In a matchup between battered and bruised, the 49ers (6-9) welcome the Lions (13-2) to town for a “Monday Night Football” battle in Week 17.
It’s the final Monday night game of the regular season, but the playoffs aren’t on the mind for the home side. The defending NFC champion 49ers won’t be defending for much longer since they’ll be watching the playoffs from home this year. Injuries have taken their toll on San Francisco in a seemingly cursed season.
On the other hand, the Lions have their eyes on the prize and a parade in the Motor City after the confetti falls at Super Bowl 59. However, their hopes and dreams have taken a hit in recent weeks, and injuries have also mounted. While the 49ers crumbled under the weight of those crushing absences, Detroit’s head coach, Dan Campbell, is hearing none of that from his squad.
The physical team has been arguably the NFL’s best in 2024, and now they have their sights set on the NFC’s top seed. With a win on Monday night, they can inch closer to securing that spot. This game looked like one of the best matchups this season, a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship Game. Regardless, these sides should still give us a fun game under the Monday night lights.
Here’s everything to know about the 49ers vs. Lions matchup in Week 17.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
“Monday Night Football” can be found at its usual home on ESPN in addition to ABC in Week 17 for the 49ers vs. Lions contest.
Don’t worry, cord cutters. ESPN+ and Fubo will fulfill all your streaming needs for this Monday night matchup in California.
The 49ers are just about ready for a lengthy vacation following a long year of football. The Lions are returning to the scene of their NFC Championship Game loss last season. Injuries are the storyline, but so is Detroit’s quest for the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
Even though the Lions are missing some key players, they have too much for their opponents to keep up with. San Francisco’s season ended last week, and with just one week left in the nightmare, expect Detroit to take advantage with a bye in the wild card round still on the line.
Ben Johnson‘s offense remains one of the league’s most creative and explosive units, beating teams in various ways. The 49ers might have a good defense, but there are questions about whether their offense can keep up while missing some big names.
The Lions cover with a convincing road win, setting up a Week 18 showdown against the Vikings to put a bow on the regular season.
The Lions are favorites to defeat the 49ers, according to the BetMGM NFL odds.
Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered with Monday Night Football odds.
New to sports betting? USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with the best online sportsbooks and sports betting sites.
FEELING LUCKY?Here are the best parlay bets and odds for NFL games this week
You can follow the 49ers vs. Lions play-by-play here.
Here’s how the AFC and NFC stack up entering ‘”Monday Night Football”:
In the hunt: Cincinnati Bengals (8-8), Miami Dolphins (7-8).
In the hunt: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7), Seattle Seahawks (8-7)
An asterisk (*) denotes teams that have clinched a playoff spot. Teams that have clinched division titles are noted accordingly.
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms
Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.
