WHERE: U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis)WHEN: Week 17 | Christmas Day | 4:30 p.m. ETHOW TO WATCH: Netflix
These two NFC North heavyweights went down to Week 18 to decide the division — and the NFC’s top seed — last season.
Here’s wishing much the same is on the line Christmas afternoon.
Minnesota has largely dominated the rivalry and owns an all-time advantage, 80-45-2. However, these are not the Lions of old, as Detroit has won the last five, including last season’s 31-9 Week 18 lambasting.
Much remains the same for Dan Campbell’s Lions and Kevin O’Connell’s Vikings.
Quarterback Jared Goff , wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery portend to drive a high-octane Detroit offense, while standouts Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch are back as one of the top safety tandems there is.
The Vikings will counter with a sensational WR duo of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, along with former Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson.
However, there is plenty of change afoot, as well. Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who missed both games versus Minnesota last season, should be back from a broken leg, but Campbell’s highly regarded staff, most notably offensive coordinator Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears head coach) and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn (New York Jets head coach) have moved on.
Meanwhile in Minnesota, its largest change is under center, where 2024 first-round draft choice J.J. McCarthy is coming back from a season-ending knee injury and expected to take the starting reins held last season by Sam Darnold, who’s now with the Seattle Seahawks.
If the Lions and Vikings are able to replicate something close to their 2024 tidings, one of these teams might well be unwrapping a division title on Christmas.