The clock is winding down on the 2022 regular season in the NFL. With Week 18 upon us, many teams have been counted out of the playoffs, but for the Detroit Lions, that’s not the case. Their playoff hopes remain intact as they prepare for a battle at Lambeau Field.

The Lions will play in just the first prime-time game of the season, as they’ve been flexed to the 8:30pm time slot. While they will know their fate for the playoffs before the game even starts, the team fighting for the win regardless of the scenario. Head Coach Dan Campbell says they don’t care what the stakes are, they are playing to win.

“I just think – this is about more than anything, there’s one objective and that’s about winning this game and it’s us or it’s nobody. I think that’s the most important thing.”

DeShon Elliot had a few words about Aaron Rodgers and the Sunday Night matchup vs. the Packers. #OnePride pic.twitter.com/h8CF2iukzI

— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) January 7, 2023

There’s no doubt the game being at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers brings a challenge. Not only do they have an elite quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, but they also have a tricky field to play on with ruthless fans. Several players emphasized the challenge of the field conditions at Lambeau presents, but Coach Campbell made sure he put any excuses away early in the week.

“I started the week with that. Put up there a bunch of clips of players slipping at Lambeau, and that’s one of our keys to victory is wearing the proper shoes, and our guys know it. They’re on it. Shoot, they’ve worn them the last two days, what they’re going to wear out there. They’ve worn it on our field. So, it’s been good, and we’ve gotten pretty good work out there… But yeah, shoes are big. Shoes are big. Slipping is not an excuse this week.”

The Lions need the Seattle Seahawks to lose to the Los Angeles Rams in order to have a shot at the playoffs. That game will be at 4:25pm and will likely conclude before the Lions and Packers kick-off. With so much at stake, Dan Campbell just wants this team to play like they have nothing to lose.

“You say the reality of it, and you say what the reason why that’s where they want you at. And then you say, ‘Hey man, we’ve got nothing to lose here.’ We go in, and we’ve got nothing to lose. We cut it loose, and let’s have the time of our life, and let’s find a way to win this game, and the bottom line is, I can just gauge the room and you can feel it. We get to be on the big stage, man, and our guys are excited about that. And one way or another, we get to play one more game. At the very least, we’re playing one more game, and it’s going to be on a great stage, and everybody’s going to see it, and our guys, one way or another, are going to – I think they’re going to embrace it.”

Dan Campbell will watch the score of the Seattle Seahawks game before the Lions matchup against the Green Bay Packers. 👀 #OnePride

— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) January 6, 2023

Detroit Lions Rough Start

A playoff run isn’t something anyone projected for the Detroit Lions after they started the season 1-6. However, the Lions resurged from the ashes and put out some of the best performances of any team in the NFL. Coach Campbell is thankful for the season they’ve had and says he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I just know for us, it means something that we climbed back out of the cellar and got ourselves in position to play for one more meaningful game here, before the year ends. And that’s a step in the right direction.”

Dan Campbell on the players and coaches mindsets after losing five straight games in the first half of the season. #OnePride

— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) January 6, 2023

The Detroit Lions play their season finale on Sunday Night Football with kick-off against the Green Bay Packers at 8:20pm ET.