Ranking the Vikings preferred first-round playoff opponents
By Adam Carlson
Detroit Lions
The Minnesota Vikings split against the Detroit Lions this year, but make no mistake that Detroit is a dangerous team with a lot of solid pieces in place that could play upset as an underdog on any given weekend.
Detroit’s coach has the team energized and a nice balance of efficient running and a solid passing game by Jared Goff has the Lions as a team on the rise that is making noise sooner than many expected.
In order for the Lions to make the playoffs, they need the Seahawks to lose to the Rams this week as well as a victory over the Packers. It sounds unlikely but stranger things have happened over the course of NFL history.
For these two teams to meet for a third time, Minnesota would need to overtake the 49ers at the No. 2 seed in order to line up with the No. 7 seed.