There are only so many games in any NFL season, and Campbell isn’t going to let this team get complacent.
Editor’s note: there is also an unlikely scenario in which the 49ers vs Lions game matters, even if the Vikings beat the Packers. If the Lions and Vikings tie in Week 18, Detroit would need that win over the 49ers vs Lions to finish with the same record as Minnesota and win the tiebreaker.
Regardless of the Vikings-Packers outcome, the Lions won’t rest starters49ers vs Lions
While the NFL and media are hyperfocused on the postseason and all the complex playoff-clinching scenarios, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell has made it clear, regardless of playoff implications, when they take on the San Francisco 49ers vs Lions in Week 17:
“We’re going out to play and win this game.”
While the Lions (13-2) are currently slotted into the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the Minnesota Vikings (13-2) are nipping at their heels, and the Philadelphia Eagles (12-3) are waiting for an opportunity to get back in the mix possibly.
Because the 49ers vs Lions play the 49ers vs Lions on “Monday Night Football” this week, there is a scenario that would render the outcome of this game meaningless about playoff implications. On Sunday, the Vikings take on the Green Bay Packers, and if Minnesota comes away with the win, they will move to 14-2 on the season. With the 49ers vs Lions and Vikings facing off in Week 18, the winner would grab the No. 1 seed (the loser would drop to No. 5) regardless of whether the Lions were 14-2 (win a win over the 49ers) or 13-3 (losing to the 49ers) because the Lions hold the tiebreaker.
The 49ers vs Lions are a banged-up football team dealing with many injuries, and if the Vikings beat the Packers, Detroit could seize the opportunity to potentially rest some of its players—allowing some to heal and protecting others from injury—against the 49ers vs Lions.
But Campbell refuses to get caught up in playoff scenarios and has a clear message about the 49ers vs Lions approach to this game.
“I’ll make this easy for everybody that way all the critics can jump out and start attacking, but that way you don’t have to debate them anymore,” Campbell said on Monday. “We’re bringing everything that we have to this game, and we are playing, and I don’t care what it looks like, and where it’s at, or who’s this, who’s that, we’re going out to play and win this game out on the west coast. So, there you go.”
Campbell would take this approach for a couple of reasons. The most obvious is that the last time the Lions were in Santa Clara, things didn’t end the way they wanted, and they may have some revenge on their mind (similar to the situation in Dallas earlier in the year).
But there’s also a more straightforward reason: it’s in the Lions’ nature to stay aggressive and try and win every game. The Lions’ culture is heavily based on being the more challenging, grittier team. They want to enter every situation with confidence and attitude. And with a handful of new players added to the roster over the last month, Campbell needs to prove that winning is a mentality this team embraces in any scenario—and they can do it with a next-man-up approach.
San Francisco 49ers vs Lions date, start time
The San Francisco 49ers vs Lions and Detroit Lions are due to face off at 8:15 pm ET on Monday, December 30.
That means it will start at 5:15 pm on the West Coast for those watching, while it will take place at 1:15 pm the following day in the United Kingdom.
The 49ers lost to the Miami Dolphins just before Christmas, while the 49ers vs Lions won relatively comfortably over the Chicago Bears.
Date: Monday, December 30
Kick-off: 8:15 pm ET / 1:15 am GMT (Tuesday, December 31)
Where are the San Francisco 49ers vs.Lions?
This game will occur at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Opened in 2014, the 68,500-capacity venue first hosted Super Bowl 50 in 2016 and will also welcome Super Bowl LX in 2026, along with games at the United 2026 FIFA World Cup.
49ers vs.Lions Betting Trends
- Lions are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games
- The OVER is 8-4 in the Lions’ last 12 games
- Lions are 4-1 ATS in their last five games vs. 49ers
- Lions are 1-12 straight up in their last 13 games vs. 49ers
- The 49ers are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games
- The 49ers are 4-11 ATS in their previous 15 home games
How to watch the 49ers-Lions Week 17 NFL game live online, on TV
The highly anticipated rematch of the recent NFC Championship Game is subsequent.
However, the circumstances are far more different than most would’ve expected coming into the season.
The Lions have continued to build on their success from last season, reaching a 13-2 mark with the win count setting a franchise record. Despite recent injuries creating potential doubt on a Super Bowl run, Detroit has kept winning.
The reigning NFC champion 49ers have been decimated by injuries all season. Along with multiple blown double-digit leads that resulted in losses, San Francisco is at 6-9 and has been eliminated from NFC playoff contention with two games to go.
So, will the 49ers offer a glimpse of what they’re capable of under the lights, or will Jared Goff and the Lions continue to take care of business as they’ve done all season? Here’s how to watch the Week 17 NFL “Monday Night Football” game live online or on TV:
What’s working
Giving the ball to Jahmyr Gibbs. He had a season-high 23 carries — three shy of his career high — for 109 yards, a touchdown, and four catches for 45 yards. He’s more than capable of being featured while David Montgomery attempts to return from a knee injury.
Gibbs has accounted for at least 70 yards for 15 straight games, matching Hall of Famer Barry Sanders’s franchise-record run in 1997.
Sanders, Billy Sims and Gibbs are the three players in team history to have 1,500 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns in a season.
Next steps
The NFL’s only undefeated team in road games will aim to extend a franchise record with an eighth win away from home this season against the 49ers to set up a showdown with Minnesota.
FAQs:
Who is favored to win the 49ers vs. Lions game?
A: Betting odds and expert analyses can provide insights into the favorite, though factors like injuries and recent form play a huge role.
How can I watch the 49ers vs. Lions game?
A: The game is usually broadcast on major networks like Fox, CBS, NBC, or ESPN. Streaming options may include NFL Game Pass, YouTube TV, or Hulu Live Sports.
