Detroit’s five-game winning streak against the Vikings was snapped in the process. The Lions entered as heavy favorites, but a sleepy, sloppy showing doomed them for most of the day.

After marching down the field to take an early 7-0 lead, the Lions struggled to get much going against the Vikings the rest of the game.

The Lions also struggled in the running game. The Vikings give quarterbacks fits with their varied blitz packages, but teams have been able to run against them. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, though, managed 65 yards on 20 carries with a long of 11 yards.

The SportsLine Projection Model agrees with two legs of the SGP above, as it backs Lions -8.5 and the Over on 47.5 Detroit covers the spread in 54% of simulations, and the Over hits in 58% of simulations. The model is backing Minnesota on the money line, though, as the Vikings win in 26% of simulations to bring value as +368 underdogs.

Highlights from the Week 9 matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions during the 2025 NFL season.

The Minnesota Vikings have received a major injury update regarding running back Aaron Jones after beating the Lions.

The Vikings could have returned from their weekend off wearing blinders, retreating to standard-issue NFL banalities about how each game counts the same and refusing to peer into the ravine they seemed in danger of toppling down.

Instead of the Lions capitalizing on a favorable matchup and making their statement in the division, Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy was the story of the game. In his first game

But what might have sealed their fate in the 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings might have been the dreadful day on special teams. After opening with a score on their first offensive possession, the kickoff coverage unit got slashed for a 61-yard return by Vikings receiver Myles Price.