Lions’ Dan Campbell Confirms Plan To Play Starters Against Vikings, Seeking…

The Vikings had a lot of help making the playoffs. They will receive nothing from the Detroit Lions. Lions’ Coach Dan Campbell told reporters Monday that the Vikings have no plans to rest any starters when they travel to Detroit on Sunday.

Some thought the Lions, already entrenched in the NFC North and with little chance of moving from the third-best seed in the NFC, would rest their starters for the rest of the year as they prepared for the finals.

“From the punt conversion that they got to one of the early fourth downs, I said, ‘This guy is crazy!’” Prescott said. “And respect with the craziness, talking about Coach Campbell and I love it. I really do. I mean that’s you playing to win the game and not lose a game and that’s what he did …” It was no surprise that the Lions went for two in the final minute of regulation in an attempt to win the game. Sending it to overtime, in a way, is relying on fate—a correctly chosen coin toss, an opening drive touchdown, and the complications of a potential tie. Trying to win in regulation isn’t traditional, but in an era of aggressive coaching, headlined by Campbell, everyone in the building expected Detroit to try and win the game.Yeah, that’s the plan right now, to play our guys,”

Campbell said, according to Pro Football Talk. The Detroit Lions will likely be the top seed.“The plan now is to play our guys,”

The San Francisco 49ers (12-4) clinched the top seed. The Cowboys and Eagles are tied with the Lions for the top playoff spot, so both teams must lose on Sunday for the Lions (11-5) to take over the top spot.

McNeil has been on injured reserve since tearing his medial collateral ligament in early December but told the Free Press he expects to return to practice this week.

The Lions activated Cabinda off injured reserve last week but released him the next day as part of a roster shakeup before Saturday’s loss to the Cowboys.

Campbell said he expects Cabinda to sign again this week. Campbell added that receiver Jameson Williams suffered a minor ankle injury late in the Cowboys game and is “day-to-day.”

After the Week 17 results, the Detroit Lions are locked in as the No. 1 seed. 3 in the NFC playoffs, the chances of reaching the No. 1 seed are slim. 2 (2.7 percent, per ESPN analysis).

It just depends on who gets to play at home in the wild card round, and a Week 18 win over the Minnesota Vikings won’t decide it.

At one point, the Lions considered taking key players out of next Sunday’s game if necessary.

Regardless of the advantage (less than three percent), the Eagles, along with the Giants and Cowboys, have all evening games against the hosts, and the Eagles and Cowboys must lose to give the Lions the second seed, the risk of injury to senior players is not justified.

After a controversial loss to the Cowboys in Week 17, the Lions players and coaches are ready to get back on the field.

Based on what Campbell said and how he felt at Monday’s press conference, he is ready to go and will take the floor this week if possible.

Campbell was asked if the Lions starters will be available in Week 18 against the Vikings.“Well, that’s the point right now, getting our people out.”

A few weeks ago, in light of this situation, Campbell was asked what he thought about investing in players if the Lions locked up a division title/playoff seed.