Crazy how much a year can change things, huh? Last season, the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings were the top two teams in the NFC, fighting not just for the division but for the top seed in the conference.
This year? Both are at the bottom of the division; one team is eliminated from the playoffs, and the other is hanging on for dear life.
The Vikings’ playoff hopes are gone, so they’re playing as a spoiler with revenge on the mind after how last season ended. While they beat the Lions earlier in the season, eliminating them from the playoffs would be a morale boost for the team heading into 2026. The Lions are in another must-win game, but now need even more help elsewhere to keep their playoff dreams alive.
Let’s take a deeper look at the Vikings in my Week 17 scouting report.
Minnesota Vikings
2025 season thus far (7-8)
Week 1: Defeated the Chicago Bears 27-24
Week 2: Lost to the Atlanta Falcons 22-6
Week 3: Defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 48-10
Week 4: Lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-21
Week 5: Defeated the Cleveland Browns 21-17
Week 6: BYE
Week 7: Lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 28-22
Week 8: Lost to the Los Angeles Chargers 37-10
Week 9: Defeated the Detroit Lions 27-24
Week 10: Lost to the Baltimore Ravens 27-19
Week 11: Lost to the Chicago Bears 19-17
Week 12: Lost to the Green Bay Packers 23-6
Week 13: Lost to the Seattle Seahawks 26-0
Week 14: Defeated the Washington Commanders 31-0
Week 15: Defeated the Dallas Cowboys 34-26
Week 16: Defeated the New York Giants 16-13
Stats:
- 26th in points scored, 12th in points allowed
- 21st in DVOA
- 29th in offensive DVOA (28th in pass DVOA, 17th in run DVOA)
- 6th in defensive DVOA (5th pass DVOA, 15th in run DVOA)
- 10th in special teams DVOA
This season hasn’t been what many Vikings fans expected. While it would be hard to repeat a 14-win season, as Lions fans have seen how hard it is to repeat a 15-win season, they’ve done worse than expected. McCarthy has battled injuries multiple times throughout the season, and so has his offensive line protecting him. The offense has taken a step back from the year prior, despite having the majority of the same roster.
McCarthy has had a roller coaster of a season, with some good and bad moments, along with injuries; it’s not what Vikings fans expected to see from the second-year quarterback. In his nine games, McCarthy has a 57.3 percent completion percentage, 12 interceptions to his 11 touchdowns, and has been sacked 27 times. He’s found success with the ground game at least, rushing for 174 yards and four touchdowns, just two behind the leading rushing scorer in running back Jordan Mason.
Speaking of Mason, the backup running back has seemingly taken over in the backfield for Minnesota, leading the team in carries (145), yards (664), and touchdowns (6). Part of that is due to the injuries to the starter, Aaron Jones, but Mason also has a higher yards per carry, 4.6 to Jones’ 4.3.
The passing game has struggled this season, as superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson has a career-low 917 yards and two touchdowns, the fewest yards and touchdowns since 2023. Back then, he had 1,074 and five touchdowns, but that was only in 10 games, not a full 17. The worst full season he’s had was his rookie year in 2020, where he got 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns. The leader in receiving touchdowns might surprise you; it’s Jalen Nailor with four.
What has been a saving grace for this team has been the defensive side of the ball. Linebacker Eric Wilson leads the team in sacks (six) and forced fumbles (three). Another impact player on the defensive side has been linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, with 5.5 sacks, and he leads the team in pass deflections (eight)—in just 10 games played
The biggest blow to this team this season has been the injuries, mostly on the offensive line. The Vikings have had to use over 15 different starting lineup combinations, and when you have that much changing, it’s tough for the offense to find success. The defense has seen some players battle injuries, as safety Joshua Metellus and linebacker Jonathan Greenard were placed on IR, and Van Ginkel missed five games. This team has the talent to be better, but like the Lions, injuries and offensive line issues seem to have struck them hard this season.
Injury notes
Key players ruled out: LT Christian Darrisaw (IR), LB Jonathan Greenard (IR), S Joshua Metellus (IR), WR Rondale Moore (IR), QB Carson Wentz (IR)
Key players to monitor: DT Javon Hargrave (thigh), RB Jordan Mason (ankle), RB Aaron Jones (ankle), C Ryan Kelly (concussion), QB J.J. McCarthy (hand), TE T.J. Hockenson (shoulder), RT Brian O’Neill (heel), LB Eric Wilson (thumb)
This team has battled injuries the entire season, but the last 10 days have been difficult. First, the team moved starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw to IR alongside Greenard and Metellus. Things got worse in the win over the Giants this past week, as both Mason and Jones suffered ankle injuries, with only Jones being strong enough to return to the game. McCarthy left the game with a hand injury that might keep him out of action. He didn’t return and appeared to be in considerable pain when meeting with the medical staff.
Center Ryan Kelly suffered a concussion in the win, adding to the list of injuries the offensive line has seen. With the short week, we got an early injury report, and Mason, McCarthy, and Kelly didn’t practice, alongside starting tight end T.J. Hockenson and starting right tackle Brian O’Neill. Minnesota could be seeing a lot of backup play for its offense on a short week, while the defense saw defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and linebacker Eric Wilson limited.
Biggest strength: Special teams
With an offense and defense battling numerous injuries and inconsistencies, the special teams unit has been the bright spot for the Vikings this season. Kicker Will Reichard has had a good season, kicking 93.1 percent on field goals, fourth-highest out of kickers with at least 25 field goal attempts. Punter Ryan Wright is 10th in punting yards average at 48.7, and the Vikings’ field goal defense has blocked two kicks this season, one against Detroit.
PFF has them ranked as the number two special teams unit (90.9), and with the numbers the team has been putting up, it’s easy to see how they are the most consistent unit on the team. The defense has done all it could to carry the offense when it has a bad game, but it can only hold off teams for so long with little rest. If the offense can move the ball with some success, they can usually come away with points, and worst case, pin the opponent deep and make them earn a score.
Biggest weakness: Offensive line
When you have over 15 starting combinations and over 10 players starting on the offensive line, you can’t expect a lot of positives out of them. The Vikings are tied for third for the most sacks allowed in the NFL (51), and can you blame them? We have seen similar struggles in Detroit with 12 different offensive linemen and multiple combinations, and we’ve seen how that has gone. With lesser talent in Minnesota and a second-year quarterback who missed his entire rookie season, it’s not going to end well.
PFF has their blocking in the upper half surprisingly (13th pass blocking, 12th run blocking), but I have to disagree with what I’ve seen on the field. With the offensive line struggling, every quarterback under center has failed in connecting with the star players Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Hockenson. The running game is seeing its backup in Mason, outperforming the starter, and even then, Mason’s stats aren’t eye-popping. You live and die by how your offensive line does, and with the Vikings’ big men struggling, it has a ripple effect into other positions and the offense as a whole.
Key matchup: Lions offensive line vs. Vikings defense
In their last matchup, Lions quarterback Jared Goff got sacked five times against this Vikings defense. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores brings a tough defense that is difficult for any offensive line to handle. The good news for the Lions is that the Vikings are down a few starters, and the Lions’ offensive line might only be down one starter, as center Graham Glasgow missed last week.
If the Lions’ offensive line can keep up Goff upright, they should get their revenge from their Week 9 loss. Lions left guard Christian Mahogany suffered his injury against the Vikings, and for him to return in time for the rematch can give him a spark for how the team not only protects Goff, but also helps the running game out. As we’ve seen this year, if the Lions can’t run the ball, they lose the game. With the Lions’ offensive line back to possible full strength, the running attack could have its best game in the past few weeks.
On the opposite side, if the Vikings’ defense is still too much for the Lions’ offensive line, their season is over. We saw the Pittsburgh Steelers without two of their top three sack leaders destroy the interior of the Lions’ offensive line and eliminate the running game. Detroit can’t have that happen again, but if it does, you can prepare to see which player they’ll take with their first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Vegas line for Sunday: Lions favored by 5.5
