The Viking Age writers give their predictions for the Minnesota Vikings’ Week 12 matchup with the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.
Since they fell to the Detroit Lions back in Week 4, the Minnesota Vikings have yet to lose a game, winning their last six matchups. This week, the Vikings will attempt to avenge their early-season loss to the Lions when they head to Detroit for a Thanksgiving showdown on Thursday.
Currently, the Lions are sitting with a 6-4 record after winning just three of their last six games. They have come out victorious in the last three weeks, but these wins have come against the Aaron Rodgers-less Green Bay Packers, the winless Cleveland Browns, and the underwhelming Chicago Bears.
Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer’s teams have struggled against Detroit during his tenure with the team as the Vikings have only defeated the Lions twice in their last seven meetings. So will Minnesota be able to extend their winning streak to seven games on Thursday or will Detroit find a way to gobble them up once again?
The writers here at The Viking Age have done their best to try and predict what the Vikings’ fate will be against the Lions in their Thanksgiving Day rematch.
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.
Adam Patrick:
Vikings win 30-17
This NFC North rematch between the Vikings and Lions will come down to turnovers, on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
Minnesota’s defense has not forced a ton of turnovers this season (12 total), but they will add three more on Thursday against Detroit. Coughing up the ball multiple times will fluster the Lions as they are only 3-9 in their last 12 games when committing two or more turnovers.
Forcing Detroit to give up the ball will prove to be necessary for the Vikings on Thursday as they will have a few offensive turnovers of their own in this matchup. The Lions defense may not have the best statistical numbers, but they have created a ton of turnovers (fourth most in the NFL) and easy opportunities for their offense this season.
In the end, however, Minnesota rushing for three touchdowns and Kai Forbath hitting three field goals will prove to be enough for the team to escape Detroit with their ninth win of the year.
Jordan Schmidt:
Vikings win 23-20
The Minnesota Vikings will avenge their Week 4 loss against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. Vikings quarterback Case Keenum will continue his strong play and leadership of the offense to get the job done. He will lean on his big playmakers in receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. Thielen will have 100 yards receiving for a third straight game, which will give him a 1,000 receiving yards on the year.
Minnesota running back Latavius Murray will continue his strong play along with Jerick McKinnon in the team’s backfield. The two will give the Vikings a run game that will open the passing game. Plus, the Vikings’ offensive line is playing at high level and will be a key part in the team’s win.
Minnesota’s defense will continue their strong season. Defensive ends Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen give the Vikings solid pass rush and give Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford troubles throughout the game.
Vikings corner Xavier Rhodes will slow down Detroit receiver Marvin Jones Jr. while fellow Minnesota cornerback Trae Waynes takes care of Lions pass-catcher Golden Tate on the other side. The Vikings’ defense will shut down the Detroit’s offense in the fourth quarter and help the Minnesota get even closer to winning this year’s NFC North division title.
Spencer Suckow:
Vikings win 23-17
The Vikings just can’t seem to get past Detroit lately.
Primarily, it’s because Minnesota hasn’t been able to score and have consistently shot themselves in the foot as a team whenever they play the Lions. This is especially disappointing because the defense has usually been able to hold up their end of the bargain when the two teams have met in the past.
I think things will be different this time. The entire Vikings offense has been clicking as of late, and it seems as though that they have both the balance and explosiveness to compete with any team in the NFL right now.
They’ll need every bit of that balance and explosiveness if they want to keep pace with Matthew Stafford and the Lions. Detroit has shown consistently throughout the past two seasons that no matter how bad of a start they get off to during a game, they’re always capable of making a run and putting up points in short order. Typically, they end up doing just that.
Minnesota Vikings
The key to this game for the Vikings will be stopping that onslaught if they get a lead. While Minnesota obviously has one of the top defenses in the league, Stafford, as well as Lions offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, has gone up against the unit enough times to know their weaknesses and how to attack them.
Also important for the Vikings will be slowing down Detroit’s running game. Lions running back Ameer Abdullah had a nice outing in Week 4 against Minnesota, running for 94 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Detroit’s offense only becomes more lethal when they’re able to keep defenses off balance and establish a legitimate play-action threat.
The Vikings’ defense, coming off a spectacular performance against Todd Gurley and the Los Angeles Rams’ rushing attack, will do just that once again and force the Lions’ offense to become one dimensional.
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Additionally, the red-hot Vikings offense will finally exorcise their Lions-related demons, and put up enough points to sneak out of Detroit with a close win and a three-game lead in the division.