Sometime right about the moment when Grandma puts the turkey in the middle of the ornately decorated table and your Uncle Rick says something racist, the Minnesota Vikings (8-2) and the Detroit Lions (6-4) will kick off our Thanksgiving Thursday of NFL action inside Ford Field.
Game time is set for 12:30 p.m EST and the contest will be broadcast on your local FOX television station.
The Game: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions (+3)
O/U: 44.5
The History
The Vikings and Lions have played 112 times since 1961. Minnesota holds a 71-39-2 advantage in the all time series.
The Lions have won the the last three games between the two teams, including a 14-7 victory at U.S. Bank Stadium back on October 1. In fact, Detroit has won six of the last eight meetings.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (8-2)
After a month or so of beating up on lesser opponents, the Vikings made a serious statement in a 24-7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams last week. The game looked like it might be a real problem for Minnesota early as the Rams drove right down the field for a touchdown on their opening possession. Instead, the Vikings clamped down and didn’t give up another score of any kind in the game. Considering L.A. has the best kicker in the league, Greg Zuerlein, and was a feat.
I’ve been talking shit about Case Keenum since his streak with the Vikings began and it’s time to eat a whole bunch of crow. Did they serve crow at the first Thanksgiving?
Keenum has been outstanding since Minnesota handed him the keys. Against the Rams he wasn’t sacked once, completed 27 of 38 for 280 yards and one touchdown with no picks. While the game was knotted up 7-7 through the quarters, Keenum never made the big mistake and when the Rams finally stumbled, he helped the Vikings capitalize.
For as much as Jared Goff has improved without Jeff Fisher and Rob Boras holding him down, the same could be said for Keenum. He knows how to use the talent around him, he’s getting great playcalls from Pat Shurmur and has a running game with Latavious Murray. Against the Rams, Murray rushed 15 times for 95 yards and two scores.
The Vikes come into this game with a clear injury report and everybody not on IR should be full go.
DETROIT LIONS (6-4)
After a three game stumble, the Lions are back on track for the postseason. Like Minnesota, they’ve benefited from a weak schedule with three consecutive victories over the Aaron Rodgers-less Green Bay Packers, the Cleveland Browns and the Chicago Bears.
Last week against the Bears, quarterback Matthew Stafford did that thing he does where he leads Detroit to victory in the fourth quarter. It wasn’t technically a come from behind victory, but it counts in the win column nonetheless.
Stafford was 21 of 31 for 299 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions against Chicago. Once again, he got absolutely no help from the running game as the team gained just 65 yards total. Stafford’s favorite targets were Marvin Jones Jr and T.J. Jones, who continues to show up on box scores after an invisible first couple of years in the league. Marvin Jones Jr. caught four passes for 85 yards and a touchdown. T.J. Jones had four catches for 55 yards.
Detroit’s defense didn’t accomplish much against the Bears as far as pressure goes. They sacked Mitchell Trubisky once, forced one turnover and got four stops in the backfield.
The Lions will be without cornerback Jamal Agnew and running back Dwayne Washington. Everyone else should play.
The Pick
I know I said I’ve bought in on Keenum and I’m not backtracking. I just have a gut feeling on this one. Minnesota is coming off a big win with not a lot of prep time. Detroit has played on Thanksgiving since the Pilgrims and Wamapanoag Indians got crunk together and argued about Colin Kaepnernick. I think they get this one. Lions 27, Vikings 24
Last week
Straight up: 5-8
Against the spread: 4-9
Season
Straight up: 92-67
Against the spread: 79-79
To make a wager on any sport, go to the world famous Diamond Sportsbook by clicking here.
