3 Bold Predictions for Vikings at Lions
The Minnesota Vikings can obtain homefield advantage throughout the playoffs on Sunday night in a tilt with the Detroit Lions for all the marbles.
3 Bold Predictions for Vikings at Lions
Detroit is favored to win by three, and Minnesota has won nine straight. About two-thirds of NFL analysts believe the Lions will prevail, according to NFLPickWatch.com.
So, with the Vikings’ contest against the Lions just around the bend, these are three bold predictions for Lions-Vikings.
1. Will Reichard Is Perfect
Reichard missed two field goals last weekend against the Green Bay Packers, which was enough of a hiccup to cause Vikings fans some familiar anxiety.
He actually missed three field goals, but a Packers’ penalty nullified one.
Nonetheless, at Detroit, on the grandest regular season stage of them all, Reichard will get back on track and connect on all field goals and extra points when called upon. His recent misses are not systemic, and in fact, kickers just miss kicks sometimes.
Reichard is not fundamentally flawed.
2. T.J. Hockenson Finally Scores a TD
We’re a broken record here — but T.J. Hockenson just has to find the endzone.
He hasn’t scored in 2024.
Hockenson returned from a torn ACL in Week 9, but opponents have somehow kept him out of the endzone. On Sunday night, he’ll face his former team, the same squad that tore his ACL in December 2023.
The veteran tight end will score a touchdown and perhaps even two.
3. Jalen Nailor Plays Major Role
Last weekend, in a win over the Green Bay Packers, Nailor showed up and delivered a clutch WR3 performance that teetered on WR2 production. Detroit will sell out to stop Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, leaving Nailor and the aforementioned Hockenson alone to cook in the Lions’ secondary.
Nailor has the speed to kill, and just like last week, he’ll tally north of five receptions and give Detroit matchup fits for three hours.
When Hockenson returned to the lineup, Nailor’s season went quiet, but his resurgence will continue in Week 17 against the Packers.
Nailor will hit close to 100 yards receiving.
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.
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