Sunday night’s loser could still host two playoff games

Detroit: So, there’s a big game happening in Detroit this Sunday night. The stakes are pretty high, and it’s not just about bragging rights.

The winner of this matchup between the Vikings and Lions will snag the top seed in the NFC. That means they get a bye and home games, making their path to the Super Bowl a lot easier.

Now, the loser? They’ll be the No. 5 seed and have to win three games to reach the Super Bowl. Plus, they’ll be hitting the road next weekend to face off against teams like the Rams, Buccaneers, or Falcons.

But here’s the twist: if the No. 7 seed, which could be Green Bay or Washington, wins at Philadelphia, and the No. 6 seed does the same at L.A. or Tampa, the No. 5 seed could end up hosting the No. 6 seed in the divisional round.

And if the No. 7 seed pulls off an upset against the top seed in that round, guess what? The No. 5 seed would host the NFC Championship. Crazy, right?

This whole scenario is possible because of the seven-team playoff format. Back in the day, with only six teams, the No. 5 seed would have a tough time, usually playing on the road against the top seeds.

It’s rare for the No. 5 seed to get two home games in the playoffs. But this year, with the Packers and Commanders both playing well, they could pull off some wild-card wins. And who knows? The No. 7 seed might just surprise everyone in the divisional round.

That’s what makes Sunday night’s game feel like a playoff match. There’s a lot on the line, but it’s not the end of the road for whoever loses.