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The Rams’ best bet now is to try Alex Barron, a strong pass protector, on the blind side and move Milford Brown to the first unit at right tackle. Pace, 32, will have missed 23 of a possible 32 games when he enters next season. The entire Rams offense is going to suffer.

The highlight of the game for Akers was a 58-yard scamper at the beginning of the third quarter in a then 10-3 game. Akers started the second half with Aaron Jones remaining in the locker room for an undisclosed reason, failing to score on his next carry after the long run before giving way to Jones on the following play. Jones’ status could be something to monitor as the Vikings prepare for a road date with the Rams in the Wildcard Round.

Jones remained in the locker room after the half for most of the team’s first drive, before returning to the field of play in the red zone. He would then depart after a vicious hit down the sideline before giving way to Cam Akers for good with the game out of hand late. The team never passed an injury update for the veteran running back, which could be something to monitor after the loss sends the Vikings to the NFC’s No. 5 seed and a road date with the Rams in the Wildcard Round next weekend.

Detroit defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn had all the answers in this one, holding the Vikings to just 262 yards of total offense and nine points while placing Darnold in consistent duress. The Vikings managed just three points on three first half red zone drives, with two turnovers on downs seeing the team take a 10-3 deficit into the break. The second half was an entirely different story as the Lions completely clamped down on their opponent while scoring 21 points themselves, sending the Vikings into the Wildcard Round for a road date with the Rams, who were one of only two teams to beat the Vikings this season (lost twice to the Lions).

Patrick’s two targets were primarily a function of only 33 pass attempts from quarterback Jared Goff in the convincing win. Jameson Williams led the team with eight targets, followed by seven each for tight end Sam LaPorta and Amon-Ra St. Brown and five for running back Jahmyr Gibbs. The win clinched the NFC’s top seed, a playoff bye, and home field advantage for the Lions, who will await the results from Wildcard Weekend before learning their opponent in the Divisional Round.

Williams led the team with eight targets, the last of which came with under three minutes remaining with most of the regular starters on the sideline. The fact he was on the field late in a blowout win likely indicates head coach Dan Campbell knew he was close to the milestone, which he passed on a four-yard reception on the team’s final possession to get to 1,001 yards on the season. The win clinched the No. 1 seed for the Lions, who will await the happenings of Wildcard Weekend before knowing their opponent in the Divisional Round.

Gibbs managed all four touchdowns from the Lions on a night they clinched the top seed out of the NFC. After starting the game with one yard on his first six carries, Gibbs broke free off the right tackle for a 25-yard score at the end of the first quarter before adding three additional scores in the second half, two rushing and one receiving. The four scores took his season total to a league-leading 20 in the regular season and helped clinch both home field advantage and the lone bye out of the NFC.

The Lions struggled to move the football with any consistency in the first half but still took a 10-6 lead into the break. The flood gates would open after returning to the field, with three second half touchdowns from running back Jahmyr Gibbs sealing the NFC’s top seed and locking up both the lone playoff bye and home field advantage up to the Super Bowl for the Lions. Goff’s first interception resulted from a heads up play from Ivan Pace in the flat, who undercut a route by Craig Reynolds in the second quarter, while his second pick came on a deep shot to Jameson Williams on an overthrown ball down the middle of the field. Even so, Detroit’s defense was a big part of this win, holding a dangerous Vikings offense to just 262 total yards on the evening. Goff and the Lions await the coming weekend’s results before they find out their opponent in the Divisional Round.

It was a nice way to end the season for Tremble, who was limited to 234 yards and two scores. He missed more than a month with a brain injury and temporarily lost the TE1 job to rookie TE Ja’Tavion Sanders. Tremble, an unrestricted free agent this offseason, will likely land elsewhere. He doesn’t have much chance to be fantasy relevant in 2025.

LaPorta continued his recent stretch of increased involvement through the air after a relatively slow start to the season, by his lofty standards. Both teams struggled to move the football with any consistency in the first half, but the Lions surged after the break on the backs of three second half touchdowns from running back Jahmyr Gibbs. The commanding victory held quarterback Jared Goff to just 33 pass attempts, which kept LaPorta, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jameson Williams all at seven or eight targets on the evening. The win clinches the No. 1 seed, the only playoff bye, and home field advantage for the Lions as they prepare for the Super Bowl journey.

Mr. Reliable served as the primary target for quarterback Jared Goff in a first half where both offenses struggled to move the football, ending the game one target behind Jameson Williams for the team lead while leading the team in receiving with 77 yards. The win clinched the No. 1 seed for the Lions, who head into the postseason with the only bye out of the NFC in addition to home field advantage through the NFC Championship game.