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Detroit Lions playoffs: Schedule, opponent, tickets and everything you need to know
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- Detroit Lions playoffs: Schedule, opponent, tickets and everything you need to know
The Detroit Lions have had a spot secured in the 2024 NFL playoffs but a lot remains in the air entering the final game of the regular season.
The Lions face the Minnesota Vikings in a battle between 14-2 teams to settle the NFC North race and who will be the 1-seed in the NFC playoff bracket . The Lions and Vikings will settle the final detail of the 2024 playoff bracket on Sunday night in the final game of the regular season at Ford Field. The winner will get a first-round bye and homefield advantage, while the loser will play in the first round on the road as a 5-seed.
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The Lions have already set the mark for the most successful regular season in franchise history in terms of wins and have a playoff spot clinched, but a loss will leave a sour taste heading into the postseason. With a win, Detroit will secure the top seed for the first time in franchise history and guarantee home games in the divisional and potentially championship series rounds. With a loss, Detroit would likely have to win multiple road games in the playoffs to reach the Super Bowl .
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Here is everything you need to know about the Lions Week 18 matchup and the playoff implications.
What happens if Lions beat Vikings?
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) prepares for the snap against the Minnesota Vikings during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on Oct. 20, 2024.
The Lions clinch the 1-seed and first-round bye with a win on Sunday night. It would mean the Lions would have a bye week for the first time since Week 5, facing the lowest-seeded team to advance to the divisional round and another game at Ford Field.
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In the unlikely event the game ends in a tie, Detroit would earn the 1-seed thanks to having a better winning percentage against divisional opponents. In the case of a tie, Detroit would finish 5-0-1 against the NFC North while Minnesota would be 4-1-1.
What happens if Lions lose to Vikings?
If the Lions lose, they would become the first 14-win team in NFL history to not win their division. Instead, it would be Minnesota enjoying the first-round bye, NFC North banner and home playoff games at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Lions would drop to the 5-seed in the playoffs and play on the road in the wild-card round against the 4-seed — most likely the NFC South division winner. The prospect of playing an extra game plus having to win on the road makes a loss in Week 18 daunting.
TRENDING: Ranking Lions vs Vikings position-by-position in Week 18 showdown
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How to buy tickets for Lions-Vikings in Week 18
Tickets are available on secondary markets like StubHub . Prices start north of $350 for standing-room-only tickets while a pair of actual seats in the 300 sections begin north of $400. The 100 and 200 sections have some seats available starting above $550 in the end zone sections and over $700 on the sidelines.
*prices will fluctuate.
Buy Lions-Vikings Week 18 tickets on StubHub
2024 NFL playoff schedule
Wild-card round: Jan. 11-13.
Divisional round: Jan. 18-19.
Conference championships: Jan. 26.
Super Bowl 59: Feb. 9.
When do the Lions play in the playoffs?
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) makes a catch for a touchdown against Green Bay Packers during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024.
That is still up in the air. The NFL will announce the schedule for the wild-card weekend during Week 18, revealing the time Detroit will play if they lose. If the Lions win, they will play their first playoff game on Jan. 18 or 19 against the lowest-seeded NFC team to advance from the first round with the specific time and date coming later. If they lose to the Vikings, the Lions likely will play in the Monday Night Football game Jan. 13.
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Who could the Lions play in the playoffs?
If the Lions win, they will play the lowest-seeded NFC team to advance to the divisional round for their first playoff game. In that scenario, the most likely options would be the 4-seed Tampa Bay Buccaneers , Atlanta Falcons or Los Angeles Rams , the 5-seed Vikings, or the Green Bay Packers or Washington Commanders from the 6 or 7 seed.
Every playoff spot has been clinched outside of the NFC South winner. Tampa can clinch with a win while Atlanta needs a win plus a Buccaneers loss. The order of the final two wild-card seeds also comes down to if Washington wins against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 18.
If the Lions are the 5-seed, they will play whoever has the worst record of the four NFC division winners as the 4-seed. Tampa has the inside track but could jump up to the 3-seed if they win and the Rams lose to the Seattle Seahawks . According to ESPN , Tampa has a 50.1% chance at the 4-seed, the Rams have a 34.1% chance and the Falcons have a 15.8% chance.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions playoffs NFL: Schedule, opponent, tickets, everything to know
