When the NFL scheduled this game for a featured spot, the Detroit Lions were coming off a 15-2 campaign with the Minnesota Vikings just a game off the pace at 14-3. Fast-forward: The Vikings have already been eliminated from playoff contention, and Detroit could be knocked out on Christmas Day by their NFC North rivals. The big injury news here is that J.J. McCarthy (hand) will be replaced by Max Brosmer, whose previous start was a disaster.
You can often throw records out the window when it comes to divisional games, and the Vikings have actually been the better team of late, winning three in a row while Detroit has dropped four of six. Minnesota won the earlier matchup as well, 27-24, in Motown, so we’ll see if Dan Campbell’s crew can return the favor in Minneapolis.
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All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are subject to change. DraftKings does not sponsor this content.
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson 60+ Receiving Yards (-130)
It’s been a frustrating year for Jefferson. If you omit the five games started by Carson Wentz, the four-time Pro Bowler has averaged just 44 yards per game—that includes a season-low four yards in Brosmer’s only other start. Despite that, look for Jefferson to get 60-plus yards versus Detroit for a few reasons. First, Brosmer should play better at home where communication won’t be an issue. Second, the Lions’ secondary has been decimated by injury. Finally, and most importantly, Jefferson enters play 83 yards short of a sixth 1,000-yard campaign, and statistical milestones are often the things teams eliminated from playoff contention like to emphasize.
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Vikings RB Aaron Jones 90+ Total Yards (+120)
All signs point to Jordan Mason (ankle) being unavailable on Christmas day, leaving Jones to operate as a true primary back. When Mason was lost early on versus the Giants in Week 16, the veteran logged a season-high 21 carries for 85 yards. Expect a heavy dose of Jones on Christmas with Brosmer at the helm, especially after the Steelers ran wild on the Lions this past Sunday with 230 yards on 27 carries (8.5 yards per carry). Jones is also a capable pass catcher, and checkdown targets are popular with inexperienced quarterbacks. If you’re feeling bold, you might even want to try Jones, who had a season-high 98 total yards against Detroit in their earlier meeting, at 100-plus yards for +185.
Lions QB Jared Goff 260+ Passing Yards (+143)
While it may be getting lost in the shuffle with Detroit dropping four of its last six games, Goff has been on a heater, topping 300 yards passing in three straight weeks. While teams have been looking to run on the Vikings—last week, the Giants attempted just 13 passes compared to 30 rushing attempts—that hasn’t been the Lions’ game plan lately, which is emphasized by them running for 85 yards the past two weeks combined. Goff threw for 284 yards in Week 9 against Minnesota, and he’s topped the 260-yard mark in six of his last eight games.
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Same-Game Parlay for Lions at Vikings
If you feel like all three of the above bets will hit, the SGP is worth dropping a few dollars on with the current odds being +750 as a combination.
DET-MIN parlayDraftKings
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the Sports Betting section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.