 celebrates his catch against the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.</p>
<p>” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/addisonflexd.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=602,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/addisonflexd.jpg”><figcaption> Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure>
<p>The <em>VikingsTerritory</em> collective staff prediction for the Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions is in.</p>
<h4>Our Official Prediction: Vikings at Lions</h4>
<p>Minnesota defeated the Green Bay Packers <a href=)
by a score of 27-25 last Sunday night, the club’s ninth straight win. The dub maintained the fancy win streak, kept homefield advantage hopes alive for the postseason, and nudged the win-loss record to 14-2.
This Sunday, the Vikings are on the road to battle the Detroit Lions, a squad locked into at least a Wildcard playoff spot but sights set on homefield advantage throughout the playoffs — just like Minnesota.
The writers at VikingsTerritory predict Minnesota will win its 15th game of the season.
 passes against the Arizona Cardinals in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.</p>
<p>” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/darnoldthingagain.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=639,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/darnoldthingagain.jpg” src=”https://vikingsterritory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/darnoldthingagain-788×444.jpg” alt><figcaption> Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.<span></span></figcaption></figure>
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<p>Writers mostly chose the Vikings, evidently confident that the Vikings’ 14-2 record will climb to 15-2.</p>
<p>Here’s how the panel sees the score for Week 18:</p>
<p><strong><a href=)
Dustin Baker: Lions Win, 30-27Brevan Bane: Lions Win, 28-27
Sean Borman: Lions Win, 30-28
Janik Eckardt: Vikings Win, 35-32
Josh Frey: Vikings Win, 28-27
Henrique Gucciardi: Vikings Win, 35-31
Wes Johnson: Vikings Win, 33-32
Kyle Joudry: Vikings Win, 30-26
Adam New: Lions Win, 33-31
Ted Schwerzler: Vikings Win, 34-28
Ali Siddiqui: Vikings Win, 34-30
Cole Smith: Vikings Win, 38-37
Mathematically en masse, we predict the Vikings will top the Lions by a score of 32-30.
 warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.</p>
<p>” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=427,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/hockensbrutal.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=640,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/hockensbrutal.jpg” src=”https://vikingsterritory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/hockensbrutal-788×427.jpg” alt=”t.j. Hockenson” ><figcaption> Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.<span></span></figcaption></figure>
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<p>And 2024 season standings for our writers’ predictions:</p>
<p><strong><a href=)
Henrique Gucciardi: 14-2Wes Johnson: 14-2
Ted Schwerzler: 14-2
Cole Smith: 13-3
Janik Eckardt: 12-4
Kyle Joudry: 12-4
Ali Siddiqui: 12-4
Brevan Bane: 11-5
Dustin Baker: 11-5
Josh Frey: 11-5
Adam New: 11-5
Sean Borman: 9-7
 celebrates his sack against the Chicago Bears during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images.</p>
<p>” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/kicks.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=640,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/kicks.jpg” src=”https://vikingsterritory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/kicks-788×444.jpg” alt><figcaption> Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images.<span></span></figcaption></figure>
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<p>In Week 17, Cole Smith most accurately predicted the outcome of Vikings-Packers. He forecasted Minnesota to win by a score of 27-25 … and the Vikings by a score of … 27-25. </p>
<p>The Lions are favored to prevail by three points over the Vikings, and if so, Minnesota would embark on the Wildcard Round of the postseason, probably a date at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sunday night’s game at Detroit is for all the regular season marbles.</p>
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<figure><img loading=)
he wrote.
Minnesota hasn’t earned the NFC’s No. 1 overall seed since 1998.
Both teams have pretty notorious reputations for causing fans heartbreak, so something’s gotta give on Sunday night.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
