If the Minnesota Vikings are going to recapture the top of the NFC North during the upcoming 2025 NFL season, then they will likely need to find a way to hold off the Detroit Lions in the process.
Recently, the Lions revealed some news that could make the Vikings' path to a 2025 division title slightly easier, at the very least.
On Sunday, Detroit head coach Dan Campbell shared that Lions defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike has already been declared out for the entire 2025 season due to a torn ACL. Onwuzurike appeared in 16 games for Detroit in 2024, including 10 starts, and he notched a total of 28 tackles, 22 pressures, 13 QB hits, 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble during his time on the field.
Unlike 2024, Minnesota Vikings need to take advantage of the Detroit Lions injuries in 2025
Last year, the Lions were decimated by injuries on the defensive side of the ball, and it was a big reason why they were unable to reach the Super Bowl after winning 15 games in the regular season.
In Week 18, Minnesota had a great opportunity to take advantage of Detroit's banged-up roster and enter the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the NFC by defeating the Lions. But that's not what happened, as Detroit was able to overcome its injuries and hand the Vikings a Week 18 loss, and Minnesota entered the postseason as a 14-win wild-card team.
This year, the Lions are already dealing with several notable injuries. In addition to the recent news about Onwuzurike, Detroit defensive lineman Alim McNeill is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last December, edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson is returning from a gruesome leg injury he suffered last October, and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown underwent surgery to repair an injured knee earlier this year.
If the Lions are faced with overcoming a number of significant injuries once again in 2025, then it could lead to a new NFC North champion next season. Perhaps that new champ could be the Vikings, but that would also require them to probably defeat Detroit for the first time since the 2022 campaign.