Packers headed to playoffs after Vikings down Lions...

Last week, Aaron Rodgers gave the Green Bay Packers an early Christmas gift when the Steelers beat the Lions. This week, another former Packers star was helping gift Green Bay a trip to the playoffs. Running back Aaron Jones ran for an early touchdown, and the Minnesota Vikings forced six turnovers as they defeated the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Dec. 25, 23-10. The outcome officially clinched Green Bay's ticket to the 2025 postseason. The Packers simply needed one win or one Lions loss over the final two weeks to secure at least the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs. The Lions, who have now lost four of five games dating back to Green Bay's win at Ford Field on Thanksgiving, have been eliminated from contention. After going 27-7 over the past two seasons and twice winning the NFC North, the Lions fell to 8-8 this year with one game remaining against the Bears. Jones amassed 63 all-purpose yards with the 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. The Vikings continued a late-season surge, upping their own record to 8-8 thanks to four straight wins, despite playing without starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy against the Lions. Backup Max Brosmer completed just 9 of 16 passes for 51 yards. Minnesota closes its season next week hosting the Packers. Former University of Wisconsin linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel recovered two fumbles in the game, including one to set up the Jones touchdown and another to all but seal the outcome in the fourth quarter. Van Ginkel also registered 1½ sacks. Green Bay still has plenty to play for in its games against Baltimore on Dec. 27 and Minnesota in the finale, and now it could use some help from the Lions. The Packers remain mathematically alive to bypass the Bears for the NFC North title, which would grant the Packers at least one postseason game at Lambeau Field, but Chicago must lose its final two games (or lose one and tie one) against San Francisco and Detroit. But the outcome offers at least some sigh of relief for a Packers team that has been besieged by injuries in recent weeks, including to both quarterbacks last week in a loss to the Bears. Jordan Love and Malik Willis are both questionable to play against the Ravens. The Packers have made the playoffs all three seasons with Jordan Love as the team's primary starting quarterback.