ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions beat the Minnesota Vikings 30-24 on Christmas Eve to win their first division title in 30 years. And that’s where oddsmakers have the line for the rematch in the season finale back in Detroit.
Caesars Sportsbook and the usual suspects have the Lions favored by five points, while a handful of others are at 5.5 points. The Action Network reports 64% of public bets have gone toward the Lions. Entering the Week 18 game, the Lions are 11-5 against the spread, and the Vikings are 7-7-2 against it this year.
Minnesota has continued cycling quarterbacks. The Vikings started Nick Mullens against the Lions, then turned back to rookie Jaren Hall against the Green Bay Packers last weekend. Hall was benched after an ugly first half, and Mullens finished the game in the 33-10 loss.
The Lions intercepted Mullens four times in their division-clinching win, including in the final minute to put the game away. Hall didn’t do much to induce optimism in his 30 minutes back on the field, and Josh Dobbs remains buried on the bench for some reason after a hot stretch.
And while the Vikings are 7-9, they still aren’t mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. The Vikings can make the playoffs with a win paired with a loss by the Packers, Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The other scenario involves beating the Lions paired with a Packers, Seahawks and New Orleans Saints loss.
The Lions, who plan to play their starters, can fall no further than the No. 3 seed. The top seed is out of the picture, while the second spot seems like a long shot now.
To grab the No. 2 seed, the Lions need another win over the Vikings, with a loss by the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles play at the New York Giants, and the Cowboys play the Commanders in Washington.
The Cowboys hold the tiebreaker over the Lions after last week’s controversial game. For those living under a rock, catch up on the ordeal here, here and here on the finish.
“I’m good. I woke up yesterday, I’m ready, man. I’ve got controlled fury and I’m ready to go,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Monday. “I am absolutely ready to go. I don’t go the other way, so. And the team won’t either. We’re on a mission and we’re not going to — we’re not going to feel sorry for ourselves and wallow in everything.
“We had plays to make. We didn’t make them. And it’s a tight game, a good opponent, playoff-type atmosphere, and you’ve got to make that one extra play that we didn’t and so we will use this as fuel. I’ve got pure octane right now. I woke up, I’m ready, so we’re moving forward.”Î
