The National Folks Picking the Lions over Vikings

The National Folks Picking the Lions over Vikings
Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports.

The Minnesota Vikings (10-2) are two-point underdogs three days before a showdown with the Detroit Lions (5-7) in Week 14.

The Lions flogged the Jacksonville Jaguars, 40-14, in Week 13 at home, clinging to a tiny chance of reaching the postseason tournament. The Vikings toppled the Jets by a score of 27-22 to sweep the AFC East.

According to NFLPickWatch, a website that logs NFL experts’ weekly picks, about 61% of folks believe Minnesota will take down Detroit at Ford Field in Week 14. The Vikings have an 80-40-2 (.663) all-time record against the Lions.

Vikings Must Navigate Hot Lions to Clinch North
Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports.

A handful of notable personalities forecast a Lions win over Minnesota, though, as the Vikings will experience a Detroit team that has recently won four of five games since the start of November. And its only loss came against the Buffalo Bills on Thanksgiving, a game the Lions could’ve reasonably won.

As of Thursday, these individuals predict Detroit sending the Vikings to a 10-3 record:

Pete Prisco of CBS Sports said about his Lions-over-Vikings prediction, “The Vikings are a shoo-in to win the division, but the Lions are alive for a wild card spot. The Lions offense will present big problems for a Vikings defense that hasn’t played that well. Lions win it behind Jared Goff.”

Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Adam Gretz and Cole Huff from The Athletic noted about Lions-Vikings, “Despite the five-game gap in the standings, I do not think this will be easy for the Vikings. Not only because the Vikings have had a knack for playing nothing but close games and doing just enough to win each week but because the Lions have been one of the hottest teams in the league over the past month.”

The Vikings need one win, one Detroit Lions loss, or a combination thereof to win the NFC North. So, if the Vikings don’t win this weekend, they’ll need a win or Lions loss in Week 15.

If the Vikings are triumphant, they’ll be 11-2 in a season for the first time since 2009.


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. 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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