. But getting some rest would be nice. Either way, though, I feel like we’ll be fine—whether we’re on the road or have a bye and play at home. I think we’re built for either.
“We have the best fans in the world to help us if we’re at home. And if we’re on the road, we’ve been pretty good away this year. Either way, we’ll be fine, but we’d love to have home-field advantage in the playoffs.”
Detroit won the first meeting between these NFC North rivals earlier this season, defeating Minnesota 31–29 in Week 7 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Kickoff for the rematch is set for 8:20 p.m. Sunday at Ford Field.
