The last time the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions faced off, they were fighting for the NFC North championship. Ten months later, the stakes couldn’t feel much different.
Minnesota has limped to a 3-4 record, battling injuries and inconsistency. The Lions are 5-2, bouncing back after a 27-13 loss to the Packers in Week 1 to show that they are still one of the best teams in the conference. However, as it stands, they’d be a wild card if the playoffs started today, not holding the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
Here are three things to know about the Week 9 NFC North clash.
3 Things to know about the Vikings vs Lions Week 9 matchupThe Vikings have lost five straight to the Lions
The Vikings hold an 80-45-2 all-time advantage over the Lions, but the rivalry has shifted recently. Minnesota has lost five straight games to Detroit, having not beaten them since Week 3 of 2022.
After a last-minute 31-29 loss to the Lions in Week 7 last year, the Vikings were embarrassed in their Week 18 matchup. Five red zone opportunities amounted to only six points as the Vikings lost 31-9. Have the Vikings figured out a way to turn the tide in the ten months since that matchup?
Quarterback stability, and instability, plays a role in the recent series history
It’s not like the Vikings have had the richest history of elite quarterback play over the last 30 years, but much of their dominance could be attributed to the Lions’ revolving door at quarterback. Now, the roles have completely reversed.
When J.J. McCarthy starts on Sunday, he will be the fourth different quarterback to start for the Vikings since they last beat the Lions. Jared Goff has started each matchup and hasn’t missed a start for the Lions since 2021.
Justin Jefferson has had the Lions’ number
No receiver has averaged more receiving yards per game against a single opponent than Justin Jefferson has against the Lions. Justin Jefferson is averaging 120.8 receiving yards in ten matchups against Detroit, the most among players with at least 10 games against another team.