Lions host Vikings on Sunday night, winner earns No. 1 seed in NFC and loser falls to No. 5 seed

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 20: On October 20, 2024, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jake Bates #39 of the Detroit Lions makes the game-winning field goal during the fourth quarter of a game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. (Image courtesy of Dav)

Minnesota (14-2) at Detroit (14-2) DETROIT (AP)

Vikings 11-4-1 against the spread; Lions 11-5

Vikings lead the series 80-44-2.

Last meeting: On October 20, in Minneapolis, the Lions defeated the Vikings 31-29.

The Vikings defeated the Packers 27–25 and the Lions defeated the 49ers 40–34 last week.

Vikings offense: pass (5), rush (19), scoring (9), and overall (12).

Vikings defense: throw (28), rush (2), scoring (4), and overall (16).

Overall (2), rush (6), pass (2), and scoring (1) are the Lions’ offensive stats.

Lions defense: throw (31) score (T-8), rush (3), and overall (22).

Difference in turnover: Vikings plus-10; Lions plus-11

Vikings player to watch

TE Hockenson, T.J. After being traded to the Vikings two years ago, Detroit’s 2019 first-round draft pick missed the team’s opening game this season while he recovered from knee surgery. When safety Kerby Joseph leveled Hockenson with a low hit during the Lions’ Week 16 loss last season, Hockenson tore both his ACL and MCL. In nine games this season, Hockenson has 39 receptions for 446 yards.

Lions player to watch

Jared Goff, quarterback. To compensate for a defense that is injured and gives up a lot of yards and points, he must play well. Last week, Goff threw three touchdown passes for the fourth consecutive game, setting a franchise record and completing 77% of his throws. Goff has made at least three-fourths of his passes in eight games, becoming one of only two players in league history to do it in a single season, along with Tom Brady (2007).

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Key matchup

The running game of Detroit vs the defense of Minnesota. To score, get yards, and create play-action throws, the Lions rely heavily on their backfield. In two games without David Montgomery due to injury, Jahmyr Gibbs has averaged 20 carries for 113 yards and a touchdown. Only 88.1 yards of rushing are being given up by the Vikings each game.

Key injuries

Aside from losing LT Christian Darrisaw for the season due to a knee injury, the Vikings are in exceptionally good condition. Patrick Jones, an edge rusher, had a minor knee injury on a low block last week, but he will have time to heal and play. … After missing practice since November 17 due to a broken forearm, Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone made his comeback this week. … Kalif Raymond, WR and punt returner, might make his first appearance since suffering a foot injury on November 24.

Series notes

In Week 7, Detroit defeated the Vikings, who had never lost, thanks to a 44-yard field goal from Jake Bates with 15 seconds remaining. In the second quarter, Gibbs rushed for 116 yards and two of the Lions’ three touchdowns. For the third consecutive game, Goff finished with a passing rating of 140 or higher, joining Aaron Rodgers (2011), Kurt Warner (1999), and Roger Staubach (1971) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to do so. He was 22 for 25 for 280 yards, two touchdowns, and no turnovers. For the Vikings, Justin Jefferson had 81 yards and a touchdown while Aaron Jones ran for 93 yards and a touchdown. With four consecutive victories over Minnesota, the Lions are one victory away from tying their longest winning streak, which began in 1961 against the expansion Vikings and ended in 1963.

Stats and stuff

While the loser will slip to the fifth spot and begin the playoffs on the road next week as the first wild-card team with 14 victories, the winner will receive the NFC North title, the top seed in the conference playoffs, and a bye. Teams with 13 or more wins and a combined total of 28 victories throughout the regular season will play each other for the first time. Following consecutive weeks of losses to Detroit and the Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota has won nine games in a row, their longest winning streak since a 10-game run in 1975. … The Vikings are just one win away from matching the franchise record set by the 15-1 squad that lost in the NFC championship game in 1998. According to BetMGM Sportsbook, Minnesota has the best record against the spread, leading Detroit and two other teams by percentage points. Last week against Green Bay, Sam Darnold went 33 for 43 for a career-high 377 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He is the first starting quarterback in NFL history to win 14 games in his first season with a team. …. WR Against the Packers, Jalen Nailor set season highs with six receptions for 69 yards. … LB Blake Cashman is two tackles away from reaching a career best after recording a team-high 11 tackles, including 1 1/2 sacks, last week. … OLB Andrew Van Ginkel has set career highs with 11 1/2 sacks and 17 tackles for losses, including two sacks, three tackles for losses, and a forced fumble versus Detroit. Last week, Will Reichard, a rookie, missed field goals from 57 and 43 yards. … Detroit has a chance to win two consecutive division crowns for the first time…. Detroit has won a franchise-record 14 games, including 12 of its last 13 games. From 1952 to 1954, the team won the Eastern Conference three times in a row. … . The two teams in league history with at least 35 throwing touchdowns and 25 running scores in a season are the Lions and the St. Louis Rams of 2000. The first two NFL running backs and wide receivers to record 1,000 yards from scrimmage in a season are Jameson Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Montgomery, and Gibbs. Together, the four join the 2004 Colts’ Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Brandon Stokley as the only players to record 1,000 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns in a season. In three of their last four games, the Lions have allowed at least 31 points. Joseph has nine interceptions, which puts him first in the league. After recording a total of 2 1/2 sacks in back-to-back games against Green Bay and Chicago, former Vikings DE Za Darius Smith has been held without a sack for three games in a row.

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