Oct 20, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) looks on during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
VikingsTerritory asked a handful of Vikings fans for a prediction of Sunday’s game between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field.
The fans have spoken.
The Vikings have won nine straight games after a two-game skid following the Week 6 bye. Things are looking up, and Minnesota needs one more dub to clinch homefield advantage throughout the postseason.
It’ll face a 14-2 Lions team this weekend, led by quarterback Jared Goff, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. Detroit has the same fate on the line as Minnesota — win and clinch homefield advantage throughout the postseason.
Vikings fans predict the Vikings will win their 15th game of the season.
Fans were unanimous — pretty bold, eh? — in choosing the Vikings, evidently content with the state of play in Minnesota. The recent nine-game win spurt has caused most to start dreaming big.
Here’s how the fan panel sees the score for Week 18:
Bruce Johnson: Vikings Win, 17-14
Chris: Vikings Win, 37-34
Christina: Vikings Win, 34-31
Eric Horstman: Vikings Win, 42-38
Ivan, Czar of Bohunks: Vikings Win, 34-27
Legend of Corra: Vikings Win, 34-29
PurpleVikodin: Vikings Win, 31-29
RedNPurple: Vikings Win, 31-29
SkolSister: Vikings Win, 30-27
Skol Tom: Vikings Win, 37-33
Steve Berglund: Vikings Win, 37-31
Tadd: Vikings Win, 31-28
Thee…Mr. Legend: Vikings Win, 37-34
Mathematically en masse, fans predict the Vikings will top the Lions by a score of 33-30.
And the season standings for fans’ predictions:
Christina: 14-2
Ivan, Czar of Bohunks: 14-2
Skol Tom: 13-3
Steve Berglund: 13-3
RedNPurple: 13-3
Chris: 13-3
PurpleVikodin: 13-3
SkolSister: 13-3
Eric Horstman: 12-4
Legend of Corra: 12-4
Thee…Mr. Legend: 12-4
Tadd: 11-5
Bruce Johnson: 10-6
Sporting News’ Bill Bender picked the Lions to defeat Minnesota, 31-27, and explained: “Who gets homefield advantage in the NFC? This game should be a thriller, and the Vikings have mastered close games this season with Kevin O’Connell. Minnesota is 9-1 in one-score games this season, but the lone loss is to Detroit. The Lions are 6-1 in one-score games this season. Who knew Jared Goff and Sam Darnold would be must-see TV in the finale?”
.The Lions are favored to prevail by three against the Vikings. Minnesota has the league’s best defense per EPA/Play entering Week 18.
Minnesota has lost four straight games to Detroit, unable to defeat the divisional foe since 2022 — when the Lions were still a poor team. Detroit has Kevin O’Connell’s number, at least in the two seasons.
Kevin O’Connell’s team has a 36.8% chance of snatching the NFC’s No. 1 seed and homefield advantage throughout the postseason, according to DVOA.
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.