Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings predictions: Victory secures a division title.
Sports writers for The Free Press provide their predictions for Sunday’s Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings (1 p.m., Fox) game:
Dave Birkett
With a victory on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Lions can secure their first division crown in thirty years. Although the Lions are a more complete squad than the Vikings, it won’t be simple to defeat the reigning NFC North champions in Minneapolis, a game they must win to maintain their postseason hopes.
LIONS VS. VIKINGS: Scouting report by Dave Birkett
Minnesota’s winning formula is to get the ball into the hands of its players against the dubious secondary of the Lions and pursue Goff with their unrelenting defense. The Lions will have a difficult day ahead of them if Goff exhibits jitteriness, as he has not performed well against teams led by Flores in the past. But with everything on the line, I think the Lions will play with inspiration from the start. The Lions should not allow Mullens to beat them, even with the quality of the Vikings’ skill players. They have a strong enough rushing attack to thwart Minnesota’s pass rush. Lions 27, Vikings 21 is the selection.
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Monarrez, Carlos
The Vikings are a terrible team, so this is where we really get to see how resilient the Lions are and how eager they are to win their first NFC North championship. They are playing with just their third quarterback, have dropped their last three games, and have a dismal 2-4 record at home. They do boast one of the top scoring defenses in the NFL and three competent pass catchers, but that is insufficient to stay up with a club that is about to make NFL history. The selection is Vikings 19, Lions 24.
CENTER OF ATTENTION: Frank Ragnow, along with that outstanding offensive line, is the focal point of the Lions’ culture.
Jeff Seidel
The Lions, who will play the Vikings twice in three weeks, are in a very intriguing scenario. However, this Vikings club is different from the one from a year ago, which makes this task unique. Dan Campbell is taking the proper tack here, saving nothing. Win this match. Secure the North NFC. Have a Merry Christmas. And this group is going to accomplish just that. Lions 28, Vikings 21 is the selection.
Important Match: Vikings DC Jared Goff of the Lions has given Brian Flores his number. What has changed since then?
Windsor Shawn
The last time I made a snap decision based only on instinct, I chose the Lions to defeat the Bears. So, is there a lesson to be learned? You would expect that the Vikings, who play great on defense, will be desperate, at home, and a strong matchup with Detroit. However, I’m sticking with my instincts once more because the Lions’ offensive line is unbeaten when healthy, Dan Campbell can focus his team on the task at hand, and this team knows it’s playing for a piece of history and doesn’t want to tamper with Dallas’ past—who does? In a town that hasn’t been kind to them over the years, the Lions celebrate their victory and winning the division with all due justice. Lions 26, Vikings 23 is the selection.
