SANTA CLARA, Calif. >> When Sunday’s result went final between two of his former teams, Za’Darius Smith had a message for his Detroit Lions teammates.

Would it have been nice for the Green Bay Packers to upset the Minnesota Vikings, thus making it possible for the Lions to clinch the NFC North and the conference’s No. 1 overall seed with a win at San Francisco? Of course, but the reality of the situation gives Detroit an opportunity to do something special at Ford Field next Sunday night.

“We were talking about it yesterday when they won,” Smith said Monday, following his team’s 40-34 road win over the 49ers. “I told the guys, man, I’d rather win it at home anyway; it’ll feel more special.

“We’re going to go to work when we get back.”

The Lions and Vikings own the two best records in the NFC, and yet only one organization — the winner of Sunday night’s clash — will have a first-round bye in the playoffs. The other will be relegated to the No. 5 seed, forced to go on the road in the wild-card round to face either the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Rams or Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Whether it’s the Lions or Vikings who come out with the short end of the stick, they’ll be the first 14-win team in NFL history to not win their division.

“That’s what you want,” cornerback Amik Robertson said of the big-time implications in Week 18. “I told you, man, we want it no other way. I want it no other way. Moments like this, dogs come out; killers come out. We’re going to put it out on the line because we know what’s at stake.”

The game will have some added meaning for Robertson, considering he went to the rival high school of Vikings superstar receiver Justin Jefferson. Robertson and Jefferson also played one another in college when they were at Louisiana Tech and LSU, respectively, and Jefferson caught a touchdown over Robertson in Detroit’s first meeting with Minnesota this season back in October.

“He knows me, I know him,” Robertson said. “It ain’t like we best buddies, but we respect each other’s games. I’m happy for him; he turned out to be one of the best players in the league. … I’m not backing down. I’m going to come with smoke, just like I know he’s going to come with it. It’s going to be a good matchup.”

Lions head coach Dan Campbell couldn’t help but smile Monday night when asked about the upcoming Minnesota matchup, and his post-game speech in the locker room after the 49ers win matched that energy.

The core theme? “It just doesn’t get any better than this,” the coach said.

“This is the type of game you dream of when you’re growing up. … These are the moments you live for,” offensive tackle Penei Sewell said, sharing similar sentiments to Campbell. “Opportunities like this don’t come often. With all that’s on the table, it’s time to put the ball down. Let’s go.”