The Detroit Lions will seek to win their 14th game of the season against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football in Week 17. Dan Campbell’s team has won 12 of its previous 13 games, including a blowout victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 16. The Lions’ game against the 49ers on Monday night means little because they won’t be able to secure the NFC North title and the conference’s top seed until Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings. ‘Mad Minute’
The division and No. 1 seed in the NFC, along with a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, will go to the winner of Detroit vs. Minnesota in Week 18. The loser will be the fifth seed in the conference and will have to travel to play in the first round of the playoffs.
Despite having little to aim for in Week 17, the Lions managed to set a few records. Detroit became the first club in NFL history to have two running backs (David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs) and two wide receivers (Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams) surpass 1,000 scrimmage yards in a single season during the second half of Monday night’s game against the 49ers. In the third quarter, Williams surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the season, setting the record.
The 2024 Lions also joined the 2004 Indianapolis Colts, who had Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Brandon Stokley, as the second team in NFL history to have four players with at least 1,000 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns in a season.
It should come as no surprise that Detroit’s offence, which is probably the finest in football, is shattering and setting new records with each game. When healthy, Gibbs and Montgomery’s running back combination offers the ideal balance of speed and power, while St. Brown and Williams are rapidly emerging as one of football’s top young wide receiver combinations.