The Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions will meet in an NFC North rivalry game on Sunday afternoon. Both of these teams have had more rest than usual going into this week, with the Vikings playing on Thursday Night Football in Week 8 and the Lions coming off their bye. Which team will use that extra rest to their advantage? Continue reading to get my Vikings vs Lions prediction for Sunday’s game.
Our Vikings vs Lions Pick
- Pick: Detroit Lions -9.5
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions
- Date & Time: Sunday, November 2, 2025, 1:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
- Broadcast: FOX
Key Storylines
The Lions are 5-2 and looking for a win coming out of their bye. The Vikings are 3-4 and are trying to figure things out during a season where quarterback injuries have plagued them. Detroit is unbeaten at home so far this season and they will try to keep it that way in this contest against a Vikings team that is 2-2 on the road.
The big story going into this game is the return of JJ McCarthy from an ankle injury for the Vikings. McCarthy missed all of last season with a knee injury and missed most of the first half of this season due to an ankle ailment. He will try to make an impact for the Vikings immediately. That will be especially important with Carson Wentz now dealing with an injury of his own that has landed him on IR.
Quarterback Play
Detroit’s veteran Jared Goff has been a steady hand at quarterback for the Lions. He has thrown for 1,631 yards, 15 touchdowns, and three interceptions this season. Seven of his 15 touchdown passes have gone to Amon-Ra St. Brown. That connection has to be an area of focus for the Vikings defense if they want any chance to win this game.
McCarthy is in an interesting position for the Vikings going into this game. He is returning from another injury so early in his NFL career and he hasn’t had much of a chance to prove himself on the field just yet. This game is a great chance to do so, on the road against an elite team. But he has to avoid taking too many hits from the defensive front of Detroit.
Betting Trends
- Detroit is 5-2 against the spread so far this season.
- Minnesota is 3-4 against the spread going into this contest.
- Minnesota has gone over the total in six of their first seven games. They have the highest percentage of overs in the NFL so far this season.
- Detroit has stayed under the total in four of its first seven games.
Vikings vs Lions Model Projection
Score Projection: Lions 30 – Vikings 14
Win Probability: Lions 83%, Vikings 17%
Final Thoughts
I think that we are going to see JJ McCarthy struggle in his return to the field for the Vikings. Going on the road to face an elite Lions team with a great pass rusher in Aidan Hutchinson doesn’t seem like a great recipe for success for McCarthy or the Vikings. I’ll lay the points with the Lions in this NFC North matchup.
