The Detroit Lions have one simple objective if they want to be the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the playoffs.

With the Minnesota Vikings defeating the Green Bay Packers at home in Week 17, a Lions win against San Francisco and a win or tie over Minnesota in Week 18 would clinch both the NFC North and the NFC’s No. 1 seed in the postseason.

The result of the Lions’ impending Monday game against the San Francisco 49ers has little immediate consequence. However, if the Lions were to lose and lose or tie with the Vikings next week, they would be the No. 5 seed and Minnesota would win the division.

If Detroit were to lose on Monday and defeat the Vikings, it would win the division despite both teams being 14-3 due to the head-to-head tiebreaker.

With the top seed, Detroit would earn a first-round bye and home-field advantage.

With the Lions playing in primetime on Monday, it allowed them to observe how the showdown between the Packers and Vikings would play out.

However, fourth-year head coach Dan Campbell was adamant that his team would not be focusing on any result outside of their own in Monday’s game against the 49ers.

“It really is. That’s where our soul focus has to be,” Campbell said. “If we start thinking of any other scenario, any other thought, man, we’re not gonna have the right mindset to go in here and win this game. We can’t have that.”

Quarterback Jared Goff stressed keeping an even-keel heading into the regular season’s final two games. All throughout the year, the Lions have kept their focus on only the opponent ahead of them, which has helped fuel them to their 13-2 record.

“At this point in the season, we’re going to play San Francisco and then after that we play Minnesota and then after that the playoffs start,” Goff explained. “So, those two teams right there, there’s no breaks. We have a lot of tough teams ahead of us. (Offensive Coordinator) Ben (Johnson) said it great, ‘It’s now, playoffs kind of start now.’ It’s a bunch of good teams we’re going to play and go on the road again this week to a hard atmosphere and have to try to find a way to win.”

The Detroit Lions have taken advantage of the ability to elevate players from their 16-man practice squad. Coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes truly view the practice squad as an extension of the roster, so there is no drop off in expectation for players who are elevated.

Unfortunately, Detroit’s defense has seen several key contributors miss action due to significant injuries.

Campbell and Holmes have often indicated the practice squad, while not talked about and covered too extensively, is vital to a team having success. This is especially true for a team that is dealing with so many injuries.

“Well, we say it every year but they’re an extension of the roster,” Campbell explained to reporters a couple of weeks ago. “They really are a part of the roster, it’s just a different way to get them on your team because you’re going to need them, you’re going to have to use them.”

On defense, Pat O’Connor was able to take advantage of his time on the practice squad early in the season and was signed to the 53-man active roster in the middle of October.

Tight end Shane Zystra and wideout Tom Kennedy have also been signed to the active roster after beginning the year as elevations.

Detroit has an extensive process to evaluate players that are signed from outside of the organization.

Typically, players that have been working with the coaching staff on the practice squad have been given opportunities to earn more playing time and active roster spots.

Here is the updated list of the current members of the 2024 practice squad:

DB Jamal Adams
WR Maurice Alexander
LB Abraham Beauplan
OL Kingsley Eguakun
QB Jake Fromm
LB DaRon Gilbert
S Erick Hallett II
RB Jermar Jefferson
OL Jamarco Jones
TE James Mitchell
LB Kwon Alexander
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
DL Chris Smith
S Loren Strickland
CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver III
DL Isaac Ukwu