The Detroit Lions face a win-or-be-eliminated from NFL playoff contention game on Christmas Day, when they visit their NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings at the domed U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis (4:30 p.m., Netflix, CBS in Detroit television market only) in Week 17 of the NFL season.

There is no J.J. McCarthy for the Lions to contend with at quarterback − he tore the Lions up in a 27-24 Minnesota upset in Detroit on Nov. 2 to help start the Lions’ spiral − due to a hand injury. Instead, undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, the former Golden Gophers quarterback, makes his second career NFL start.

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Brosmer and the Vikings’ talented skill players face a Lions’ defense that has given up the most yards in the NFL over the past five weeks, and has surrendered 31.6 points per game, the second-highest average over that span.

Five Free Press sports writers make their Lions-Vikings game predictions:

Dave Birkett

The Lions’ playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, but they should stay in the postseason mix for at least another few days against a Vikings team that’s starting third-stringer Max Brosmer at quarterback.

The Lions have struggled in the trenches on both sides of the ball in recent weeks and were flummoxed by Minnesota’s blitz game in their November loss to the Vikings. But Brosmer threw four interceptions in his only other career start at Seattle, and Minnesota is the most turnover-prone team in the NFL no matter who’s at quarterback. The pick: Lions 31, Vikings 17.

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Carlos Monarrez

The Lions’ worst loss of the season came to the Vikings at home in November. Even though the Lions barely have a chance of making the playoffs, losing this game to Minnesota against Max Brosmer would be the final insult in a disappointing season. With so little on the line, this might be the biggest test of coach Dan Campbell’s ability as a leader who can still get his team to play for him. The pick: Lions 21, Vikings 17.

Christian Romo

This has the chance to be a very low-scoring game with the Vikings turning up the blitz and the Lions defense facing Minnesota’s rookie backup quarterback. But with very slim playoff chances to hold on to, the Lions have just a little bit more to play for than the Vikings and will edge out a win. The pick: Lions 17, Vikings 13.

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Rainer Sabin

In November, when these two teams last met, Minnesota shocked the Lions and sent them off course. Since that loss, they are 3-4 and playoff chances have faded to the point that the back-to-back NFC North champions are on the verge of being eliminated from playoff contention. But the Lions should be able to exact some revenge against the last-place Vikings, who will trot out undrafted rookie backup Max Brosmer as their starting quarterback. The pick: Lions 27, Vikings 21.

Jeff Seidel

Everything about this season has been cruel for Lions fans, so I think this is gonna top it off. The Lions will end this game and you’ll think: Why did they wait until now to play a complete game? Where has this defense been? Now, they can run the ball? Now, it all comes together? That’s my guess, at least. But this part I know: Dan Campbell will get his guys to play hard, even though this might not mean a thing in the end. The pick: Lions 28, Vikings 21.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions vs Vikings predictions for Christmas NFL game in Week 17