Locker room buzz: Lions ready for Vikings, Robertson craves big moments and Bates laughs off meme-worthy moment
Santa Clara, Calif. — Here’s what I learned bouncing around the Detroit Lions’ locker room following the team’s 40-34 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
The reason they play
It might feel counterintuitive for those of us watching things unfold from the outside, but the Lions are as amped as humanly possible for what’s ahead. Sure, it would be nice if 14 wins were enough to wrap up the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye ahead of the season finale, but that's not reality, not in 2024.
Everything hinges on next Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. And even though the Lions would have appreciated a little help from the Packers this weekend, they’re embracing the magnitude of the moment.
“This is the type of games you dream of when you're growing up,” offensive tackle Penei Sewell said. “Just looking at that game, these are the moments you live for. Opportunities like this don't come often with all that's on the table. It's time to put the ball down. Let's go.”
That sentiment was shared across Detroit’s locker room and reflective of coach Dan Campbell's attitude, who has been reveling in the highly competitive NFC North race for weeks.
“This is what you’re in it for,” Campbell said after Monday’s win. “You couldn't write a better scenario. You couldn't come up with this. The fact that both teams are sitting at 14-2, and it's for the division and the top seed, it just doesn't get any better than this. This is fairytale stuff. It speaks for itself.