Not too many folks are picking the Vikings this week. I suppose it is because of the difference in QB play? Is it because the Lions have a really strong offensive line and could possibly run the ball on the Vikings and eat up the clock?

I cannot say that the game doesn’t make me nervous but I still can’t pick against the Vikings at home.

Who you picking?

Minnesota Vikings News and Links

NFL Expert Picks: High Scores Predicted for Vikings vs. Lions in Week 7

Here’s a riddle for you: What’s Black and Blue and frightening all over?

If your answer was the 2024 NFC North, you are correct.

So far this season, the North – aptly named the “Black and Blue division” for highly competitive and physical games between its residents – has been overwhelming the rest of the league. The Vikings, Lions, Packers and Bears all own a record of 4-1 or better through six weeks, becoming the first division since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to have every team with at least four wins at this point in the season.

Minnesota has been dizzying on defense under second-year Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores. The Vikings rank fifth in the NFL in total yards and passing yards allowed per play (4.81 and 5.72, respectively) and second in rushing yards allowed per game (67.2). Minnesota is also tied for third in sacks (20), tied for second in total takeaways (13) and leads the league in passes defensed (41), interceptions (11) and interception rate (4.78 percent).

Additionally, the Vikings have allowed an average of 15.2 points per game to opponents, the third-lowest mark in the NFL.

Offensively, while Minnesota has been in the middle of the pack in terms of total yards (323.2, 17th), rushing yards (115.4, 20th) and passing yards (207.8, 19th) per game, the team has made up for it in capitalizing in the red zone (fifth in the NFL in red zone percentage at 68.8) and scoring (tied for fifth at 27.8 points per game).

Detroit, meanwhile, has been electric from an offensive standpoint. The Lions rank inside the top 5 in the NFL in total yards (416.0, third), rushing yards (157.8, fourth), and passing yards (258.2, fourth) per game and lead the league in scoring at 30.2 points per contest.

Defensively, Detroit is equally as stifling in the run game, ranking just behind Minnesota at 83.2 yards allowed per game. The Lions have also been solid in limiting yards per play through the air (6.09, eighth) and on the ground (4.16, seventh), and are tied for fourth in interceptions (seven), tied for seventh in total takeaways (10), tied for 14th in sacks (15) and tied for third in passes defensed (34).

The Lions have also allowed an average of 18.2 points per game to opponents, which is the eighth-lowest in the league.

Vikings 31, Lions 26 – Pete Prisco, CBS Sports

This is for first place in the division with the Vikings coming off the bye and the Lions coming off a blowout of the Cowboys on the road. The Lions lost Aidan Hutchinson with a broken leg, which will impact their pass rush in a big way. Look for Sam Darnold to light it up throwing to Justin Jefferson. The Lions will get theirs as well with Jared Goff playing well. It will be a fun one to watch, but the Vikings will win it.

Lions 30, Vikings 28 – Staff, Bleacher Report

The Minnesota Vikings have covered the spread in all five of their games, while the Detroit Lions have covered in their last four contests. That makes it tough to rely on ATS trends in this spot.

Also, the Lions defense will have to adjust to life without edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who suffered a season-ending leg injury last week.

On Tuesday, the Vikings acquired running back Cam Akers from the Houston Texans. Since he’s already familiar with head coach and play-caller Kevin O’Connell’s offense, he may see action immediately if Aaron Jones, Sr., doesn’t suit up.

Most of our panelists expect the Lions to win a scoring shootout. [Bleacher Report editor Ian] Hanford thinks Detroit will rise to the occasion in a marquee matchup.

Lions 31, Vikings 28 – Bill Bender, Sporting News

[Lions defensive end Aidan] Hutchinson had 7.5 sacks this season, which matched the total for the rest of the team. The good news? Jared Goff is dealing. Goff is 36-of-43 for 607 yards, five TDs, and no interceptions the past two weeks. Minnesota had a bye week after its trip to London. The Vikings have an opportunity to pull ahead in the NFC North with a victory here, especially if they keep Sam Darnold clean. The Lions broke a five-game losing streak at Minnesota last season, and they start a new streak with a late TD here.

Lions 24, Vikings 20 – Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News

The Lions are relentless and explosive with their offense, as their run-oriented balance keeps leading to big-time passing. The Vikings can handle the run and then get into position to rush the passer and force takeaways for DC Brian Flores. The problem is not having enough offensive answers or ground support to keep up on the scoreboard.

2 of 6 experts pick the Vikings, The MMQB

4 of 11 experts pick the Vikings, ESPN

2 of 8 experts pick the Vikings, Bleacher Report

3 of 9 experts pick the Vikings, The Athletic

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Vikings-Lions Week 7 score predictions from the Vikings On SI staff

Will Ragatz: Vikings 30, Lions 27

Anything could happen here, but I think this will be a thriller that lives up to the hype. Coming off the bye, I expect Sam Darnold to have a bounce-back performance and connect on several big plays with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Aaron Jones being expected to play is huge. And although the Lions will put up plenty of points in the fascinating matchup between their elite offense and the Vikings’ league-best defense, Brian Flores’ group will snag at least one key takeaway. In the end, I think Will Reichard wins it with a long field goal in the final seconds. I’ll say what I’ve said for a while: I’m going to keep picking the Vikings until I see a reason not to.

Joe Nelson: Vikings 38, Lions 23

You take away 38 percent of Detroit’s QB pressures (via Hutchinson’s absence) and all of a sudden Sam Darnold has all day to throw. If Minnesota’s interior doesn’t get destroyed by DTs Alim McNeill and Levi Onwuzurike, Darnold could light up the Lions. I think it happens.

Jonathan Harrison: Vikings 30, Lions 28

Nolan O’Hara: Vikings 27, Lions 21

Tony Liebert: Lions 27, Vikings 20

The injury bug has finally hit the Vikings. With Blake Cashman out and Aaron Jones and Harrison Phillips banged up, the Vikings may need to showcase their depth against the Lions. Minnesota has allowed more than 20 points only once this season, but I think Ben Johnson and Detroit’s explosive offense will crack Brian Flores’ defensive code and end the Vikings’ magical undefeated start to the season.

Season records for our pickers:

Will: 5-0

Joe: 5-0

Nolan: 3-2

Jonathan: 3-2

Tony: 0-5

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Five key matchups that will decide the Vikings-Lions showdown

1. Ben Johnson vs. Brian Flores

The showdown between the Lions’ high-flying offense and the Vikings’ aggressive, league-best defense promises to be utterly fascinating. Led by creative coordinator Ben Johnson, Detroit leads the league in scoring at over 30 points per game and has averaged nearly 45 points over its last two outings. Everything about their offense is impressive: scheme, offensive line, skill position weapons, Jared Goff’s efficiency. They’re a load to deal with.

The same can be said about the Vikings’ defense, which tops the NFL in DVOA and opponent EPA per play by wide margins. The Vikings have 20 sacks and 13 takeaways (including a league-high 11 interceptions) in five games. Brian Flores’ group has been incredibly consistent. The chess match between Johnson and Flores, whose scheme is known for its complexity and deception, will be extremely high-level stuff. As Flores said this week, he likes to “fight fire with fire.” Get your popcorn ready.

2. Jared Goff vs. Vikings’ defense (and crowd noise)

3. Jonathan Greenard vs. Penei Sewell

4. Sam Darnold vs. the Lions’ safety duo

With Hutchinson out for the year, the Lions’ two best defensive players might be safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. That duo has combined for seven interceptions this year while each earning elite PFF grades between 88 and 90. They’re different players, but Branch is the Lions’ version of Josh Metellus as an ultra-versatile chess piece who lines up all over the field. Joseph also splits his time between free safety and box/slot alignments in his own right.

“Branch has such a unique skill set as a guy that’s really a safety nickel,” Kevin O’Connell said this week. “He can play corner. He can really play in any spot in their secondary. He tackles incredibly well, he’s a good blitzer, really tight coverage player and then he’s got great zone eyes as well, no matter where he is … super instinctive. There’s a level of physicality that Joseph plays with. You’ve got to know where he is, and they each play their own individual roles but there’s some versatility with both and I think they’re great communicators and really fit well with what (Aaron Glenn) wants to be doing defensively.”

5. Ed Ingram vs. the Lions’ interior DL

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Latest Aaron Jones Injury News Brings Optimism for Vikings

According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport (NFL Network), Aaron Jones is “likely” to play vs the Detroit Lions in week 7, which is HUGE news for the Minnesota Vikings, given he averages nearly 1.5 more yards per carry than Ty Chandler, who might be losing his job to Cam Akers.

“Let’s get to some of the injuries for this game, really what should be an absolutely awesome game. One that I would say, at this point, is likely to include Aaron Jones the star running back for the Minnesota Vikings… So I would say at this point, likely Aaron Jones is out there.”

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Vikings Inside Linebackers Adjust with Blake Cashman Sidelined for Week 7

Blake Cashman’s leadership makes him an outstanding “quarterback” of the Vikings defense.

“He’s a guy that came in and had to fill a big role,” Ivan Pace, Jr., said Thursday. “He came in and basically got the defense on his back. We all came together to listen to him on the field and follow his footsteps.”

“I love playing with I.P.,” Cashman said last month. “For me, it doesn’t matter how many plays you’ve made, how experienced you are, how many years you’re in the league, you can always learn from different guys because everybody has a different toolset, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.”

Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell on Friday ruled out Cashman for the divisional game. Earlier in the week, he said the team doesn’t think it will be a “long-term injury with IR or anything involving that.”

“Me and I.P., one thing that we’re continuing to focus on every week is being the heartbeat of the defense, being the commander-in-chief and running the show,” Cashman mentioned. “I told him, ‘It doesn’t matter if I have the green dot. There’s probably going to be a week this year that you have the green dot.’ It’s up to the ownership of us two, and our group as linebackers, to command this defense.”

“[We’re] total opposites, honestly,” Pace said. “He’s a better pass coverage guy than me. … He’s always right there. … Learning from him in that [phase] and watching him on tape, it’s helping me a lot.”

His absence suggests another expanded role for veteran Kamu Grugier-Hill, who went from zero snaps on defense in back-to-back games at the start of the season to 20-plus in Weeks 3-4 when Pace was hurt.

Grugier-Hill was so impactful against Houston and Green Bay, intercepting a pass in the first quarter in each game, that he was trusted to substitute for Pace at different points in every quarter against the Jets.

“Kamu has been awesome when he’s stepped in there,” said O’Connell, listing several options the Vikings could explore to best defend one of the top offenses in the NFL without Cashman. “And then I think whether it’s [Joshua] Metellus, whether it’s the different personnel groupings that we use, we’ve got a whole bunch of flexibility with some of those edge players, as well, about how we can align.”

O’Connell elaborated Friday on Grugier-Hill, who was drafted by New England when Flores was the Patriots linebackers coach.

“Whether it’s a unique D&D (down and distance) where we think he gives us the best 11 that we can put on the field, or in the event of needing a guy to step up … he’s incredibly versatile,” O’Connell said, adding it shows up in base and nickel groupings. “That’s probably the best thing he’s brought, is just that skill set, but consistently doing it regardless of circumstance. Whether [it’s as] a starter, a role guy, maybe it’s (special) teams for one weekend, [he’s] going to show up on the tape, and I’m going to be showing plays that Kamu’s making in front of the team on Monday morning.”

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Pat Jones II Reeling in Fish & Quarterbacks

Pat Jones II has stepped his game up in a big way this season.

The Vikings outside linebacker has 5.0 sacks through Minnesota’s first five games, including logging two sacks apiece in Weeks 1 and 2. When Jones isn’t chasing down quarterbacks, though, he’s out on a boat catching fish.

He first fell in love with the hobby as a child, going from hooking ‘sunnies’ to a 2-pound bass, and – like his football prowess – it’s only grown from there, from his high school days in Virginia to college at Pittsburgh.

Q: When you got drafted by Minnesota, did you right away think about fishing here?

A: I’m not gonna lie. I didn’t know anything about Minnesota. I got drafted and was like, ‘All right, cool. I got drafted by the Vikings – let’s go!’ But then I’m like, ‘Minnesota … where is Minnesota?’ I literally pulled up my map and I’m like, ‘Yo, Minnesota’s, like, far. What’s out there?’ But I remembered the state slogan, ‘Land of 10,000 Lakes.’ Funny story: My mom used to make us write out all the states, their capitals and their slogans when we were young, and we’d have to remember them. So when I heard Minnesota, I’m like, ‘That’s the state slogan – they’ve got 10,000 lakes. I bet they’ve got fish out there.’ It took me about a week [after moving to Minnesota], and I found a tackle shop out here. The dude there was like, ‘Hey, yeah, I’ll take you out fishing,’ so we went out fishing and he showed us a couple different spots. I’ve been fishing here ever since.

Q: You posted an IG Story about watching film of upcoming opponents while out on the boat; when did you start bringing your tablet along?

A: That was really something I started doing this year. I was like, ‘Man, if I’m gonna be out here, I might as well be productive.’ So I started bringing my tablet out here just to get some extra time watching film. If I’m out here for four or five hours, I can at least watch, two, three hours of film.

Q: Now in your fourth season, have you changed your approach to watching film?

A: It’s definitely something you have to learn how to do. There’s a right way to watch film, and there’s a wrong way to watch film. I think when I was a younger player, I would try to see too much. There’s kind of a saying, ‘See a little, you see a lot.’ And that’s where I got to when I was watching film. I started watching it to, really, watch for the little things – and it allowed me to see a lot more.

Q: You’ve also gone shark fishing, right? So are there any bucket-list items left?

A: I want to catch everything. I grew up watching the show River Monsters with Jeremy Wade. I promise you I didn’t miss a single episode. I watched them all and was like, ‘Man, this dude is really traveling the world and catching all these fish.’ That’s something that, when I get done playing, I can definitely see myself doing – traveling all over the world catching all different types of fish.

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Vikings radio announcer Paul Allen says he almost quit after 2021 season

Longtime Vikings announcer Paul Allen almost quit the job after the 2021 season, he said in a recent interview on Craig Kilborn’s podcast. He was worn down late that year — which wound up being the end of the Rick Spielman-Mike Zimmer era — and wasn’t sure he still wanted to do it. But Allen was convinced to give it a try under the new regime, and he was fully revitalized by the culture that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell brought to the building in 2022.

“I’m telling you right now, at the end of the 2021 Minnesota Vikings season, I was all done with this job,” he said. “I didn’t want to be at the facility that much anymore. I’m not paid by the Vikings to call games, I’m on this awful mercenary 1099 to call preseason games and do appearances and advertising, just be there when they need me. It’s cool that they do that, but the 1099 part of it stinks. So therefore I’m not super attached to it like that, even though they give me unlimited access, born of trust. At the end of the 2021 season, I didn’t like the building, I didn’t like some things that were transpiring with people in there, and I’m like ‘I don’t need to do this anymore. I just don’t want to do it anymore, and my mental health counts too.’”

Allen wasn’t the only one who wasn’t fond of the vibes in the facility towards the end of the Spielman/Zimmer era. Eric Kendricks and Brian O’Neill were among the players who publicly criticized the culture after that regime was fired.

“So I called a couple of Minnesota Wild games, and God put me on a couple of good ones even though I’ve never played hockey,” Allen continued. “And I was ready to move on. So now we fast forward to 2022. And some people here at KFAN and the Vikings were like ‘well, let’s just give this new regime a try.’ So I’m like OK, I don’t need to be on the second floor of the facility kicking my feet up on coaches’ desks, learning about A, B, C, and D. These friendships are going to born in organic fashion. So i didn’t go to a lot of practices, I wasn’t over there a lot.

“Then we started playing the games — and I couldn’t stay away. I mean, it was so much fun in 2022. I got to know O’Connell and the staff a lot better, Flores and his family. The culture that is in the building now is probably the most cohesive, open, honest, and vulnerable in all 23 years that I’ve called Minnesota Vikings football. And Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Kevin O’Connell, they have a lot to do with that. I have not enjoyed calling Minnesota Vikings games as much ever as I do now.”

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NFL trade candidates: 16 players who could be on the block ahead of 2024 deadline

SI:AM | Potential NFL Trade Targets As Deadline Action Heats Up

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2024 NFL Trade Block Big Board Entering Week 7

5. Greg Newsome II, CB, Cleveland Browns

Cleveland may have to tear everything down and rebuild on the cheap, which is why cornerback Greg Newsome II is a viable trade candidate. The 24-year-old is set to play on his fifth-year option in 2025, and the Browns could remove next year’s $13.4 million salary from the books by trading him now.

Dealing Newsome, who has allowed an opposing passer rating of only 82.1 in coverage this season, would also bring some valuable trade capital.

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NFL Rumors: Chiefs trade pivot, Vikings blockbuster target, Raiders fire sale

NFL Rumors: Budda Baker tied to Vikings as potential trade deadline target

The Arizona Cardinals are approaching free fall, which makes veteran safety Budda Baker an especially compelling trade candidate. At 28, Baker is in the final year of his contract and there’s no traction on a new deal with the Cardinals. He comes highly decorated, with six Pro Bowls in eight NFL seasons, so several contenders will come knocking.

One potential suitor, as outlined by Justin Melo of The Draft Network, is the Minnesota Vikings.

“The aging Harrison Smith is still competing at a high level. Camryn Bynum has developed into a starting-caliber safety opposite him, but acquiring a chess piece like Baker would allow Flores to deploy more three-safety sets. One of the most creative defensive minds in the entire league, Flores would understand how to utilize Baker’s skill set around the line of scrimmage to help his struggling back end.”

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Vikings insider on the trade deadline: ‘I do think everything’s in play’

The Nov. 5 NFL trade deadline is rapidly approaching and on Tuesday the league went wild with Davante Adams being traded from the Raiders to the Jets and Amari Cooper being dealt by the Browns to the Bills. Just like that, in a matter of hours, two high-end wide receivers were sent packing to improve the lives of Aaron Rodgers and Josh Allen.

How long before the Vikings go wild and upgrade a roster that has so far proved to be elite with a 5-0 record entering this Sunday’s showdown against the Detroit Lions? History suggests that Minnesota could be aggressive under general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.

“A name you see on Twitter all the time Dexter Lawrence. The Giants, an absolute disaster, if they trade that guy their defense is spineless with no talent really whatsoever, so I don’t really know how they’d go on,” Lewis said, speaking speculatively on his podcast.

“I would just say that I do think everything’s in play. I would not rule out anything completely. Now do I expect them to go make a massive swing? It’s hard if you just go off of what’s possible if you really expect something like that to happen.”

“To me, it’s worth exploring that stuff and honestly, I expect them to,” Lewis added.

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Matthew Coller: Vikings should have plenty of trade deadline options

The Vikings’ potential trade situation is a little complicated. On one hand, they are 5-0 and all the statistical indicators like point differential and DVOA (both No. 1) that tell us about actual team strength suggest they are every bit as good as their W-L record. The complicating factor is that the Vikings do not have much draft capital to move. They are expected to get some comp picks for free agents who exited last spring but the Vikings only have a first-rounder and two fifth-round picks in 2025 to deal. Every other pick was used in other trades.

Making a big trade at the deadline wouldn’t have to mean throwing up the white flag on the future considering the Vikings have most of their core pieces under contract going forward. Players like… Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Christian Darrisaw, Brian O’Neill, TJ Hockenson, Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Blake Cashman, Harrison Phillips, Josh Metellus, Ivan Pace Jr. etc.

The Vikings are also projected to have $76 million in cap space heading into 2025, per OTC. Because JJ McCarthy will be under his rookie contract for 2025, 2026 and 2027, the Vikings have a window to spend at will around him while many opposing teams attempt to work around $50-$60 million QB contracts.

Furthermore, Minnesota has become a destination under Kevin O’Connell. The culture, winning record, facilities and leadership group were clearly attracting factors when they signed multiple Day 1 free agents last March. Plus the coaching staff and front office seem to have a knack for identifying players from free agency who will fit. They nailed nearly every free agent signing this offseason.

2025 first-round pick for a big-time player under contract

NYG — DT, Dexter Lawrence

TEN — DT, Jeffrey Simmons

CLE — RG, Wyatt Teller

2025 fifth-round pick(s) for a role player

JAX — RG, Brandon Schreff

DEN — DT, DJ Jones

LV — DT, Adam Butler

TEN — DT, Sebastian Joseph-Day

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Titans Predicted to Trade Star Defender

Jeffery Simmons, the team’s star defensive tackle, could be on the move as well if the right deal is offered.

Sam Phalen of AtoZ Sports has predicted that Simmons will, in fact, be moved before the trade deadline.

“Trading Simmons would save the Titans about $8 million in cap space for 2025 and get him almost entirely off their books by 2026. But if you’re a team looking to bolster your defensive line for the rest of 2-24 and foreseeable future, Simmons could be worth giving up a haul,” Phalen wrote. “Any team that trades for Simmons would owe him just under $1 million for every game played in 2024 and could retain his services in 2025 for $18 million. It’s worth making a call if you’re a buyer.”

I would trade the 2025 1st and a 2026 2nd for Simmons and their 2025 2nd. But that is probably too cheap.

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Yore Mock

Trades

Dolphins

Sent: Pick 32, Pick 100

Received: Pick 45, Pick 98, 2026 MIA 2nd

…

Eagles

Sent: Pick 45, Pick 140

Received: Pick 49, Pick 81

…

Chargers

Sent: Pick 49

Received: Pick 53, Pick 158

…

Ravens

Sent: Pick 81, Pick 168

Received: Pick 88, Pick 124

…

49ers

Sent: Pick 98

Received: Pick 101, Pick 195

…

Raiders

Sent: Pick 101

Received: Pick 109, Pick 187

…

Jets

Sent: Pick 109

Received: Pick 111, Pick 207

…

53. Nick Emmanwori S South Carolina 6’3” 227

Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

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88. Jaeden Roberts OG Alabama 6’5” 310

Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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111. Danny Stutsman LB Oklahoma 6’4” 241

Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images

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124. Jordan Burch EDGE Oregon 6’6” 295

Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images

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158. Tommi Hill CB Nebraska 6’0” 205

Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

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187. Domonique Orange DT Iowa State 6’4” 325

Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

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195. Jo’Quavious Marks RB USC 5’10” 208

Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

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207. Pat Bryant WR Illinois 6’3” 200

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

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