The Minnesota Vikings go on the road to face the Detroit Lions for the NFC North Championship Game. The winner takes the 1 seed and loser goes on the road as the 5 seed in the playoffs.
Head-to-Head Record – 80-44-2
Vikings Road Record vs the Lions – 36-26-1
Streak – L4
Most Points Scored – 44, Nov 6, 1988
Widest Margin of Victory – 34, 34-0, Nov 9, 1980
Most Recent Matchup – Detroit 31 – Minnesota 29, Week 7 2024
My 2024 Prediction Record: 13-3
2024 Vikes Views Poll Record: 14-2
The last time they played:
The Lions escaped Minnesota with a narrow victory. The Lions started by going three and out and then faking a punt that didn’t work. The Vikings quickly scored a TD in two plays. The Lions then went three and out again and the Vikings went up 10-0 after a field goal. The next three touchdowns belonged to the Lions and it was 21-10 at the half. The teams traded scores and then Ivan Pace Jr returned a David Montgomery fumble for a TD to put the Vikings up 29-28. The Lions went three and out again and the Vikings had the ball with a chance to win. The 3rd and 4 pass to win the game was incomplete. Jefferson and Addison ended up close to each other and the pass sailed high. The Lions took advantage to drive down the field for the winning field goal.
Interesting Tidbits from the Vikings Weekly Release:
- he Vikings, who have won more games against the Lions than any other opponent, are seeking their 81st victory over their divisional foe in the second of two Minnesota-Detroit matchups during the 2024 regular season.
- The Vikings are looking to snap a four-game losing streak against the Lions and pick up their first win vs. Detroit since Sept. 25, 2022.
- The Vikings are the first team to win 14 games in a season with a quarterback who is in his first year with the team.
- The Viking defense ranks 1st in the NFL in interceptions (22), passes defensed (90), scoring efficiency (30.7%), 4th down conversion % (35.5%), interceptions/attempt (3.6%), takeaways (31) and rushes of 20+ yards (3).
- The Viking defense ranks 2nd in rushing yards/game (88.1) and scoreless quarters (23).
- The Viking defense ranks 3rd in sacks (47) and rushing yards/attempt (3.9).
- The Vikings have recorded a takeaway in each of their first 16 games to start a season for the first time since 1992. It is tied for the longest streak to start a season in franchise history, and they are the only team in the NFL with a takeaway in every game this season.
- Minnesota has recorded 14 wins entering the final week of the 2024 regular season, the second-most wins in a single season in franchise history, trailing only the team’s 15 victories in 1998. The Vikings achieved the feat with an active roster that includes 14 defenders who are in their first season with the team in 2024, all of which have appeared in at least two games this season.
- Of those 14 new faces, two were selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, an additional pair were signed as undrafted rookies and 10 joined the Vikings as free agents. OLBs Jonathan Greenard (16 starts) and Andrew Van Ginkel (16), CB Stephon Gilmore (14), LB Blake Cashman (13) and DL Jerry Tillery (11), who all joined the Vikings through free agency, have each started at least 11 games for Minnesota entering Week 18, making the Vikings the only team in the NFL with at least five defensive players with 11+ starts in their first season with a team in 2024 (excluding rookies).
- The Vikings have scored 423 points in their 16 games this season, the fourth most in team history in that span. Minnesota only scored more points in 16 contests in 1998 (556), 2009 (470) and 2020 (430).
- For the third time since 2000, Minnesota has three WRs with at least six receiving touchdowns in a season (Jordan Addison, Justin Jefferson and Jalen Nailor). The Vikings also had three receivers reach the benchmark in 2004 (Nate Burleson, Randy Moss and Marcus Robinson) and 2021 (Jefferson, K.J. Osborn and Adam Thielen). Minnesota is one of two teams this season with three WRs to do so (Cincinnati).
- Minnesota leads the NFL with 62 completions of 20+ yards this season. The Vikings 62 completions of 20+ yards are 15 more than the league average (47 completions).
- The Vikings are 3-0 this season when Sam Darnold throws for more than 300 yards.
How I See it Playing Out
The Lions peaked early. They played hard and beat the hell out of most teams on their schedule, after an early loss to Tampa Bay. They haven’t had it as easy in December. The Vikings are riding momentum and health. The Lions if 100% healthy, might be better, but that’s not the reality. Detroit’s secondary is vulnerable and the Vikings will take advantage. The first matchup Aaron Jones was averaging 6.6 yards per carry, but KOC got away from the run after seeing Detroit score TDs. This time I believe he’ll need the air approach considering the injuries sustained in Detroit. I believe Flores and company will be able to stop the Lions enough and the offense will put up points.
Vikings 34 – Detroit 27
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