After losing the first regular-season game in league history pitting teams with a combined 28 victories, the Vikings (14-3) hit the road for wild-card weekend, visiting the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams (10-7) on Monday night as the most accomplished fifth seed in NFL history.

The Detroit Lions are the team to beat in the NFC, but this conference's wild-card teams put up more fight than their AFC counterparts.

The Chiefs currently have the second-best odds to win the upcoming Super Bowl, according to BetMGM, behind only the Detroit Lions. And those two teams are well ahead of the rest of the field. Detroit leads the way at +275,

Ennis Rakestraw, a second-round pick (No. 61) by the Lions in April's NFL Draft, was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury on Nov. 23.

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) celebrates with teammates wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) after scoring a touchdown against the Chicago Bears during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski) AP

The Lions defeated the Minnesota Vikings (14-3), 31-9, in the first ever regular-season game in NFL history between two teams with 13-plus wins apiece. The victory earned the Lions the NFC’s No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs. It’s the first time in franchise history the Lions have earned the No. 1 seed in the postseason.

O n Thursday afternoon, the NFL announced that Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has been named NFC Offensive Player of the Month, for the combined months of December and Ja