Notes: Lions-Packers most watched ‘Sunday Night Football’ finale in 6 years

The Detroit Lions were finally given their time in the spotlight and boy did they shine.

NBC Sports announced Monday that the Lions’ matchup against the Green Bay Packers was the most-watched Sunday Night Football season finale in six years. They say the contest drew an average of 23.4 million viewers.

Last Monday, NBC announced the game would be flexed to the SNF slot. Of course, the Lions weren’t scheduled for any prime-time action when schedules first came out. The Packers being the Packers probably had something to do with the move, but Detroit’s late-season success certainly helped.

The storylines were there. Both teams were on hot streaks and facing playoff implications in their own respective ways. On top of that — could that have been Aaron Rodgers last game?

While the Lions were knocked out of the playoffs prior to kickoff, watching them keep the Packers out too, turns out, was enough to draw the highest number of viewers for a Sunday Night Football finale in six years.

I think Kerby Joseph put it best:

And onto the rest of your notes.

• Gotta get your Calls of the Game fix from Dan Miller.

• It’s no surprise both Lions coordinators are being targeted for head coaching vacancies. One of them landed on this CBS Sports list of top replacements for Kliff Kingsbury.

• In case you missed maybe the best post-game interview known to man:

• “I truly can’t see my life anywhere else, other than the Detroit Lions.” Penei Sewell already can’t wait for next season. The Detroit News’ Nolan Bianchi has that story.

• Deadspin’ Stephen Knox explains how anyone looking for advice on how to make “new year, new you” a reality should take a page out of the Lions’ book.

• The Lions social team is just releasing one fun, happy, celebratory video after another.