Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings: DJC Writer Predictions

By Zac Snyder | Nov 24, 2016

Nov 6, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) is tackled by the Detroit Lions defense during the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Lions defeated the Vikings 22-16. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

The Detroit Jock City writers make their predictions for the Detroit Lions’ week 12 Thanksgiving home game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Here is what the Detroit Jock City staff sees for the game ahead as the Lions try to grab a strangle hold of the NFC North race.

Matt Pelc (5-5) – Disregard all the narratives you’ve heard from national folk saying “the Lions always lose on Thanksgiving.” That was true up until recently, but with a win on Thursday, the Lions will be victorious four straight years on the NFL tradition that they invented (after losing nine straight, and 11 out of 12) for the first time since 2000. Unlike the last three years, however, don’t expect a blowout. Blowing out opponents, or getting blown out by opponents, doesn’t seem to be in this team’s DNA.

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This is the Lions’ most important game since clinching a playoff berth on Christmas Eve 2011 against the Chargers, and arguably the biggest Thanksgiving game since 1991. The team should be more energized and in sync than they showed early against Jacksonville, and should be aided by a festive crowd knowing what’s on the line.

After losing four straight, Minnesota finally got on track in an impressive home victory against a disappointing Cardinals team on Sunday. The Vikings aren’t as bad as their four-game losing streak showed, but aren’t as good as they showed while winning five straight to open the season.

Sadly, the Lions have recently been in similar positions to put themselves in the driver’s seat of the division (2011, 2013, 2014), and have stumbled. The Lions and Vikings seem to be evenly-matched, so since the team’s play each other twice, odds are they’ll split. Hopefully they’ll finally turn the corner, but in a game of evenly matched teams, I see Minnesota coming out on top in a low-scoring heartbreaker. Prove me wrong Lions, prove me wrong. Vikings 16, Lions 14

Erik Schlitt (4-6) – The Lions are as healthy as they’ve been all season and Minnesota continues to add starters to the injury report. Despite their injuries, the Vikings managed to break their losing skid last week against the Arizona Cardinals (30-24). Like Detroit last week, the Vikings needed a kick return and interception return for touchdowns in order to secure the victory.

The key for Detroit will be how their offensive line responds from their worst game of the season. After successfully managing to limit the Vikings defensive line impact 3 weeks ago, they were equally as bad last week against the Jaguars. Minnesota’s defensive line is much better than Jacksonville’s so if Detroit doesn’t make the right adjustments, the Lion’s offense will be hard to watch.

This is as important of a game as Detroit has on their remaining schedule, as it could very well determine who wins the division. I expect the Lions offense to shake the rust off and come out ahead at the end of the game. This is going to be another close one: Lions 20, Vikings 17.

Zac Snyder (5-5) – The Lions may have gotten the win over the Jaguars last week but they were anything but sharp coming out of the bye and managed to squeak by a struggling team. A blip on the radar or cause for concern? I have struggled with that question this week and it’s bothered me how disjointed the Lions offense looked for most of that game.

The Lions and Vikings had looked like teams heading in opposite directions but while the Lions struggled with Jacksonville, the Vikings were getting right against the Arizona Cardinals. The Lions have a win under the belt against the Vikings just two and a half weeks ago but they were fortunate to get it. I’m not so sure the ending of this one will be so euphoric. Vikings 23, Lions 20

Matt Snyder (4-6) – This game is just about as close to a pick ’em as it’s possible to be. Computer systems like the ones at FiveThirtyEight (56%) and the Massey Ratings (53%) like the Lions by the tiniest of margins. The Lions won this matchup on the road in overtime a couple of weeks ago, but the offense hasn’t been clicking on all cylinders recently. The winner of this game will have a leg up in the NFC North race. Vikings 24, Lions 20

Colton Wesley (5-5) – The Lions haven’t played in a game this important in a while. A win puts them in position to win the division for the first time since 1993 while a loss leaves them in the thick of the wildcard race with a series of tough games ahead.

Whether or not DeAndre Levy plays, the Lions are as healthy as they’ve been all season and will be facing a Vikings team that will be without a lot of players in the secondary. Even if the running game struggles again, Matthew Stafford should pick apart Minnesota’s defensive backfield with his entire cast of pass-catchers available.

On offense, Minnesota will still be without Adrian Peterson, have a patchwork offensive line to due to several injuries and will likely be missing their top receiver, Stefon Diggs, who torched the Lions in their last meeting. With Darius Slay healthy and the defense improving as the season has gone on, Detroit has the advantage.

The Lions have a chance to take control of the NFC North on national TV in their traditional Thanksgiving game. I think they get it done and win one of the most important victories in the last quarter-century of franchise history. Lions win, 27-17.

Next: Lions-Vikings Thanksgiving Preview

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