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

Detroit will not attempt a punt

One of the key moments in the previous meeting between the Lions and the Vikings was a fourth and four with 1:14 to play. Holding onto a 24-21 lead, the Lions had gone 4-for-6 on fourth down conversions during the game, and a first down would have sealed the victory as Minnesota had used all three timeouts.

Instead, Campbell opted to go for a 54-yard field goal, and Austin Seibert’s attempt sailed wide right. The kick gave the Vikings a chance to drive down for the game-winning score, and that decision still sticks with Campbell as he prepares for this game.

“Look, it burns me,” Campbell told reporters this week, “of course, it burns me. That’ll be there until the day I die. That’s not going to go away.”

If Campbell is lamenting the call during the week leading up to the game, it’s going to be at the front of his mind during Sunday’s game. Facing the league’s worst defense in net yards per pass attempt (7.1), Campbell will be tempted to go for it in any situation where the Lions are facing anything less than a fourth and five.

The Lions could also be in scoring position often as the Vikings’ defense ranks third in total yards allowed. Mix in a Vikings defense that had Danielle Hunter, Patrick Peterson, and Harrison Smith on the injury report with an illness this week. Although Peterson (full) and Smith (limited) returned to practice on Thursday, it could be awfully tempting for Campbell to throw caution to the wind.