20 Things to Know before Lions-Vikings

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Dec 5, 2021
DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 03: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates his touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on January 3, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Vikings (5-6) hit the road versus the Detroit Lions (0-10-1) in Week 13.

Here are 20 stats, facts, and things to know leading into the NFC North showdown between the Vikings and Lions.

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  1. In the historical head-to-head matchup, the Vikings have defeated the Lions 67% of the time. Put bluntly, Minnesota utterly dominates Detroit throughout history.
  2. The Lions haven’t beaten the Vikings since October 1, 2017. 1,526 days ago.
  3. The NFL is in Week 13 right now. The Lions last won a football game in Week 13 of 2020.
  4. Kirk Cousins is the only quarterback in NFL history to throw more than 22 touchdowns and less than four interceptions through the first 11 games of a season, while his team had a losing record to show for it.
  5. Detroit ranks seventh in NFL for yards per rush on offense. Minnesota ranks last in the league on defense for yards per rush allowed.
  6. Jared Goff has never been a part of a winning football game without Sean McVay as the head coach.
  7. Both rosters are absolutely peppered with injuries.
  8. The Vikings rank first in defensive sacks and 30th in yards allowed. Figure that one out.
  9. Kirk Cousins has thrown a touchdown pass in 25 consecutive games. No NFL quarterback has a longer active streak.
  10. The Lions are last in the league for yards per pass (5.6)
  11. Since the start of 2020, per EPA/play, the Vikings have the eighth-worst defense in the NFL. What a fall from grace for a Mike Zimmer-led franchise.
  12. The Vikings haven’t won a football game by more than 14 points since Week 15 of 2019 (at the Chargers, 39-10)
  13. If the Vikings topple the Lions, their playoff probability rises to 60%, per FiveThirtyEight.com.
  14. Minnesota ranks second in NFL for Passing DVOA.
  15. Brian O’Neill hasn’t allowed a sack in 435 pass-protection snaps.
  16. In each of the last three seasons, a 5-6 team reached the playoffs (2020 CHI, 2019 PHI, 2018 PHI).
  17. Since 2015, Dalvin Cook ranks second in the NFL for yards from scrimmage per game, behind Christian McCaffrey. While the Vikings can still win without him on Sunday, his presence will be missed.
  18. Embarrassingly. the Vikings have lost both games in 2021 that Kene Nwangwu returned a kickoff. Those are supposed to be free points, flipping the momentum of a game. No such luck.
  19. Kirk Cousins has now started more games as a Viking than a Washington Football Teamer.
  20. After this weekend, three out of the five remaining Vikings games will occur in primetime.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).

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