The final game of the 2024 NFL regular season promises to be an absolute cracker as the Detroit Lions welcome the Minnesota Vikings to Ford Field in a Sunday night shootout for the NFC’s No.1 seed.
These two NFC North rivals have dominated this season, both reaching 14-2, but only one team can prevail in the Motor City and Jared Goff and the Lions are marginal favourites with home-field advantage on their side.
While both teams have long wrapped up a place in the playoffs, there is huge motivation to end the regular season with a win which would seal a bye into the divisional round, whereas defeat would leave the losing team facing a road trip on wildcard weekend.
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Detroit Lions v Minnesota Vikings tips
- Detroit Lions handicap -2.5
- Jahmyr Gibbs over 34.5 receiving yards
- Jordan Addison over 0.5 receiving touchdowns
Bet Builder odds: 6/1
Lions look poised to claim No.1 seed
The NFL has saved the best for last this weekend and two in-form teams should combine for a hugely entertaining Sunday Night Football contest to see out the regular season.
The total is set at a massive 56.5, suggesting points will come thick and fast, and ultimately this contest is likely to boil down to who has the most explosive offence on the night.
Both teams possess significant weapons on that side of the ball but it’s possible to argue that the Lions have the most potent offence in the NFL – they have scored 533 points, an average of 33.3 per game, compared to the Vikings’ 423.
Minnesota possesses the better defence but they couldn’t stop the Lions on their own turf in October, as Goff led his team to a 31-29 victory in Minneapolis, and he’s a more experienced quarterback than Sam Darnold when it comes to high-pressure situations.
Detroit have been victorious in their last four meetings with the NFC North rivals and can pull away to win by at least a field goal.
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Brilliant Gibbs set for success through the air
Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs has responded superbly to David Montgomery’s Week 15 injury, taking control of the Lions’ backfield and rushing for 100 yards in each of the last two games, and he should continue to be a threat on the ground and also in the passing game.
Gibbs’ receiving yards are set at 34.5, a total which he has eclipsed in each of the Lions’ last three games, chalking up 174 total yards from 13 receptions. He also caught all four passes for 44 yards against the Vikings in October.
Addison should continue to shine for Vikes
Justin Jefferson is the No.1 wide receiver in Minnesota but he ranks second to sophomore pass-catcher Jordan Addison in red-zone receptions this season with the 22-year-old hauling in 16 grabs to JJ’s 15.
Jefferson is always Darnold’s primary option and defences adjust accordingly to stop him, but that opens up opportunities for Addison, who has caught eight touchdown passes since November. He looks a likely anytime touchdown scorer.
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All odds correct at time of writing
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