NFL Football BETTING PREVIEW - Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions

NFL Football

2025-11-02 - Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions

A Sports Betting Preview by FirstDown

Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions
United States : NFL Week 9
Sunday 2nd November 2025 - Scheduled 1pm
6pm (British Time)

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Preview

Three teams in the NFC North have a winning record as we have entered Week 9 of the season and that will not surprise anyone considering the Division sent three teams to the Playoffs last season.

However, the one surprise may be the fact that the Minnesota Vikings (3-4) are the one team that are below 0.500 and the entire team needs to just reset.

A decision was made to move on from Sam Darnold and hand the keys to the First Round Draft Pick JJ McCarthy, who had spent the entire 2024 season on the sidelines. After a couple of mixed starts, McCarthy picked up another injury and has been out of action with Carson Wentz filling in, although the latter has been playing through the pain.

In Week 9 the ball will be back in JJ McCarthy's hands and the Vikings need him to get up to speed pretty quickly as they prepare to travel to the Detroit Lions (5-2).

The Bye Week came at a good time for the Lions and it may have given some key players the chance to get through the injury problems that have been holding them back. They are still without a couple of solid performers, but Detroit have to be really happy with the first seven games of the 2025 season as they look to finally end the long, long wait to reach the Super Bowl.

Nothing much has been wrong with the way the Detroit Lions have played on the Offensive side of the ball, although they are going up against a tough Minnesota Defensive unit.

In recent games the Vikings Defensive Line have improved the performance against the run, but slowing down Sonic and Knuckles is a different test. The Lions imposed themselves on the ground against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7 and they will certainly be confident in the ability of the Offensive Line to open up some solid running lanes in this one to ease the pressure on Jared Goff.

The Quarter Back has been under a bit more pressure in the pocket than he has perhaps been used to since signing with the Detroit Lions, but that should be eased if the team are running the ball as they were against the Buccaneers.

Jared Goff has plenty of weapons to target down the field if given the time to allow routes to develop and this Minnesota Secondary have had some problems in stopping the pass.

With the balance that the Lions can produce Offensively, they should be able to move the chains with some consistency and the pressure will be on the Minnesota Vikings to try and keep up on the scoreboard with a returning Quarter Back.

It may all be on JJ McCarthy's arm with the Vikings struggling for some consistency when it comes to running the ball, but it is simply important for Minnesota to at least keep the young Quarter Back in third and manageable spots.

Doing that will allow McCarthy to make some plays against a banged up Secondary, especially with the top Receivers that are around him. It would also be key to find some time in the pocket with the Vikings struggling in pass protection and facing a Lions pass rush that will be desperate to rush the Quarter Back and try and protect the Secondary by speeding up the passes that need to be delivered.

Turnovers could be key and that is where the Lions may have an edge as they look to move to 2-1 within the NFC North.

Last season they blew out the Minnesota Vikings at home and the latter are a team that are just 1-8 against the spread in the last nine games when facing an opponent playing with rest.

This is a big spread, but the Lions may keep the scoreboard pressure on this Divisional rival and that may ultimately see them come away with a big home victory.

Prediction

Lay the points with the home favourite in this NFC North battle.

The Pick :

Detroit Lions 28-17 Minnesota Vikings

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Detroit Lions - 8 Points at -115 with Bovada