The Detroit Lions’ playoff fate could be decided on Christmas when the Lions (8-7) travel to U.S. Bank Stadium on Thursday to face the Minnesota Vikings in another NFC North showdown. The Vikings (7-8) are already out of playoff contention and could bring the Lions down with them in the penultimate game of the regular season for each team.

Max Brosmer, who will start Thursday against the Detroit Lions, threw 4 INTs and took 4 sacks in his first NFL start earlier this year.

For all the concern about how Detroit would fare after losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, it has been the defense that has fallen apart this season. The offense remains one of the game’s best, but the defense ranks 26th in EPA per play since Week 8.

The Detroit Lions are sending five players to the Pro Bowl, again sitting among the most popular teams with five alternates in the wings, too.

The Christmas Day matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions isn't what we were hoping to see. When this game was announced, the hope was that these two teams would have something similar to their Week 18 game last year,

Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell and Aidan Hutchinson also were Pro Bowl selections for the Detroit Lions.