Vikings Preview: Justin Jefferson Talks Sunday Night Showdown with Lions
The race for the NFC’s top seed and the NFC North title culminates this Sunday night when the Detroit Lions (14-2) take on the Minnesota Vikings (14-2) at Ford Field. The winner of the game will secure a first-round playoff bye and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, while the loser will have to travel for Wild Card Weekend.
Detroit is undefeated (2-0) in Sunday Night Football matchups this season, defeating the Rams and Texans. They also won the first meeting between the two teams earlier this season, a 31-29 victory in mid-October.
Vikings Update: After consecutive losses to the Lions and Rams in October, the Vikings have gone on an impressive nine-game winning streak, seven of those by fewer than 10 points, staying neck-and-neck with Detroit in the NFC North.
During this streak, quarterback Sam Darnold has been in top form, throwing 18 touchdowns with only two interceptions in his past seven games. In recent victories over Seattle and Green Bay, he threw three touchdown passes in both games. Star receiver Justin Jefferson ranks second in the league with 1,479 receiving yards, having caught 100 passes and 10 touchdowns, five of which came in the past four games.
On defense, linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard have been standout performers. Van Ginkel is tied for the league lead in sacks (11.5), while Greenard is right behind with 11. Combined, they’ve amassed 33 tackles for loss, helping the Vikings rank second in rushing defense and fourth in points allowed per game (18.8).
However, the Vikings have struggled historically against the Lions, losing five of the last six encounters, including a 31-29 loss at Ford Field in January 2021.
Previous Meeting: In Week 7, Detroit handed the Vikings their first defeat of the season with a thrilling 31-29 victory at U.S. Bank Stadium. After an early 10-0 lead for Minnesota, Detroit surged ahead with touchdowns from Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Despite a fumble recovery touchdown giving Minnesota the lead, Jared Goff led the Lions down the field for a game-winning 44-yard field goal by Jake Bates.
Playoff Picture:
AFC: Kansas City (15-1) has clinched the No. 1 seed.
NFC: Detroit and Minnesota are both 14-2, competing for the top spot and a first-round bye.
Notable Stats:
This will be the first regular-season NFL game in history where both teams have 13+ wins before kickoff.
No. 1 seeds historically reach the Super Bowl 55.1% of the time, compared to just 3.3% for No. 5 seeds.
Detroit has successfully converted 20 fourth downs, ranking third in the league, while Minnesota has only six, the fewest in the NFL.
Team Stats (Rankings for Weeks 1-17):
Lions:
Total Offense: 410.5 yards (2nd)
Total Defense: 347.4 yards (22nd)
Rushing Offense: 144.4 yards (6th)
Passing Offense: 266.1 yards (2nd)
Rushing Defense: 97 yards (3rd)
Passing Defense: 250.4 yards (31st)
Takeaways: 24 (T-8th)
Vikings:
Total Offense: 352.3 yards (12th)
Total Defense: 331.8 yards (16th)
Rushing Offense: 108.4 yards (19th)
Passing Offense: 243.8 yards (5th)
Rushing Defense: 88.1 yards (2nd)
Passing Defense: 243.6 yards (28th)
Takeaways: 31 (T-1st)
Next Steps:
If the Vikings win, they secure a first-round bye.
A loss would send Minnesota to play either Tampa Bay, Atlanta, or the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs.
Five Key Vikings Storylines Heading into Sunday’s Game:
1. Justin Jefferson on Facing the Lions: Jefferson talks about the excitement of the Sunday Night Football matchup with Detroit, acknowledging the worldwide attention on the game.
2. T.J. Hockenson’s Return to Detroit: Hockenson reflects on playing against his former team, Detroit, and the heightened emotions involved.
3. Sam Darnold’s Growth and Keys to Victory: Coach Kevin O’Connell discusses how quarterback Sam Darnold has developed this season and what it will take to secure a win against Detroit.
4. Harrison Smith on the Importance of the Game: Veteran safety Harrison Smith discusses what makes this Vikings team special and the significance of the Sunday night matchup.
5. Ron Johnson Previews the Game: Detroit native and Vikings analyst Ron Johnson breaks down the upcoming Week 18 clash on the MVP podcast.
