The Lions and Vikings will wrap up the NFL’s regular season with a lot at stake. The winner will earn the NFC North title, the top seed in the conference playoffs and a bye. The loser will drop to the fifth seed, starting the playoffs on the road next week as the first wild-card team with 14 wins.
The game features the first matchup of teams with 13-plus wins and a combined 28 victories in the regular season. Detroit has set a franchise record for wins and Minnesota is a victory from matching a team mark. Lions QB Jared Goff has to play well to make up for a banged-up defense that gives up a lot of yards and points.
He completed 77% of his passes last week and set a franchise record by throwing three TD passes for the fourth game in a row. Cleveland (3-13) at Baltimore (11-5), Saturday A win would clinch the AFC North for Lamar Jackson’s Ravens. Jackson is closing in on 4,000 yards passing, and he would become the first player to reach that mark and 800 yards rushing in the same season.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was noncommittal most of the week before deciding on Thursday to start Bailey Zappe at quarterback. Zappe will be the 40th QB to start for the Browns since 1999. Cincinnati (8-8) at Pittsburgh (10-6), Saturday There’s plenty on the line for the Bengals and Steelers.
The Bengals have won four straight to get to 8-8 and keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Cincinnati needs a victory and a loss by Denver to Kansas City to reach the postseason. The Steelers locke.
