While the Vikings may be out of the playoffs, that doesn’t mean they can’t play spoiler.
The Vikings host the Detroit Lions on Christmas Day for a big-time showdown. It may not be huge for the Vikings. However, it means everything to those Lions.
The Lions literally can not afford to lose the holiday clash at U.S. Bank Stadium. If they do, they are completely out of the playoffs.
The Vikings Can Send the Lions to Cancun
GettyEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 21: Justin Jefferson #18 of the Minnesota Vikings walks off the field at halftime against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on December 21, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Consider a snipped from Adam Patrick of The Viking Age:
“Thanks to their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, the Lions now desperately need a victory over the Vikings on Thursday to remain alive in this season’s NFC playoff picture. If Minnesota comes away with a win over Detroit later this week, then the Lions will be officially eliminated from competing in the 2025 postseason.
Thanks in part to McCarthy, the Vikings already have one win over the Lions this year, back when the two teams faced off in Detroit in Week 9. So, since Minnesota can’t compete in this season’s playoffs, they might as well make sure the Lions can’t either.”
The Great Irony of the Week 17 Showdown
GettyDETROIT, MICHIGAN – NOVEMBER 02: J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings is pushed out of bounds by Al-Quadin Muhammad #96 of the Detroit Lions during the fourth quarter in the game at Ford Field on November 02, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
Patrick also goes on to touch on the irony of this matchup when taking their high-stakes Week 18 matchup in 2024 into account:
“Around this time last season, Minnesota and Detroit were getting ready for a gigantic Week 18 matchup that determined the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Now, it’s very possible that both teams will be watching the 2025 playoffs from home just like all their fans.”
It truly is a turn of events that most wouldn’t have seen coming. Their Week 18 showdown at Ford Field last season determined both the winner of the NFC North and the #1 seed in the entire NFC.
The Lions would win the game. However, they went on to be immediately eliminated by the Washington Commanders after their Wild Card bye week. The Vikings also get eliminated in their first playoff game. It was a 27-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Minnesota came away victorious in the first meeting between these teams in Week 9. It saw J.J. McCarthy return from injury and lead the Vikings to a big win. In the game, McCarthy had 155 total yards. He threw 2 touchdowns, and ran 1 in. He also had an interception.
What is different this time, though, is that the Vikings could be without J.J. McCarthy. The signal caller suffered a hand injury in the Vikings’ Week 16 victory over the New York Giants.
Per Ian Rapoport, McCarthy underwent an MRI and we are yet to receive the results.
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