TVA Predictions: Will the Vikings stuff the Lions on Thanksgiving?

Adam Carlson:

Vikings win 27-16

The Minnesota Vikings already lost once this season to the Detroit Lions. And that loss came on the Vikings’ home turf of U.S. Bank Stadium, making the Thanksgiving matchup between these two teams as close to a must-win situation as there can be only be two-thirds of the way through the season,

Offensively, the Vikings should be able to move the football. Detroit gives up the ninth most yards per play this season, the ninth most yards per rushing attempt, and the second most rushing touchdowns this season entering this contest. So expect heavy doses of Jerick McKinnon and Latavius Murray in both the run and pass game.

Meanwhile, Adam Thielen won’t be denied his standard of at least five catches per game and Stefon Diggs will get involved as well. Kyle Rudolph will likely catch his 33rd touchdown pass of his career, tying Jake Reed for sixth most in franchise history.

Defensively, Minnesota will have their hands full with the league’s seventh best team in yards per pass attempt and fifth in passing touchdowns. However, Detroit has allowed 33 sacks this season (third most) and Matthew Stafford could be forced into making some bad decisions due to a strong pass rush.

Minnesota won’t have to worry too much about the Lions run game, which averages the fourth worst yards per carry in the NFL at 3.4 and has scored only four rushing touchdowns this season.

Don’t expect this game to go like the one at U.S. Bank Stadium in Week 4 did. Minnesota will come out strong and come away with a big win over the Lions.