Not so long ago, the Detroit Lions were under admitted reconstruction, and the Minnesota Vikings were stuck among the middle wild card hopefuls. This season, however, the NFC North foes have been true powerhouses, entering their scheduled Week 18 rematch with a combined record of 28-4. It’s fitting that Sunday’s anticipated regular-season finale is for all the marbles, at least before the playoffs: The winner earns not only the division crown, but also the No. 1 seed overall. NFC playoffs.
The two teams put on a high-profile show in their first meeting of 2024, with Detroit surviving a late comeback attempt by the Vikings with a 31-29 win at Minnesota. This time, Sam Darnold and Co. will travel to the Motor City, where Dan Campbell’s ultra-aggressive contender aims to make his second straight run in an NFC championship game. This is must-see material heading into the playoffs.
How can you log in? Which confrontations are the most crucial? And who is ready to walk away with victory? Here is our overview and sports betting prediction:
Lions vs Vikings where to watch
Date: Sunday January 5 | Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
Location: Ford Field (Detroit)
TV: BNC | Flow: fubo (try for free)
Follow: CBS Sports app
Odds: Lions -3, O/U 56 (SportsLine Consensus)
The keys to the game
USATSI
- Can the Vikings run the ground game? Sam Darnold thrived even without a dominant rushing attack of his own, but this bear special attention after the ball carrier starts Aaron Jones spent the final minutes of Minnesota’s last victory on the bench due to a quad contusion. If Jones is unable to go, or at least handle a full workload, Cam Akers would be in line for a much heavier workload against a third-ranked Lions club overall NFL defend the race.
- Can the Lions succeed with this defense? Detroit is 14-2 this year, boasting the NFL’s leading offensive scorer, so it’s clear the Lions have been able to overcome their defensive shortcomings thus far. But only one team is giving up more yards through the air, and now Motown’s secondary, which is missing key cover men like Carlton Davis And Ennis Rakestraw Jr.will be faced by arguably the best pass-catching group in football.
- Will Jared Goff keep control of the ball? The Vikings have an explosive aerial attack, but Detroit has the most balanced offense overall, entering with the top six units both in the air and on the ground, even with David Montgomery sidelined at ball carrier. Goff, meanwhile, threw for 36 scores against just 10 picks, excelling as a methodical point guard. His comfort could be at least a little questioned if the star tackles right Penei Sewell isn’t fully healthy against a Vikings “D” who leads the NFL in takeaways.
Prediction
The Lions got the better of the Vikings early in their last game, putting Darnold and Co. in a hole that proved simply too big to fill. They remain the most impressive offense in football, even with Jahmyr Gibbs They now shoulder a full workload in the backfield, and Campbell’s endless aggression still makes him a threat to light up the scoreboard. It wouldn’t be surprising to see them sweep the Vikings with another shootout, this time at home. But Minnesota really hit its stride, allowing Darnold to express himself without fear, with Brian Flores’ defense always backing him up with timely takeaways. This one seems to go all the way, but the all-around physicality of the Vikings’ “D,” who also ranks eighth in quarterback pressure rate, could tip this one in favor of the purple , rerouting the path to Super Bowl LIX. Take: Vikings 33, Lions 31
Prime: RJ White, who is 70-39-5 in Minnesota Vikings games, has released his best bets for the Week 18 Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions “Sunday Night Football” game. White is leaning towards the Under, but who is he backing to win? Check it out here on SportsLine.