The Lions aren't taking their meaningless "Monday Night Football" game against the 49ers lightly.
Detroit pulled within one of San Francisco, 14-13, on a 42-yard hook-and-ladder touchdown on third-and-12 five minutes into the second quarter.
Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown caught a short pass from quarterback Jared Goff four yards beyond the line of scrimmage on an in-route, and St. Brown flipped the ball to wideout Jameson Williams, who blazed down the sideline for six.
Dialed up some Monday Night razzle-dazzle ✨@amonra_stbrown 🏈 @bigsgjamo#DETvsSF | 📺 ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/hNd3hbS7rx
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 31, 2024
The creative play shows that while Monday's result has no bearing on the NFC playoff picture, the Lions are still treating their game against the 49ers as a must-win.
Win or lose in Week 17, Detroit will clinch the conference's No. 1 seed with a win (or fall to No. 5 with a loss) during the regular season's final game against the Vikings (14-2) on "Sunday Night Football" in Week 18.
It might be beneficial for the Lions (13-2), who are dealing with numerous injuries, to play things safe. But that would go against everything head coach Dan Campbell, the league's most aggressive coach, stands for.
The Lions have become one of the league's best teams by following Campbell's example. Why stop now?
