Vikings Rumors: Minnesota picks a starting QB for Week 16 vs. Lions

Despite the Minnesota Vikings suffering a loss this past Saturday with him starting under center, the team will reportedly stick with Nick Mullens as their starting quarterback for their upcoming Week 16 game against the Detroit Lions, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on Monday.

In Minnesota's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals this past weekend, Mullens completed 78.8 percent of his passes for 303 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He is the first Vikings quarterback not named Kirk Cousins to throw for at least 300 yards in a game since Week 10 of the 2017 season when Case Keenum finished with 304 yards in a win over Washington.

Despite the loss, Minnesota's offense was able to move the ball up and down the field much easier with Mullens as their starter than their previous few games with Josh Dobbs starting under center.

Can Nick Mullens help the Minnesota Vikings defeat the Detroit Lions in Week 16?

Even though the Vikings lost to the Bengals in Mullens' first NFL start since 2021, Cincinnati needed overtime to get a three-point win in their own stadium. For Mullens to go into a tough environment and almost lead Minnesota to a victory is something that shouldn't be ignored.

The Vikings' next matchup on their 2023 schedule has them taking on a tough 10-4 Lions team. However, this contest will be played inside Minnesota's U.S. Bank Stadium in front of a crowd of screaming Vikings fans.

Detroit is coming off of a 23-point win over the Denver Broncos in Week 15, but that game was played on their home turf inside Ford Field. The Lions' most recent loss was on the road (Week 14 to the Chicago Bears), and they've lost their last five matchups against the Vikings inside U.S. Bank Stadium.

Detroit is a much more successful team this season than they have been in the last few years, but they have also had plenty of recent moments that have exposed some of their biggest weaknesses.

Will Mullens and Minnesota be able to take advantage of these weaknesses against the Lions in Week 16, or will Detroit leave the field with a win and clinch their first division title since 1993?

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