As the Detroit Lions prepared for their Week 17 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, Head Coach Dan Campbell was faced with a critical decision. With no playoff implications on the line after the Minnesota Vikings’ win over the Green Bay Packers, Campbell had to choose whether to rest his starters or continue playing them for a final tune-up before the regular season’s climax. Despite the absence of playoff stakes, Campbell ultimately decided to go with his top guys in a rematch of the 2023 NFC Championship Game, and the Lions escaped Levi’s Stadium with a 40-34 victory.
The decision was far from simple, and Campbell made it clear that it weighed heavily on his mind in the lead-up to the game. Reflecting on the choice, he explained the thought process behind it. “Yeah, it was on my mind, and I thought a lot about it,” Campbell said. “I thought about it leading up to the game, I thought about it last night.” He admitted that there was a lot of deliberation, but in the end, he felt it was the right thing to do. “I told the staff, but I ended up settling on the right thing to do was to play these guys because we owed it to the team.”
Campbell emphasized that the game was about more than just securing a win, even though it had no direct impact on the playoffs. After the Lions’ gut-wrenching loss to the 49ers in the previous season’s NFC Championship Game, in which they blew a 17-point halftime lead, this game became an emotional and symbolic contest for the team. The Lions, in Campbell’s mind, were not just playing for a victory—they were playing to regain their pride and avenge the painful loss from last season.
“It was just one of those positions we were in. It’s hard to say who you’re going to sit, and it’s not fair to ask guys to play that hadn’t been prepared to play,” Campbell noted. His decision to play the starters was ultimately driven by the understanding that resting them would disrupt the team’s rhythm, especially with the NFC North title and the top seed in the NFC still in play. The Lions were determined to finish strong and build momentum heading into their final game against the Minnesota Vikings.
While it was a “meaningless” game in terms of the playoffs, the emotional weight of facing the same team that had ended their season the previous year was clear to the players. Lions safety Kerby Joseph, who had two interceptions in the game, shared his personal motivations for playing hard against the 49ers. “I really wanted that get-back,” Joseph said. “I feel like we came in here last year and they beat us, so I still had that chip on my shoulder from last year. Like they say in the media, this game didn’t really mean much, but this game meant a lot.”
Joseph’s desire for redemption was palpable. The sting of that NFC Championship loss still lingered in the hearts of many Lions players, and it was clear that they had something to prove. Despite a slow start on defense, Joseph and his teammates dug in, finishing the game strong and leaving with a hard-earned victory. The win, as much as anything, provided a sense of closure and a much-needed confidence boost for the Lions.
Quarterback Jared Goff, who threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns in a California homecoming, echoed Joseph’s sentiment. “I’m sure that’s tough for him, but I think that’s the only way we know,” Goff said, speaking about Campbell’s decision to play the starters. Goff’s performance was particularly notable, as he completed 26-of-34 passes with no interceptions, marking his seventh game this season with three touchdowns, which tied Matthew Stafford’s 2011 record for the most three-touchdown games in a single season in Lions history.
Goff’s performance was a testament to the team’s collective focus and determination. Even though the stakes were technically lower than other games in the season, the Lions were playing with intensity, and it showed. For Goff, this was about more than just stats—it was about establishing a mindset heading into the final week of the season. “We just go and find a way to win, and the team we were playing in San Francisco. This is what ended our season last year,” Goff continued. “There were a lot of guys on this team that were there last year that wanted to get one back on them, even though, in a lot of ways, it was meaningless for them and meaningless for us, but they were prideful out there too. They were trying to beat us as well, and it was a fun game.”
Now, with the 49ers behind them, the Lions are preparing for what could be one of the most important games in the franchise’s history. Detroit is set to face the Minnesota Vikings at home on Sunday night, with the NFC North Division title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC on the line. The significance of the game cannot be overstated. For the Lions, this represents an opportunity to not only win their first NFC North title in decades but also to secure the top spot in the conference—something that has eluded the team since the NFL introduced seeding in 1975. The Lions are one of only five teams never to have achieved a No. 1 seed, joining the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New York Jets in that exclusive group.
“This is what you’re in it for, man. Ultimately, this is it,” Campbell said, speaking to the gravity of the moment. “I mean, you couldn’t write a better scenario. You couldn’t come up with this. The fact that both teams are sitting at 14-2 and it’s for the division and the 1 seed. It just doesn’t get any better than that. It’s like this is fairytale stuff. And so, it speaks for itself. Our guys are excited.”
Campbell’s words reflect the excitement and the anticipation that is building within the Lions’ locker room. This is the kind of opportunity every NFL team dreams of—a chance to secure the division title and potentially set themselves up for a deep playoff run. With so much on the line, the Lions are embracing the challenge, fueled by the lessons they learned from last season’s heartbreak. They are a team that has grown, evolved, and is now poised to take the next step.
In the upcoming game against the Vikings, the Lions will have the opportunity to prove that they are more than just a feel-good story. They are a team capable of winning when it matters most. The combination of Campbell’s leadership, Goff’s calm under pressure, and a roster full of players who are hungry for success has Detroit poised for a dramatic finale to the regular season. The result of this game will shape the future of the franchise, and the Lions are ready for whatever comes their way.
