Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Vikings and Lions to Clash in Winner-Takes-All NFC North Showdown
**DETROIT, MI** – The NFC North title and the coveted number one seed in the NFC playoffs will be decided in a dramatic Week 18 matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions. The two teams, currently holding a 14-2 and 13-2 record respectively, will face off next Sunday night in Detroit. The winner earns the top seed, a first-round bye, and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The loser drops to the fifth seed and must play on the road in the Wild Card round. A tie would send the Lions to the top spot due to a tiebreaker.
The Vikings secured their spot in the showdown with a nail-biting 27-25 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. The Lions, meanwhile, face a Monday night clash against the San Francisco 49ers. Their path to the top seed hinges on the outcome of that game. A Lions win necessitates victory or a tie against the Vikings in Week 18; a loss or tie necessitates a Week 18 win against Minnesota. The Lions previously defeated the Vikings 31-29 in Week 7.
Elsewhere in the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East and the second seed, but face a decision regarding star running back Saquon Barkley, who is just 101 yards away from breaking a long-standing rushing record. The Los Angeles Rams secured the NFC West, eliminating the Seattle Seahawks. The Washington Commanders earned a wild-card berth, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers control their destiny in the NFC South.
In the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West), Buffalo Bills (AFC East), and Houston Texans (AFC South) have secured their playoff spots. The Baltimore Ravens can clinch the AFC North and the third seed with a win or tie against Cleveland or a loss/tie by Pittsburgh. The Steelers have already clinched a wild-card berth. The Los Angeles Chargers also secured a wild-card spot. The final AFC wild-card spot will be decided between the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and Cincinnati Bengals.
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