The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings are set to battle for the NFC North title and the coveted top seed on Sunday night.

Both teams boast a 14-2 record, but only one will secure home-field advantage, while the other faces the Wild Card Weekend with a 14-3 record.

Jared Goff, the Lions’ quarterback, has exceeded expectations and proven his value. Ahead of the high-stakes matchup, Goff spoke about hitting his stride in his career.

“I’m in Year 9 right now,” Goff told reporters via Eric Woodyard of ESPN. “I think I mentioned last year and the year before that I was entering my prime.

I feel like I’m right in the middle of it now and hope it lasts a while.”

Goff also praised his offensive unit, including the offensive line, wide receivers, and running backs, crediting them for the team’s success.

Surrounded by such talent, Goff led the Lions to the NFC Championship Game last season.

Now, the Lions aim to finish the job in this year’s NFC North Championship Game, hoping for a better outcome.

When Goff was traded to the Lions, many saw him as a temporary solution to fit Matthew Stafford under the Rams’ salary cap.

However, Goff has emerged as a key player with the opportunity to clinch the top seed in the playoffs.

Last season, the Lions faced the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. They led 24-7 at halftime but ultimately fell as the 49ers scored 27 unanswered points to claim a Super Bowl spot.

While the Lions have dominated the regular season since that heartbreaking loss, Sunday’s game is a chance for redemption.

Head coach Dan Campbell, known for his bold coaching style, has built a reputation for taking risks. In his four years with the Lions, he has frequently opted for fourth-down attempts and two-point conversions.

His aggressive decisions were evident in last year’s NFC title game, where two missed fourth-down attempts in field goal range proved costly.

Now, the Vikings are coming to Detroit with hopes of derailing the Lions’ remarkable season.

Despite being projected to finish last in the NFC North, the Vikings have surpassed expectations and are

vying for the top spot. Goff, now a seasoned quarterback, has improved significantly from the player who led the Rams to the Super Bowl in his second season.

However, he must prove himself in what is arguably the biggest regular-season game of his career.

The Lions and Vikings will face off on Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. on NBC.

Christopher Hennessy, the writer of this piece, is an MLB associate editor at ClutchPoints with experience covering NHL and golf.

A Fordham University journalism graduate, he has worked at Spectrum News One and The Hockey Writers.