Odds Lions Beat Vikings in Week 16

Will Detroit beat Minnesota and clinch the NFC North division crown Sunday?

On Sunday, the Lions will travel to U.S. Bank Stadium to take on the Minnesota Vikings for the first time this season.

Detroit, which sits at 10-4 and with a three-game lead over the Vikings in the NFC North, has a chance to clinch the division title this weekend. With a win or a tie, the Lions will capture the division crown for the first time since the 1993 season (when the division was still known as the NFC Central).

Entering this Week 16 matchup, Detroit definitely has the upper-hand over the Kirk Cousins-less Vikings. However, if I were the Lions, I wouldn't take this Minnesota squad lightly.

The Vikings, which are the reigning NFC North champs, have remained competitive in Cousins’ absence.

In fact, Minnesota has gone 3-3 without the veteran passer under center, and is coming off a hard-fought, three-point loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime. Along with that, the Kevin O'Connell-led team hasn't lost by more than three points in any of those three losses.

Additionally, the Vikings feature a top-10 defense (based on points against). They've allowed the seventh-fewest points per game (19.2), and have permitted more than 30 points in a contest just once. It came all the way back in Week 2, against Jalen Hurts and the reigning NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Minnesota’s defense is spearheaded by EDGE defender Danielle Hunter, who ranks second in the NFL in sacks (15.5). He also has 12 career sacks against the Lions.

Headed into this divisional tilt, Detroit head coach Dan Campbell wants his offense to constantly be cognizant of where Hunter’s at on the field.

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“You’ve got to have patience with this guy, because he does have a quick first step,” Campbell said, as he was breaking down film of Hunter during the latest episode of “Inside the Pride.” "You’ve got to get out, but if you get out too fast, he does one of these on you. You know, he hits you with a spin, he is powerful, he is explosive. And then, he’s got length for a bull, so if you’re bracing yourself for a spin and then he gets you with a bull, you’ll be in the quarterback’s lap. It’s just, it’s what makes him dangerous, and he’s relentless, too.”

Minnesota also features three very capable pass-catchers: tight end T.J. Hockenson, wide receiver Jordan Addison and fellow receiver Justin Jefferson.  

Hockenson and Addison have each amassed at least five touchdown receptions and north of 800 yards. Meanwhile, Jefferson was an All-Pro selection and the AP Offensive Player of the Year a season ago. 

As Campbell can attest to, these Vikings, albeit just 7-7, are no slouch. 

"They're dangerous," Campbell said of the Vikings on 97.1 The Ticket this week. "This is not even the same team we faced last year. It's more to me, it's it's a more dangerous team than it was last year, in my opinion. Um, yeah, I know without Cousins. Cousins is a hell of a player, but they got plenty of weapons over there. The quarterback can dole this thing out."

I don’t envision Minnesota, even with career backup Nick Mullens under center, just rolling over Sunday, either.

Expect this Week 16 contest to be a highly competitive one, with Minnesota’s defense keeping it in the game until the bitter end.

At this present juncture, I’ll give the Lions a 65 percent chance to capture the road victory.