ClutchPoints
The Lions and the Vikings were two of the best teams in the NFL last year during the regular season. They are two of the most disappointing teams in the league this season.
Despite winning their last three games, the Vikings (7-8) have been mired in last place in the NFC North. The Lions (8-7) still have an outside chance at gaining a playoff spot, but they are on life support. They need to win their last two games against the Vikings and Chicago Bears, while the Green Bay Packers must lose their last 2 games against the Baltimore Ravens and Vikings.
That’s the dream scenario for Dan Campbell and the Lions. The more realistic situation is that they are going to Minnesota with the hope of staying out of last place in the division. The two teams will exchange places if the Vikings win this matchup and sweep the season series from the Lions.
The Vikings have a chance to end the season on a 5-game winning streak if they can beat the Lions and Packers. That might give them some momentum heading to the offseason and give general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell some answers, but quarterback J.J. McCarthy has an injured right hand and may not be able to play.
The quarterback has already had 3 significant injuries since being drafted in 2024 and this could be the 4th. He had to come out of the 16-13 victory over the Giants in Week 16 and he did not practice Monday. If he can’t play, free-agent rookie Max Brosmer will get his second start, and that can’t be good news for skill-position players like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, TE T.J. Hockenson and RB Aaron Jones.
Jefferson was ranked as the No. 1 receiver in the league before the start of the season, but the Vikings struggles at the QB position have shunted him down the list. Jefferson has caught 72 passes for 917 yards and 2 TDs this season and he will almost certainly go past the 1,000-yard mark, but that’s not good enough for a player of his ability.
If the Vikings have to go to Brosmer, big passing plays are likely to be scarce. That clearly impacts Jefferson and Addison, and the Lions defense will focus on slowing down running back Aaron Jones. He has missed 4 games this season, but Jordan Mason has an ankle injury and could miss his first game of the season.
If the Vikings are going to win this game with an injured McCarthy or a limited Brosmer at quarterback, the defense will have to step up.
The Lions were a team that hit opponents with a devastating offense at various points this season, but they have had a difficult time sustaining their success.
Quarterback Jared Goff gives them a huge advantage in this...
