Detroit Lions (10-4) vs. Minnesota Vikings (7-7)
Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings 12/24/23 – Detroit Lions will meet Minnesota Vikings for an eagerly awaited NFL Week 16 encounter, featuring both teams sporting unfavorable records (7-7). This crucial clash serves as both a test of strength and strategy; as the Lions ride high following their impressive 10-4 campaign while looking to even the scales against an unpredictable and exciting league like NFL underdog tips can find great enjoyment from watching this battle unfold.
The Lions have shown remarkable rushing and receiving prowess this season, led by David Montgomery’s 855 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns as their lead running back, showing an excellent blend of speed and power. On the receiving side, Amon-Ra St Brown has been nothing short of spectacular with 94 receptions for 1175 yards and seven touchdowns from Amon-Ra St Brown providing quarterback Jared Goff a reliable target.
Conversely, Minnesota’s running and receiving corps have had their moments of brilliance as well. Alexander Mattison has been an impressive contributor, amassing 660 rushing yards while Jordan Addison has become an indispensable asset to their offense with 824 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns to his name – making him a significant threat against any defense.
Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings Game Info
| When: | Sunday, December 24, 2023 at 1:00 PM ET |
| Where: | U.S. Bank Stadium |
| TV: | FOX |
| Stream: | NFL Game Pass |
Jared Goff QB vs. Kirk Cousins QB
Jared Goff has orchestrated a major turnaround in his first season leading the Lions. After years of struggling with turnovers and inconsistent production with the Rams, Goff has taken exceptional care of the football in Detroit while making big throws all over the field. He is on pace for over 4,000 yards passing and 30 touchdowns, both of which would be career highs. Goff has developed excellent rapport with breakout rookie receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, hitting him for 7 scores already. Most impressive is that Goff has cut down on sacks and interceptions, proving he can read defenses and get the ball out quickly to playmakers in space. His 98.2 passer rating trails only Aaron Rodgers among NFC North quarterbacks. With weapons like St. Brown and David Montgomery around him, Goff can match scoring drives with anyone.
Kirk Cousins remains an elite quarterback when he has time to throw. Despite missing 6 games due to injury, Cousins has been tremendously productive in the Vikings offense this season. He has completed almost 70% of his passes with 18 touchdowns to just 5 interceptions. Extrapolating those numbers over a full season would put Cousins near 40 touchdowns with fewer than 10 interceptions, which would be phenomenal for Minnesota’s offense. Even playing through injuries, Cousins posted a rating of 103.8 that places him among the most efficient passers in the NFL. The Vikings invested heavily in their offensive line this past offseason, and a healthy group could buy Cousins enough time to dice up a vulnerable Lions secondary on Sunday. Detroit has managed only 16 takeaways all season. If Cousins avoids turnovers, he can battle Goff throw for throw.
NFL Odds/Point Spread: Detroit Lions -175, Total Odds: 46.5
The betting odds favor the Detroit Lions, with a -175 moneyline and a -3.5 point spread, reflecting their strong season performance. The total odds set at 46.5 points suggest expectations of a high-scoring game.
Detroit Lions Betting Trends
The Lions are 14-6 ATS in their last 20 overall. They’ve also covered in 5 straight head-to-head matchups with the Vikings. However, Detroit has struggled in Minneapolis, going just 2-9 straight up in their last 11 visits. The over is 4-1 in the Lions’ last 5 December games.
Minnesota Vikings Betting Trends
Minnesota is 6-1-2 ATS over its last 9 contests. The under has hit in 9 of the Vikings’ previous 12 this season. Minnesota is 5-0 straight up in their last 5 homes games against the Lions. With extra rest, the Vikings are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 games played on 6 or more days rest.
Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings 12/24/23 Betting Picks
Based on the analysis and trends, the Lions appear to have an edge, especially in their recent ATS performance and overall season record. However, the Vikings’ strong ATS record and home performance against Detroit suggest they could cover the spread.
For premium game analysis, the Lions are a solid pick for a straight win, but the Vikings, with their resilience and home advantage, might make the spread betting interesting. The over/under is tricky, but given both teams’ offensive capabilities, leaning towards the over could be wise.
Free Pick and Prediction: Detroit Lions 27, Minnesota Vikings 24