The Detroit Lions are closing in on their first division title since 1993, while the Minnesota Vikings need a win Sunday just to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Lions vs. Vikings Betting Lines, Start Time, and More
All odds from DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Spread: Lions -3
- Moneyline: Lions (-162), Vikings (+136)
- Over/Under: 47.5
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. ET
- Location: U.S. Bank Stadium
- Channel: FOX
Lions vs. Vikings Prediction
After going 3-13 in his first season as Lions head coach, Dan Campbell is on the verge of snapping a 29-season drought without a division title. But will the inconsistency of the Lions continue on the road this week?
Detroit has exchanged wins and losses in each of their last five games and hasn’t won consecutive games in over a month. The Lions’ last two losses have come against two sub-.500 teams — the Packers (at home) and the Bears.
The good news for the Lions is that they have Jared Goff at quarterback, and he is playing his best ball of the season. In last week’s win over the Broncos, Goff had his second career five-touchdown, zero-interception game. He’s also third in the league in passing yards this season (3,727) and tied for third in touchdown passes (26).
But in four games vs. teams in the NFC North, Goff has six touchdown passes and six interceptions. In 10 games against the rest of the league, Goff has 20 TD passes and just four interceptions.
The Vikings got a good effort from quarterback Nick Mullens last week, as he threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns (and two INTs) in the overtime loss to the Bengals. With wide receiver Justin Jefferson playing in his first full game since Week 5 — finished with seven catches for 84 yards — the Minnesota offense suddenly has a different look.
Running back Alexander Mattison missed last week’s game, but backup Ty Chandler had 132 rush yards and a touchdown in his first NFL start.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
The Lions have injury issues in the defensive backfield, with safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (pectoral) and cornerback Jerry Jacobs (hamstring) both out. However, offensive tackle Penei Sewell and defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike both look like they could play this weekend after each was able to get in a full practice.
For the Vikings, running back Alexander Mattison (ankle) is questionable for this week, and even if he can play, it could end up being on a limited basis. In addition, Minnesota has several players who are questionable who it hopes can get out on the field, including offensive tackle Brian O’Neill (ankle).
There was a time when the Lions were a lock to pick against when they were on the road. But this season, they are 4-1 against the spread as a road favorite. On the other hand, the Vikings, who have won five in a row at home over the Lions, are 6-2-1 against the spread vs. NFC opponents and 4-1-2 ATS as an underdog.
The Vikings may be 7-7 and may have lost three of their last four games. But all seven losses this season have come by one possession. Detroit is poised for a division title, but recent losses to the Packers and Bears have me leery about picking them and giving points against a team desperate to stay alive in the playoff race.
I’ll take the home team and the points in this one.
Best Bet: Vikings (-112 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
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