5 Bold Predictions: Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions – Week 14

The Minnesota Vikings have been challenged by Dan Campbell, but can his Detroit Lions thwart another clinching opportunity on Sunday?

The Minnesota Vikings will have another chance to clinch the NFC North on Sunday when they head to Ford Field to take on the Detroit Lions. The Vikings are 10-2 and coming off another close victory against the New York Jets, but according to the FanDuel Sportsbook, the 5-7 Lions come into Sunday’s game as 1.5-point favorites.

Most Vikings fans are confused as to how the Lions can be underdogs in this game, but it might have to do with Minnesota’s history against Detroit’s head coach Dan Campbell.

Back in Week 5 of the 2021 season, Campbell’s Lions erased a 10-point deficit in the final four minutes before Kirk Cousins led a game-winning drive to set up a 54-yard field goal by Greg Joseph as time expired.

Then in Week 13 of last season, the Lions jumped out to a 20-6 lead at halftime before taking the lead late in the fourth quarter. Playing a prevent defense, Jared Goff found Amon-Ra St. Brown for a game-winning touchdown as time expired, giving Campbell his first victory with the Lions.

Then there’s the most recent meeting earlier this season where the Lions held a 14-point lead at two different points of the game and were one fourth-down call away from coming away with a victory. Cousins answered the call, finding K.J. Osborn for a game-winning touchdown to give Minnesota the win.

Mix in that the Lions have won four of their past five games, and this game could be more difficult than the Vikings’ usual trip to Detroit. In this article, we’ll make five bold predictions and see if Minnesota can clinch the division on Sunday afternoon.