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    Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings: The Big Preview

    BettingGameDay
    By Tayyib Abu
    3 min. read

    The Detroit Lions welcome the Minnesota Vikings tonight for the biggest NFC North matchup in regular-season history.

    Game 272 of the 2024-25 NFL season pits two 14-win teams against each other.
    The NFC North title, the conference’s top seed, the playoff bye, and pride are on the line.

    It is arguably the most critical game in Ford Field history. Here is everything you need to know ahead of this mammoth matchup.

    When and Where Is This Game?

    Detroit’s Ford Field is the location for this one. Kick-off is at 8:20 p.m. ET. NBC’s Sunday Night Football presentation will emanate from Ford Field, with Mike Tirico and Chris Collinsworth on the call.

    Uniform Watch

    Initially scheduled for their throwback uniform game, the Detroit Lions have changed their uniform combination for this game. The Lions will don their all-black Motor City Muscle uniforms, while Minnesota will sport their all-white with purple helmets combination.

    Form Guide

    The Vikings roll into Detroit on a nine-game winning streak. Last Sunday, Minnesota out-classed the Green Bay Packers to set up this showdown.

    The Lions triumphed over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. That win saw the Lions complete a perfect 8-0 road record. Detroit’s only defeats have come at Ford Field.

    What Is at Stake?

    • The NFC North division title
    • The NFC’s number-one seed
    • The winner will get a bye into the NFL’s Divisional Round
    • The loser will play on Super Wildcard Weekend as the NFC’s best wildcard team
    • Per recent stats, the winner will have a more than 50% chance of playing in the Super Bowl

    How Unprecedented a Matchup Is This?

    The following facts highlight how unprecedented this game is:

    • Sunday night will be the first regular-season game in NFL history between two teams with 13 or more wins
    • It is only the fourth NFL regular-season game to feature two teams to sit 10 games over .500

    Injury Report and Roster Moves

    The Detroit Lions got some much-needed good news on the injury front this week as defensive captain Alex Anzakone returned to practice. Anzalone has missed missed time due to a broken forearm.

    During the week, Anzalone and Dan Campbell were coy about Anzalone’s game status. The Lions could play next weekend and do not wish to aggravate the injury. It remains to be seen whether Anzalone does play, if he plays on a limited snap count, or if he has a green light to go.

    Wide Receiver and kick return ace Kalif Raymond also returned to practice this week.

    Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley will miss this game because of illness. The former San Francisco 49er missed the entire week of practice.

    Detroit announced several roster moves on Saturday afternoon. They activated Raymond and Anzalone.

    For Minnesota, they ruled out Patrick Jones on Friday. Cornerback Fabian Moreau and Linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill are both questionable.

    The Vikings elevated Linebacker Calvin Munson and Outside Linebacker Gabriel Murphy to the active roster on Saturday.

    Betting Odds

    FanDuel Sportsbook sees the Detroit Lions as 2.5-point favorites.

    Key Stat

    Detroit’s defense has been affected by all the defensive injuries. The Lions have conceded over 30 points in three of their last four games. The defense must make a stand on Sunday night.

    What They Have Said

    Former Detroit Lion TJ Hockenson is excited for the challenge:

    “It’s us against everybody. It’s going to be special.”

    Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell summed up his thoughts at the press conference following Detroit’s Monday night win:

    “This is what you’re in it for, man. This is ultimately, this is it. You couldn’t write a better scenario. The fact that both teams are sitting at 14-2, and it’s for the division and the one seed. It just doesn’t get any better than this. This is fairy tale stuff, and so it speaks for itself. Our guys are excited.”

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