One more win and the Detroit Lions clinch their first division title in 30 years.
The first-place Lions (10-4) have three games remaining — two against the second-place Minnesota Vikings. They’ll get their first shot at clinching the NFC North championship on Sunday afternoon, when they take on the Vikings in Minneapolis.
“We control our own destiny as it pertains to winning the division, no matter what happens (elsewhere),” coach Dan Campbell said. “We win (Sunday) and we win the division. We’re in (the playoffs) and we get a home game. That’s right where I want to be.”
The second-place Vikings (7-7) can remain in the chase for the division with a victory on Sunday and improve their chances of a wild card. They currently hold the sixth seed in the NFC.
“We can look at the bigger picture all we want,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. “The way to handle and to feel good about the bigger picture is to have laser focus on this game right now. Nothing else matters.”
The Lions bounced back from a 28-13 road loss to Chicago on Dec. 10 with a resounding 42-17 victory over the Denver Broncos on Saturday night. Jared Goff tied his career high with five touchdown passes.
“There’s a reason why he was the first pick in the (2016) draft,” O’Connell said. “He can flat out throw a football as well as anybody. Accurate, very natural thrower. And the offense he’s in now, they do a great job of a lot of the principles of really good offense.”
After two quiet outings, top wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown caught seven passes for 117 yards and a touchdown. Rookie tight end Sam LaPorta caught three of Goff’s touchdown passes. The running back duo of rookie Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combined for 185 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Detroit didn’t commit a turnover against the ball-hawking Broncos after six giveaways in losses to Green Bay and Chicago.
Goff has been intercepted 10 times and lost two fumbles this season but Campbell doesn’t want him to play tight.
“The most important thing is to cut it loose. That’s the message,” Campbell said. “It’s not the other way because I go back to this: He’s one of the biggest reasons we’re sitting at 10 wins right now, him playing loose. Just trust what your eyes see, play the progression and throw with conviction.”
Counterpart Nick Mullens will be making his second consecutive start. Mullens threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns but also was intercepted twice in a 27-24 overtime loss to Cincinnati on Saturday.
Mullens has three quality targets in tight end and former Lion T.J. Hockenson and wideouts Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson. Addison caught both of Mullens’ touchdown passes and Jefferson, playing for just the second time in two months due to a hamstring injury, had seven receptions for 84 yards.
Jefferson had 11 receptions for 223 yards in the teams’ last meeting in Detroit a year ago. He was limited to three catches for 14 yards in last season’s clash in Minneapolis.
“There’s nothing easy about going against him,” Campbell said of Jefferson. “I know this — we can’t let him have 200 yards again.”
Ty Chandler is coming off a 132-yard rushing performance filling in for injured Alexander Mattison.
Mattison (ankle) is one of six Vikings players questionable for Sunday, while cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (knee) and wide receiver Jalen Nailor (concussion) were ruled out.
The Lions ruled out defensive backs C.J. Gardner-Johnson (pectoral, on injured reserve) and Jerry Jacobs (hamstring), tight end Brock Wright (hip) and fullback Jason Cabinda (knee, also on IR) for Sunday. Linebacker Derrick Barnes (shoulder) is doubtful.
