In the midst of a heated matchup for the NFC North title, the Detroit Lions might have suffered a very serious blow. Star cornerback Terrion Arnold, the team's first round pick this past April, left the matchup with a foot injury he sustained a short while ago.
“Terrion Arnold hobbled to sideline,” reported the Athletic's Alec Lewis on X, formerly Twitter. “Didn't look good. Notable.”
The Lions now lead 31-9 in the fourth quarter, but Arnold now ruled out, their already depleted defense takes another big hit. Entering the matchup, the team was already down 12 defensive players. That includes star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who still leads the team in sacks with 7.5. Can Detroit hold on without their stud rookie? If they are going to win and capture both their division and the NFC top seed, they might just have to.
Lions defense trying to capture NFC North title and more
As nice as winning the NFC North would be, there is much more at stake than just that. If the Lions can seal the deal at home tonight versus Minnesota, then they will also clinch the number one overall seed in the NFC. For a team that saw up close and personal just how useful home field advantage is in the playoffs last season, that ranking would mean a lot to head coach Dan Campbell and his team.
The Lions have started to pull away, mostly due to the efforts of star running back Jahmyr Gibbs. The offensive weapon has scored four touchdowns on the night, setting records in the process. The focus must remain on finishing the job and secured the victory. If the path to the Super Bowl goes through Ford Field, that would be very advantageous to Campbell and his staff. Not to mention his players, who could use the extra time to heal.
A healthier Lions team, especially on defense, would help them weather what could be a very tough playoff schedule. Offensively, they are solid, as Goff, Gibbs and star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown are locked in and ready for a run. If Arnold doesn't miss too much time, then it would be a boon for Detroit. Any advantage is helpful as the team looks to make their first-ever Super Bowl appearance.
