The Vikings need more home field advantage than the Lions

Week 18 is always strange because you don’t know which teams are in playoff contention.

Does the Pittsburgh Steelers care about playing the Houston Texans or Baltimore Ravens in the wild card round? They could be forced to show their hand if the Ravens start Week 18 with a win against the Cleveland Browns and clinch the AFC North. If that’s the case, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has the option of resting his starters or playing for a win to face the Texans on wild-card weekend.

But there isn’t much to think about when it comes to the NFC North battle between the Minnesota Vikings (14-2) and Detroit Lions (14-2). The starters definitely play, because the winner gets the division and the number 1 seed in the NFC.

Let’s discuss the NFC North battle before we cover how the Ravens came up short in Week 18. Here are the final facts or fiction of the regular season.

The Vikings need the home field advantage more than the Lions

Manzano’s view: fact

This is a difficult question for several reasons. Both teams have two of the best home-court advantages in the NFL and both have been on the road this season.

The Lions posted an 8-0 record after defeating the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night, the longest road win streak in franchise history. The Vikings are 6-1 and have one road game left this season, the massive Week 18 winner-take-all matchup in Detroit.

If the Vikings win in Detroit, maybe that will be our answer to this debate. Minnesota has a complete roster and depth at various positions to win in different ways. But regardless of the outcome of the NFC North showdown, the Lions will come out on top because you can’t simulate the postseason experience.

Detroit lost in heartbreaking fashion in last season’s NFC title game at San Francisco. Coach Dan Campbell and his Lions players can now turn their mistakes from last year’s playoffs into lessons for this year’s fight for the Super Bowl.

The Vikings recently played in one playoff game in the 2022 season, coach Kevin O’Connell’s first season, but that was a home loss to the New York Giants during the wild card round. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, TJ Hockenson and many other key players have never experienced an away playoff game. Sam Darnold, the Vikings’ breakout quarterback, has never started a playoff game in his career.

This is all a small thing, but because I’m twisting myself, I’m siding with the experienced Lions on this one.

Dan Campbell made the mistake of playing his starters against the 49ers

Manzano’s view: fiction

ESPN analyst Troy Aikman couldn’t understand why Campbell played his starters against the 49ers, calling the Lions “a tired team” because they already had their bye week in Week 5.

At first, I agreed with Aikman’s opinion, as the Lions also have a handful of injured players on defense and could have benefited from some rest before Sunday night’s matchup against the Vikings. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the Lions had a lot to accomplish in Santa Clara, even though that game had no playoff implications.

First, the Lions gained some positivity by defeating the 49ers and gaining revenge for last season’s NFL title game. Yes, these 49ers aren’t the same team — the reigning NFC champions couldn’t overcome injuries and fatigue — but they still had plenty of star players on the field ready to test the Lions ahead of the postseason.

The Lions’ elite offense dropped 40 points against the 49ers and now appears ready to take on the Vikings’ stout defense. It also didn’t hurt that the Lions’ starting backup defenders gained more game experience ahead of the massive divisional showdown. It’s not like Rest brought in back edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, defensive tackle Alim McNeill and running back David Montgomery. Hutchinson and Montgomery still have a chance to return, but that isn’t possible for a few weeks.

Are we also surprised that Campbell didn’t step off the accelerator? He rarely plays it safe and his players love him for it. Campbell told his players they could rest once they secured the No. 1 seed. This is how you motivate as a trainer.

Kevin O’Connell is likely to be a candidate for Coach of the Year

Manzano’s view: fiction

If we’re going to call Vikings vs. Lions a winner-takes-all game, then we’re also putting the NFL Coach of the Year award in jeopardy. Hopefully Associated Press voters haven’t made up their minds yet and set their sights on O’Connell, who certainly deserves the award.

O’Connell appears to be the strong front-runner, in part because of his work with Darnold, who turned into an MVP candidate after many quickly labeled him a draft bust due to failed stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers. But Jared Goff is also having a career year, and it would be unfair to give all the credit to Campbell’s offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, perhaps the most sought-after head coach candidate in this year’s hiring cycle.

Like O’Connell, Campbell led his team to 14 wins this regular season. It also says a lot about Campbell that his team has been able to adapt after Hutchinson’s devastating injury in October.

Again, both O’Connell and Campbell deserve the award, but let’s wait and see what happens on Sunday night before naming a winner.

The NFL made a mistake with the Saturday schedule for Week 18

Manzano’s view: fact

The Ravens (11-5) can’t be happy playing in front of the Steelers (10-6) on Saturday night.

In a sense, the league forced the Ravens, not the Steelers, to let their starters play in the regular-season finale against the Browns because they need a win to clinch the AFC North title. The Steelers should know the Ravens-Browns results before heading into the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Tomlin could opt to rest his starters if the Ravens close out the division earlier in the day. That could be an advantage if a rested Pittsburgh team starts the postseason in Baltimore. There is still a chance that the Steelers will play for a win even if the Ravens win, as the fifth seed would have an easier matchup against the struggling Texans, winners of the AFC South. The Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) could move into fifth place with a win against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday and a loss against the Steelers. But I can’t imagine Tomlin shying away from a wildcard fight against a hated rival they’ve made the most of over the years.

Don’t be surprised if the Steelers prioritize health and the Bengals get an easy win to increase their chances of making the postseason. Maybe this is how the league tries to help Joe Burrow & Co. rise. Okay, now I’m taking this attitude too far, but the Ravens can’t be happy with Saturday’s schedule.

A better Saturday schedule for Week 18 would have been Steelers vs. Bengals for game one, followed by Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs. Yes, the Chiefs will likely give their starters a break after securing the AFC’s No. 1 seed, but the Broncos (9-7) are still playing for something because they need a win to beat the Bengals (8-8). ) and stopping the Miami Dolphins (8–8) for the seventh and final seed in the AFC. And maybe the Kansas City backups will make it interesting and provide plenty of drama.

But well, the league has already announced the schedule and the Ravens shouldn’t be happy about playing first.