The Minnesota Vikings are playing for money.
One of the biggest regular-season games in the history of the Vikings and their rival Detroit Lions will determine the NFC North champion and first place in the conference on Sunday.
With the game at Detroit’s Ford Field, the Vikings are throwing their money around, trying to offset the Lions’ home-field advantage.
The Vikings spent $2 million on about 1,900 tickets for seats behind the visitors’ sideline at Ford Field on Sunday and are now reselling those tickets to fans at a deep discount, according to Sports Illustrated.
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Sam Darnold of the Minnesota Vikings congratulates Cam Akers on a touchdown catch during the second half against the Green Bay Packers on December 29, 2024 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
The Vikings even sent an email to season ticket holders, notifying them of the special offer.
The Lions reportedly contacted the league office to complain, but were told the Vikings were not violating any league rules.
The game between the former division rivals, both 14-2, is important considering neither team has won a Super Bowl.
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The Vikings have been to four Super Bowls and lost all four. Detroit has never played in a Super Bowl.
The winner of this game will have the clearest path in the NFC to the Super Bowl.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams, left, celebrates with his teammates after scoring a touchdown during the first half against the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 30, 2024, in Santa Clara, California. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
The Lions won this season’s previous matchup in Minnesota, a tight 31-29 thriller, to remain in first place in the NFC North. By virtue of that victory, the Lions would claim first place in the NFC with a tie against the Vikings on Sunday night.
The Vikings have not won a game against the Lions at Ford Field since January 2021 in the final week of the 2020 season, a 37-35 victory that ended their season at 7-9. Minnesota finished 5-11.
The Lions won the last four meetings against the Vikings and reached the NFC championship game last year. The Vikings were thought to be in a rebuilding phase, but the emergence of quarterback Sam Darnold fueled one of the most shocking stories of the NFL season.
Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings is stopped by Kerby Joseph and Amani Oruwariye of the Detroit Lions during the second half on December 11, 2022 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Any team that loses on Sunday will be relegated to the first wild card spot and will have to play the first round of the playoffs on the road.
The winner will get a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the divisional round and potentially the NFC championship game.
