LIVE BLOG: Follow Lions' Pursuit of Historic Franchise Win Over Vikings

Live updates, highlights from Lions' Week 18 battle with Vikings.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9). / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It's winner-take-all in the NFC North in Sunday's Week 18 showdown between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings.

Sunday's game is fittingly the final one on the NFL's regular season schedule, allowing a national audience will tune in to watch the Lions and Vikings battle for the NFC North and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs at Ford Field.

Detroit would make franchise history with a win, giving them the No. 1 seed for the first time in franchise history.

With all the implications, it's expected that there will be a raucous atmosphere at Ford Field Sunday. There's plenty of excitement building, and the Lions have one of the league's best home field advantages thanks to a passionate fan base.

With reports that the Vikings bought nearly $2 million of tickets to re-sell to their fans, both teams could be represented well in the stadium. The result should be an exciting showdown between two of the NFL's best teams.

Best Bet: St. Brown Shines on Sunday Night

Traditionally, the home crowd is at its loudest when the Lions are on defense in an effort to confuse the opposing offense. As a result, linebacker Jack Campbell has felt the stadium at its loudest.

"It's insane. It's absolutely insane. The fans at Ford Field are just crazy," Campbell said. "They're die-hard fans, which I appreciate. And just giving back to the city in any way we can is what a lot of guys pride themselves on in the building too. So I'm excited. The game on Sunday night is gonna be a great atmosphere. It's gonna be a great challenge, but the fans will definitely affect it."

Follow along all throughout Sunday's Lions-Vikings game for updates, scores and highlights.

11:29 p.m. -- FINAL: Lions 31, Vikings 9. The Lions have won the NFC North for the second-consecutive season and will have a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the playoffs.

11:23 p.m. -- Jared Goff completes a 4-yard pass to Jameson Williams, which puts the wideout over 1,000 yards for the season.

11:20 p.m. -- The Lions force a turnover on downs, as Sam Darnold throws incomplete on fourth down. Detroit takes over at the Minnesota 41-yard line with 4:09 remaining.

11:06 p.m. -- Jahmyr Gibbs scores his fourth touchdown of the game, this one from four yards out. The Lions lead the Vikings 31-9 with 5:14 remaining in the game.

11:05 p.m. -- The Lions convert a fourth-down by drawing the Vikings offside, moving the ball to the Vikings' 4-yard line with 5:43 remaining.

11:02 p.m. -- Terrion Arnold has been ruled out.

11:00 p.m. -- Jahmyr Gibbs runs 47 yards for a first down to the Minnesota 27-yard line.

10:56 p.m. -- A host of Lions, led by Al-Quadin Muhammad, team up to sack Sam Darnold and force a punt. Detroit takes over at its own 26-yard line with 10:13 remaining in the game.

10:48 p.m. -- Jahmyr Gibbs runs 13 yards for a touchdown. The Lions lead the Vikings 24-9 with 13:06 remaining in the game.

10:41 p.m. -- END Q3: Lions 17, Vikings 9.

10:40 p.m. -- Will Reichard misses a 51-yard field goal wide right. The Lions get the ball back with :23 left in the third quarter at their own 41-yard line.

10:32 p.m. -- Jared Goff hits Jahmyr Gibbs for a 10-yard touchdown. The Lions lead the Vikings with 2:30 remaining in the third quarter. Gibbs' touchdown is his 18th of the season, giving him the franchise record for touchdowns in a season.

10:31 p.m. -- The Lions are facing a fourth-and-2 from the Vikikngs' 10-yard line.

10:27 p.m. -- Jared Goff hits Amon-Ra St. Brown fo 13 yards to convert a third-down and put Detroit at the Minnesota 28-yard line.

10:19 p.m. -- The Vikings cut the Lions' lead to 10-9 with a 51-yard field goal by Will Reichard with 9:55 remaining in the third quarter.

10:17 p.m. -- Terrion Arnold is questionable to return with a foot injury.

10:14 p.m. -- Lions defensive lineman Pat O'Connor is questionable to return with a calf injury. Arnold is being carted to the locker room.

10:13 p.m. -- Terrion Arnold is down on the field and being tended to by members of the training staff.

10:10 p.m. -- Jared Goff's pass is intercepted by Harrison Smith at the Vikings' 46-yard line.

10:08 p.m. -- The Vikings turn the ball over on downs, as Sam Darnold's pass intended for Jordan Addison is broken up by Terrion Arnold. Detroit takes over at its own 2-yard line. Darnold is 10-of-25 passing, including 2-for-11 on attempts in the Lions' red-zone.

10:07 p.m. -- The Vikings are facing a fourth-and-goal at the Detroit 2-yard line with 12:06 remaining in the third quarter.

10:04 p.m. -- Cam Akers runs 58 yards to the Lions' 5-yard line.

10:03 p.m. -- An illegal contact penalty on Brian Branch gives the Vikings a third-down conversion.

10:00 p.m. -- The Vikings get the ball to begin the second half.

9:45 p.m. -- Jake Bates connects on a 48-yard field goal, and the Lions take a 10-6 lead at the half.

9:44 p.m. -- Jared Goff hits Kalif Raymond to the Minnesota 30-yard line with :02 left in the half.

9:43 p.m. -- After the Vikings' kickoff went out of bounds, the Lions are in Vikings' territory after a first-down completion from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown.

9:41 p.m. -- Will Reichard connects on a 31-yard field goal, and the Lions lead the Vikings 7-6 with :20 remaining in the first half. The Vikings' scoring drive spanned 45 yards over nine plays and 3:17.

9:40 p.m. -- The Vikings are facing a fourth-and-6 from the Lions' 14-yard line with :24 remaininng in the first half.

9:33 p.m. -- Sam Darnold hits Jalen Nailor for an 18-yard gain to get past midfield. At the two-minute warning, the Lions have the ball at the Detroit 36-yard line.

9:31 p.m. -- The Lions turn the ball over on downs as Jared Goff's pass is deflected. The Vikings take over with 3:37 remaining in the first half.

9:29 p.m. -- The ruling on the field stands, and the Lions will face a fourth-and-1 from the Vikings' 42-yard line.

9:27 p.m. -- The Lions are facing a fourth-and-1 from the Minnesota 42-yard line, but the play is under review after Dan Campbell challenged the spot.

9:21 p.m. -- The Lions' defense holds the Vikings to a field goal, as three incompletions by Sam Darnold force a fourth down. Will Reichard hits a 25-yard field goal to cut Detroit's lead to 7-3 with 6:35 remaining in the first half.

9:18 p.m. -- Jared Goff throws an interception, as Ivan Pace Jr. hauls in a deflected screen pass. The Vikings take over at the Detroit 7-yard line.

9:17 p.m. -- Back-to-back runs from Craig Reynolds help the Lions convert another first down out to their own 26-yard line.

9:15 p.m. -- Jared Goff narrowly avoids a safety on second down, then hits Sam LaPorta for a first down to help Detroit get out from inside its own 10-yard line.

9:11 p.m. -- The Lions force a turnover on downs, as Sam Darnold's pass intended for Justin Jefferson falls incomplete.

9:10 p.m. -- The Vikings are facing a fourth-and-goal from Detroit's 3-yard line.

9:07 p.m. -- Sam Darnold hits Justin Jefferson for a 31-yard completion to put the Vikings at the Detroit 5-yard line.

9:00 p.m. -- Jared Goff is sacked by Jonathan Greenard on third-and-20 and the Lions are forced to punt. Detroit's third offensive series was marred by a false start penalty, a pass from Goff to Jahmyr Gibbs that lost eight yards and the third-down sack. Minnesota takes over at midfield with 13:10 remaining in the first half.

8:55 p.m. -- The Lions force a three-and-out. Detroit gets the ball back at its own 30-yard line as the first quarter ends. Detroit leads Minnesota 7-0 at the end of the first.

8:51 p.m. -- Za'Darius Smith records the first sack of the night for Detroit, taking down Sam Darnold for a 17-yard loss.

8:50 p.m. -- Jahmyr Gibbs runs 25 yards for a touchdown. The Lions lead the Vikings, 7-0, with 1:43 remaining in the first quarter after a 9-play, 78-yard drive that spanned 5:18.

8:49 p.m. -- The Lions convert the fourth down with a 14-yard pass from Jared Goff to Jameson Williams

8:48 p.m. -- The Lions are facing a fourth-and-5 from the Vikings' 39-yard line.

8:43 p.m. -- Jared Goff connects with Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 23-yard gain to put the team in Minnesota territory for the first time at the Vikings' 44-yard line.

8:40 p.m. -- The loser will play the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football on Monday, Jan. 13 at 8:15 p.m. on ESPN.

8:37 p.m. -- The Vikings are forced to punt after Sam Darnold throws incomplete intended for T.J. Hockenson. The Lions take over at their own 22-yard line with 7:01 remaining in the first quarter.

8:34 p.m. -- The Vikings convert their first third down on a completion from Sam Darnold to Aaron Jones. Minnesota has the ball at Detroit's 46-yard line.

8:29 p.m. -- The Lions are forced to punt after failing to convert on their second third down. The Vikings take over at their 14-yard line with 11 minutes to go in the opening quarter.

8:26 p.m. -- The Lions convert their first third down of the game, as Jared Goff hits Jahmyr Gibbs for the conversion.

8:20 p.m. -- The Vikings won the toss and deferred, giving the Lions the ball first.

7:20 p.m. -- The Los Angeles Rams' loss to the Seattle Seahawks cements them as the No. 4 seed in the playoffs. The loser of Detroit and Minnesota's game Sunday will face off against the Rams at SoFi Stadium.

6:50 p.m. -- Alex Anzalone and Kalif Raymond are officially active for Sunday game.

6:39 p.m. -- Linebacker Alex Anzalone is warming up on the field, a good sign with regards to his availability for Sunday's game. The Lions will announce their inactives at 6:50, which is 90 minutes prior to kickoff.

4:15 p.m. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have clinched the NFC South with a win over the New Orleans Saints. If the Los Angeles Rams defeat the Seattle Seahawks, the Buccaneers will be the fourth seed. Should the Rams lose, Tampa Bay will be the three seed and the Rams will be seeded fourth.

4:09 p.m. -- The Chicago Bears defeat the Green Bay Packers on a game-winning field goal. With the loss, the Packers fall into the seventh seed while the Washington Commanders will be the sixth seed after defeating the Dallas Cowboys on a last-second touchdown. As a result, the Packers will play the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the playoffs.

Advice for Lions fans at Ford Field
from Alex Anzalone on WHEN to get loud (H/T) @cknuds pic.twitter.com/CyUH1cQGf7

— DetroitSportsPodcast (@DetroitPodcast) January 5, 2025