Here's How The Minnesota Vikings Will Win In Week 16
In typical Minnesota Vikings fashion, last week's game came down to the final snap and was a heartbreaking three-point loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Thankfully, the rest of the NFC is pretty bad, and even at 7-7, the Vikings hold the six-seed, with tie-breakers over Los Angeles and New Orleans. If the season were to end today, Minnesota would play in Detroit on wild card weekend. The Vikings will see a lot of that Lions, with two of their final three games against the NFC North leaders.
So how can the Vikings take down the 10-4 Lions squad? Here are three keys to a victory this Sunday.
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Win The Turnover Battle
The need to win the turnover battle is obvious and has been one of the major storylines of the Vikings 2023 campaign. Minnesota has the third-most turnovers in the NFL, averaging 1.86 per game.
Quarterback Nick Mullens was guilty of two head-scratching interceptions last week against the Bengals. Both of which came with the Vikings in scoring position. If Minnesota is able to come away with points on either one, or ideally both of those drives, the game wouldn't be close, and the Vikings would be sitting comfortably at 8-6.
If the team wants to get a win over the Lions this weekend, they need to limit their turnovers and try to force a few of their own on defense.
Let Chandler Run
Ty Chandler was finally given the opportunity to be the Vikings' starting running back, and he did not disappoint. The 25-year-old finished with 23 carries for 132 yards and a rushing touchdown. He also had another 25 yards on three catches.
Minnesota still has the 23rd-ranked rushing offense, averaging 98.6 rush yards a game. But getting yards on the ground won't be easy. Detroit has a top-10 run defense, allowing only 95.9 opponent rush yards.
The more Mullens is forced to throw the ball, the more likely he is to throw an interception. Getting a strong run game early could help push the Vikings to their eighth victory of the year.
Vikings Defense Must Play At A High Level
The turnaround of the Vikings' defense should get Brian Flores another head coaching opportunity, but that's an article for another time.
Danielle Hunter is second in the NFL with 15.5 sacks, while Cam Bynum, Josh Metellus and undrafted free agent Ivan Pace Jr. are all having solid outings each week.
The Lions can score a lot of points, as evidenced in their 42-17 win over the Denver Broncos last Saturday. Minnesota has a tough job ahead in trying to slow them down, but they've shown they can shut down offenses in the past.
Final Thoughts
The final three weeks of the regular season are all must-win if you're the Minnesota Vikings. With the playoff race as tight as it is entering Week 16, you can't afford to drop one against the Lions or Packers.
Detroit definitely has the edge health-wise going into the game. Only cornerback Jerry Jacobs and tightened Brock Wright are on ESPN's injury report, both listed as questionable. While Vikings fans are waiting for word on guard Chris Reed, offensive tackle Brian O'Neil, wide receiver Jalen Nailor and running back Alexander Mattison.
The Lions are three-point favorites at the time of publishing, with the total set at 47.0, which is the second-highest total this week.
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