Vikings vs Lions in Game of The Year, Winner Gets Top Seed in NFC

by Roland R. in NFL on Jan 2, 2025 1:09pm

For the first time in 31 years, the top seed in a conference will be decided in the final week of the season in a winner-take-all as the Vikings and Lions vye for a bye in the NFC. This marks the first time in NFL history two teams with 13 or more wins face off in the regular season. Here’s what’s on the line. The winner takes the NFC North and receives home field throughout the playoffs while the loser is the No. 5 seed and hits the road for the wild-card round. And in case you’re wondering, Since 1978, the top seed has made 49 Super Bowl appearances while the No. 5 seed has made it just three times.

Quarterback Showdown

If you break this game down it all comes down to the quarterbacks. Which pivot can be more successive against shoddy passing defenses? Both teams have incredible offensive weapons. Gibbs, St. Brown, LaPorta, Willams for the Lions while Jefferson, Addison, Hockenson and Jones for the Vikings. Detroit gives up the second most passing yards, over 250 per game while Minnesota allows the fifth most, over 243 YPG. While both QBs have proven they can air the ball, Goff is a bit more poised in the pocket and has made better decisions throwing 36 TDs, just 10 INT (5 in one game) and has been sacked 29 times while Darnold has tossed 35 touchdowns, 12 INT and sacked 46 times, fourth-most in the NFL. If Detroit can get the pass-rush going, the pressure could be too much for Darnold.

Prediction: Lions -3

They are the two best ATS teams this season but have two of the worst passing defenses. The QB’s rank in the top-5 for passing yards per game (Goff, 274.9 YPG, Darnold, 259.6 YPG). When you look back, Goff and Darnold were a combined 7-17-1 in 2020. Four years later, they are 28-4 and battling for that top seed. But Darnold hasn’t played a game this big while Goff has made a Super Bowl and was in the NFC title game last year. Give the edge to experience and home-field advantage.

Best Player Props

Darnold & Goff: OVER 2.5 Passing TDs

As the total suggests, bookmakers expect this to be a high scoring affair. The teams combined for 60 earlier this season. Goff has thrown for at least three touchdowns in four straight games, and seven times this season while Darnold has done it in three of the last four games, and six times overall.

Justin Jefferson & Amon-Ra St. Brown: OVER 6.5 Receptions

They are two of the top-4 receivers in the NFL as Justin Jefferson is No. 2 with 1,479 yards while Amon-Ra St. Brown is fourth with 1,186 yards. Jefferson has caught at least 7 passes in five straight games, 8 games overall while St. Brown has seven games reaching that mark, including eight receptions vs the Vikings earlier this season. Expect big games from both players in this clash.