Despite having just 3 weeks left in the regular season, when the Detroit Lions (10-4) travel to meet the Minnesota Vikings (7-7) Sunday, it will be the 1st of 2 meetings between the NFC North rivals over 15 days. Kickoff from U.S. Bank Stadium is set for 1 p.m. ET (FOX), Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Lions vs. Vikings odds, and'make our expert NFL picks and predictions.
The Vikings have seen the opposite result in close games than they a season ago when they set an NFL record with an 11-0 record in one-score games. The Vikings have lost 3 of their last 4 games by a combined 6 points.
Minnesota lost starting QB Kirk Cousins in Week 8 and has played backups Joshua Dobbs, Jaren Hall and Nick Mullens since. Mullens started last week at Cincinnati and threw for 303 yards and 2 TDs, while backup RB Ty Chandler rushed for 132 yards on 23 carries. But Mullens threw 2 picks and was stopped twice on QB sneaks in overtime in a heartbreaking 27-24 loss to the Bengals — the game was a “push” as the Vikes were 3-point underdogs, and the Over (41) cashed.
The Lions have lost 2 of their last 4 games — to division rivals Green Bay and Chicago — but bounced back in huge way in Week 15 with a 42-17 blowout win over the visiting Denver Broncos — Detroit was a 5.5-point favorite and the Over/Under (O/U) line was 49. QB Jared Goff threw 5 TDs — 3 to rookie TE Sam LaPorta — while the RB tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combined for 185 rushing yards with a TD on 28 carries as the Lions moved within 1 win from their 1st division title since the 1993-94 season.