The Detroit Lions are back in action after their NFL Week 8 bye.
After taking a rest the previous week, the Lions (5-2, second in NFC North) will be taking on the Minnesota Vikings (3-4, fourth in NFC North) on Sunday, Nov. 2, at Ford Field in Detroit. The game is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. ET and will be broadcasted on Fox and streamed on Fubo (free trial).
The last time these two teams faced off was in the 2024 regular-season finale, with the Lions beating the Sam Darnold-led Vikings 31-9 on Jan. 5 to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. Both teams then lost their playoff openers: The Vikings lost in the wild-card round 27-9 to the Los Angeles Rams, while the Lions were upset 45-31 by the Washington Commanders in the divisional round.
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Previously the biggest challenge to the Lions in 2024, the Vikings have slipped in 2025, now standing below .500 and dealing with an injury to their starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy. But McCarthy, who led Michigan to the College Football Playoff championship in the 2023 season, is expected to return to the lineup this week after missing the previous five games with an ankle sprain.
Both teams will get some more time than usual to prepare for the game, however, as the Lions will have had an extra week off, and the Vikings got an extra few days after their Thursday night loss against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming divisional matchup.
Lions vs Vikings prediction, NFL Week 9 pick
Beware any team that plays the Lions this week.
Detroit is coming off a convincing 24-9 Monday night win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that sealed their a top contender to represent the NFC in Super Bowl 60 in Santa Clara, California. The Lions have banked extra days of rest and relaxation before facing the Vikings, though Minnesota also got a mini bye coming off a Thursday night drilling from the Chargers, 37-10.
The Lions’ depleted secondary, which still played out of its mind in Week 7 against the banged-up Bucs, will return safeties Brian Branch and, hopefully, Kerby Joseph to lock up Minnesota’s downfield passing attack. The Vikings are averaging under 300 total yards per game, between McCarthy (two starts) and Carson Wentz (five starts).
The Vikings have a bottom-10 run defense, so expect Lions running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery to get a lot of looks. And considering how effective Gibbs was with a career-high 218 total yards from scrimmage against the Buccaneers, it might be the only strategy that Lions need.
Easy wins aren’t easy to come by in the NFL, but this could be the closest thing the Lions will have to an easy win for the rest of the season. The pick: Lions 30, Vikings 16.
What time is Lions vs Vikings?
What channel is Lions vs Vikings?
The 1 p.m. matchup between the Lions vs Vikings will air on Fox and can be streamed, too.
Sunday’s Lions-Vikings game will be available to stream on Fox One and on Fubo, which carries Fox.
Watch Lions vs Vikings on Fubo (free trial)
Lions odds vs Vikings
The Lions are big home favorites over the Vikings on Sunday.
Odds provided by BetMGM as of Monday afternoon.
Lions schedule 2025
Vikings schedule 2025
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions vs Vikings prediction as J.J. McCarthy returns from injury to start at QB
Reporting by Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
