We always talk about how good or bad a team looks on paper, yet how they look there very often does not translate to how they play on the field. In football, things can swing on a major injury, a blown call, or a play that comes up a couple of inches short, as well as countless other factors. Yes, talent does come into play in the final outcome of every game, but teams very often need a total team effort in order to come away with the win. That total team effort is something that the Minnesota Vikings have not seen often enough this season, which is why one of the preseason favorites to win the Super Bowl is still trying to clinch a playoff spot.
The division race is already over, with the Chicago Bears clinching the NFC North last week, which means that the Vikings are now looking at the Wild Card and a long road to a championship. They will try to hit that road this weekend when they visit the Detroit Lions in what is essentially a must-win game. Minnesota is a 6-point favorite, with the point total set at 43.
Detroit has now gone 4 straight games without breaking the 20-point barrier and is averaging about 16 PPG during that stretch of games. If the Vikings offense goes off again this week, you wonder how Stafford and company are going to be able to keep pace. The Detroit Lions are 5-4 ATS as the underdog this season, which includes a 2-2 record as the home dog.
Vikings at Lions NFL Week 16 Odds & Game Analysis
- When: Sunday, December 23 at 1 PM EST
- Where: Ford Field, Detroit
- TV: FOX
- Radio: SiriusXM/NFL
- NFL Week 16 Odds: Minnesota Vikings -6 (Total 42.5)
Weather Forecast
- Partly Cloudy: 2°C/35°F
- Humidity: 68%
- Precipitation: 1%
- Cloud Cover: 46%
- Wind: 8 mph WSW
- Stadium Type: Indoor
Why bet on the Minnesota Vikings?
The Vikings took the drastic step of replacing their offensive coordinator late in the season, and while it was a risky move, it was one that reaped instant dividends. The Vikings offense went off on the Miami Dolphins, racking up 40+ points in an attack that was spearheaded by RB Dalvin Cook. The Vikings spent a lot of money to get Kirk Cousins in at QB, so it is perhaps understandable that they leaned so heavily on him through the opening 14 weeks. The move to go to more of a running attack last week was one that helped ease some of the pressure on Cousins, and it worked. The Vikings are clinging to the #6 spot in the NFC, but they are at least in control of their own destiny. The Vikings are 5-2-1 ATS as the favorite this season, although just 1-1 ATS as a road favorite. The O/U is at 4-3 when the Vikings hit the road.Team Stats
Offense- Average Score For: 23.07
- Total Yards: 358.93
- Rush Yards: 95.00
- Passing Yards: 263.93
- Average Score Against: 22.00
- Total Yards: 314.36
- Rush Yards: 111.50
- Passing Yards: 202.86
Why bet on the Detroit Lions?
The Lions have traded away some of their best offensive pieces this season, leaving QB Matthew Stafford in a very sticky spot. It is obvious that they are now looking ahead to next season, but that means that Lions fans are now forced to suffer through another couple of weeks of an anemic offense.
Detroit has now gone 4 straight games without breaking the 20-point barrier and is averaging about 16 PPG during that stretch of games. If the Vikings offense goes off again this week, you wonder how Stafford and company are going to be able to keep pace. The Detroit Lions are 5-4 ATS as the underdog this season, which includes a 2-2 record as the home dog.
Team Stats
Offense- Average Score For: 20.29
- Total Yards: 329.35
- Rush Yards: 103.14
- Passing Yards: 226.21
- Average Score Against: 23.79
- Total Yards: 346.07
- Rush Yards: 115.36
- Passing Yards: 230.71
Vikings at Lions NFL Week 16 Betting Trends
- Minnesota is 2-5-1 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
- Minnesota is 2-5-1 SU in its last 8 games on the road
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota’s last 7 games
- Detroit is 6-11-2 ATS in its last 19 games when playing Minnesota
- Detroit is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Detroit’s last 5 games
