"One, two, three and to the fo' / The Minnesota Vikings are playing Christmas Day against a divisional foe."
After claiming their third consecutive victory with a 16-13 win on Sunday over the Giants, the Vikings (7-8) are coming home for the holidays. Minnesota will host the Detroit Lions (8-7) at 3:30 p.m. (CT) on Christmas Day, with the game being part of Netflix's second annual NFL Christmas Gameday.
The Vikings are playing on Christmas Day for the fifth time in franchise history and just the second at home during the regular season (third overall). Minnesota is 1-3 in its previous Christmas Day games, which are listed below:
– 1971: Lost 20-12 vs. Dallas in NFC Divisional Round at Metropolitan Stadium
– 1989: Won 29-21 vs. Cincinnati (Monday Night Football) in regular-season finale
– 2005: Lost 30-23 at Baltimore (Sunday Night Football)
– 2020: Lost 52-33 at New Orleans (Friday afternoon)
View photos of the Vikings equipment staff getting the team's Winter Warrior uniforms ready for the Winter Whiteout game against the Lions on Christmas Day.
The Lions, who have been a Thanksgiving Day staple for nearly nine decades – will play on Christmas Day for only the third time in franchise history. Detroit is 0-2 in its previous games on the holiday, as the Lions fell to the Dolphins 27-20 in 1994 and 17-7 to the Broncos in 1999.
Although Minnesota has already been eliminated from playoff contention, the Vikings are hoping to put a lump of "Skol" in the Lions stocking. A Vikings victory will not only move Minnesota back to .500 for the season with a game to play, but a Lions loss will officially extinguish Detroit's playoff hopes.
Winter Whiteout Game
Join the tradition on Dec. 25 and wear white as the Vikings showcase their Winter Warrior uniforms and take on the Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Before we unwrap any presents or rap along with Snoop Dogg (or sing with Grammy-winning American country music star Lainey Wilson as well as the singers of HUNTR/X from "K-Pop Demon Hunters" if you prefer) during *Snoop’s Holiday Halftime Party*, let's see who the experts are picking to win the game:
Lions 21, Vikings 19 – Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
The Lions need this game to have any playoff chance, but it won't be easy on the road. Minnesota has played outstanding defense. The problem is the Vikings have rookie Max Brosmer playing for the injured J.J. McCarthy. That could be an issue, even against a Lions defense that has struggled.
Lions 28, Vikings 17 – Bill Bender, Sporting News
Detroit is 3-4 on the road this season, but the QB uncertainty in Minnesota is too much. Look for Detroit to keep its hopes alive behind the combination of Jared Goff and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Lions 24, Vikings 20 – Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
The Lions running game will be contained again, and Jared Goff will see some pressure. But they have enough playmakers to break through on the Vikings defense, while the Vikings offense lacks the firepower to exploit a beat-up defense.
1 of 7 experts pick the Vikings, Bleacher Report
Bleacher Report analysis by Brad Gagnon:
Detroit has won in regulation just once in its last six games, and it's probably too late for the Lions now. Just like with Dallas in Washington, this is a talented but defeated team laying quite a lot of points in a short-rest divisional road game against a feisty opponent that has nothing to lose. Minnesota beat the Lions in Detroit earlier this season and should keep this close at home in pursuit of a fourth consecutive win.
Bleacher Report analysis by Moe Moton:
The Detroit Lions will look to avenge a surprising Week 9 home loss to the Vikings and keep their faint playoff hopes alive.
Let's not get cute here. The Lions have a bad defense, but it won't allow Bromser to move the ball up and down the field. Detroit snaps a two-game skid with a double-digit victory.
0 of 11 experts pick the Vikings, ESPN
0 of 5 experts pick the Vikings, The Athletic
0 of 6 experts pick the Vikings, USA Today
Series Notes
The Vikings and Lions have met 128 times in their history, with Minnesota holding an 81-45-2 lead in the series. Minnesota's 27-24 victory at Detroit in Week 9 snapped a five-game losing streak to the Lions that began in Week 14 of the 2022 season.
Minnesota has dropped its past two home games against the Lions, though, falling 30-24 on Christmas Eve in 2023 and 31-29 in Week 7 last season (which was Minnesota's first loss of the 2024 campaign). The consecutive victories by the Lions also snapped a five-game winning streak for the Vikings when hosting Detroit going back to the 2018 season.
In the past 10 meetings between the divisional foes, seven have been decided by a one-score margin, with Minnesota winning four of those tightly contested games. All four of the Vikings victories were by four or fewer points.
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