Our Official Prediction: Lions at Vikings 👀

Dustin Baker |

Oct 19, 2024

Dec 24, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell and wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) and linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (40) react near the end of the game during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.

The VikingsTerritory collective staff prediction for the Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings is in.

Our Official Prediction: Lions at Vikings 👀

Minnesota defeated the New York Jets 13 days ago, surviving a late comeback attempt and winning by a score of 23-17.

This weekend, the Vikings return home for a meeting with the Lions, a squad vying for a second straight NFC Championship appearance and then some.

The writers at VikingsTerritory predict Minnesota will win its sixth game of the season.

Aug 17, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell throws the ball during warm-ups before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports.

Writers mostly chose the Vikings, evidently confident that the Vikings’ early-season success is fully sustainable.

Here’s how the panel sees the score for Week 7:

Dustin Baker: Vikings Win, 30-23
Brevan Bane: Vikings Win, 29-26
Sean Borman: Lions Win, 27-24
Janik Eckardt: Vikings Win, 37-34
Josh Frey: Lions Win, 31-27
Henrique Gucciardi: Vikings Win, 35-31
Wes Johnson: Vikings Win, 31-27
Kyle Joudry: Lions Win, 34-31
Adam New: Vikings Win, 27-25
Ted Schwerzler: Vikings Win, 27-17
Ali Siddiqui: Vikings Win, 30-24
Cole Smith: Vikings Win, 30-24

Mathematically en masse, we predict the Vikings will top the Lions by a score of 30-27.

Detroit quarterback Jared Goff (16) looks on at warm-up before the Seattle Seahawks game at Ford Field in Detroit on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

And 2024 season standings for our writers’ predictions:

Henrique Gucciardi: 5-0
Wes Johnson: 5-0
Ted Schwerzler: 5-0
Brevan Bane: 4-1
Kyle Joudry: 4-1
Ali Siddiqui: 4-1
Cole Smith: 4-1
Dustin Baker: 3-2
Janik Eckardt: 3-2
Josh Frey: 3-2
Sean Borman: 2-3
Adam New: 2-3

Sep 29, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (85) fumbles the ball after being hit by Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) during the fourth quarter of their game Sunday, September 29, 2024, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Vikings recovered the ball. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images.

In Week 5, Josh Frey most accurately predicted the outcome of Vikings-Jets. He forecasted a seven-point triumph for Minnesota, and it won by six.

The Vikings are favored to prevail by 1.5 points against the Lions, and if so, Minnesota would snap a three-game losing skid versus Detroit.

Sep 15, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold (14) and head coach Kevin O’Connell talk before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

Sporting News picked the Lions over the Vikings, 24-20. “The Lions are relentless and explosive with their offense, as their run-oriented balance keeps leading to big-time passing. The Vikings can handle the run and then get into position to rush the passer and force takeaways for DC Brian Flores. The problem is not having enough offensive answers or ground support to keep up on the scoreboard.” SN’s Vinnie Iyer wrote.

The Lions haven’t downed the Vikings four times in a row since the early 1960s.

Also Read:
Beloved Former Viking Is a Free Agent Again

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.

By Dustin Baker

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily ... More about Dustin Baker