The Vikings will try to prevent the Lions from capturing the NFC North on Sunday
Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson and safety Harrison Smith spoke after Thursday’s practice to discuss receiver Jordan Addison’s growth over the season, running back Ty Chandler stepping up in Alexander Mattison’s absence, and taking on the Lions on Christmas Eve.
OPENING LINE: Lions by 3, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Lions 9-5; Vikings 7-5-2.
SERIES RECORD: Vikings lead 80-41-2.
LAST MEETING: Lions beat Vikings 34-23 in Detroit on Dec. 11, 2022.
LAST WEEK: Lions beat Broncos 42-17; Vikings lost to Bengals 27-24 in OT.
LIONS OFFENSE: OVERALL (3), RUSH (2), PASS (4), SCORING (5).
LIONS DEFENSE: OVERALL (15), RUSH (8), PASS (18), SCORING (23).
VIKINGS OFFENSE: OVERALL (11), RUSH (23), PASS (7), SCORING (21).
VIKINGS DEFENSE: OVERALL (13), RUSH (5), PASS (17), SCORING (7).
TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Lions minus-5; Vikings minus-6.
LIONS PLAYER TO WATCH: TE Sam LaPorta set a season best with three touchdown receptions last week. The Iowa rookie and WR Odell Beckham Jr. are the only players in history to have at least 70 catches, 750 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns in their first 14 games. LaPorta’s touchdown total is second only to Mike Ditka’s (12 in 1961) and Rob Gronkowski’s (10 in 2010). Among rookies at the position, his 71 receptions behind just Keith Jackson (81, 1981) and Jeremy Shockey (74, 2002).
T.J. Hockenson of the Vikings needs nine receptions to accomplish 100 yards and 98 yards to reach 1,000. In his career, he has yet to reach those benchmarks in a single season. The Lions’ 2019 first-round draft selection, who was traded to the Vikings midway through the season, would also break Joe Senser’s (1981) franchise tight end record with 103 more receiving yards. In his first meeting with the Lions last season, Hockenson had six catches for 77 yards.
MOST IMPORTANT MATCHUP: Lions QB Jared Goff vs. Vikings blitz. Brian Flores, who ran the Patriots defense in Super Bowl 53 in a spectacular performance against Goff and the Rams five years ago, calls the most blitzes in the NFL. According to Sportradar data, the Vikings have sent five or more rushers at opponents on 49.6% of throw plays. According to Sportradar, Goff has thrown five interceptions when blitzed this season, the second highest in the NFL.
KEY INJURIES: Lions CB Jerry Jacobs (hamstring), LB Derrick Barnes (shoulder), and backup TE Brock Wright (groin) were all kept out of practice Wednesday after being injured in last week’s game. … The previous game was missed by Vikings RB Alexander Mattison (ankle) and RT Brian O’Neill (ankle), as well as backup WR Jalen Nailor (concussion). They did not practice on Wednesday. Byron Murphy (knee) and Harrison Phillips (back) were also out.
SERIES NOTES: The Vikings have won five straight home games against the Lions, last losing at U.S. Bank Stadium on Oct. 1, 2017. … The two teams play again in Detroit on the final weekend of the regular season. This is the latest first matchup of the season in the history of the series. They played on Nov. 19 and Dec. 10 in 1961, the inaugural season for the Vikings. In the strike-shortened season in 1982, they played once on Dec. 19. … The Lions have seven season sweeps in the series: 2016, 2014, 2011, 1997, 1991, 1962 and 1961. They made the playoffs each year except 1962 and 1961, when they finished second both seasons in the NFL’s Western Conference. Only the winner of each conference played for the league championship in those years.
FANTASY TIP: Mullens is a viable option for managers seeking an emergency fill-in with the rash of QB injuries across the league. He passed for 303 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions last week against the Bengals. The Lions have allowed 11 passing touchdowns with just two interceptions over their past six games with an average of 232 passing yards allowed.
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