Lions

The Detroit Lions secured a triumphant victory in Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers, successfully avenging their NFC Championship loss from the previous year. Quarterback Jared Goff delivered another outstanding performance, earning high praise from Lions head coach Dan Campbell, who believes Goff is playing at an elite level among NFL quarterbacks.

“I know he had a lot of friends and family here, so I know in that regard, that meant something,” Campbell stated, as reported by Kevin Patra of NFL.com. “There was a lot that meant something to him. To win here where we didn’t last year, considering his previous history with the Los Angeles Rams, and having family present, it’s different now. This is a different Jared Goff. He’s grown and matured, stepping into his prime and continuously improving. He’s currently operating at an ultimate level. Find me a quarterback playing better than him in the league right now. I’d love to see it.”

Even though Week 17 had no implications for the Lions’ standings, Campbell explained his decision to keep key players in the game.

“You can only sit six guys. So, who do we choose? Is it fair to those who are playing that we don’t give it our all? We came this far to win, and that’s ultimately why we’re here. We crossed our fingers for no injuries, and fortunately, we made it through. Now it’s on to the next challenge.”

Packers

• Packers head coach Matt LaFleur addressed their narrow defeats against top competitors: “We’ve lost to three of the best teams in the league five times. That is incredibly frustrating because I believe we had opportunities in each of those games.” (Ryan Wood)
• When questioned about a potential “difference of opinion” regarding cornerback Jaire Alexander’s knee injury, LaFleur remarked: “I can’t get into all that. However, I do know he’s been experiencing swelling and doesn’t feel right to play.” (Ryan Wood)
• On second-round linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, he commented: “He made some impressive plays, but there were also several that hurt us. It was a mixed review. He’s incredibly talented, and the sky’s the limit for him, but consistency is key.” (Wood)

Vikings

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell indicated that discussions regarding the addition of quarterback Daniel Jones to the 53-man roster would take place this week.

“These are topics to be discussed,” O’Connell said, as reported by ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. “As coaches, our focus has been on ensuring our guys are ready while Daniel follows his individual plan.”

• Vikings running back Cam Akers expressed his gratitude for O’Connell’s support: “It’s a blessing, especially coming from KO, who has witnessed my journey firsthand. Having a personable coach like him is a blessing. I’ll do everything I can to support him.” (Kevin Seifert)