Vikings at Lions: NFC North, playoff bye on line Sunday night
Members of the Pioneer Press sports staff who cover the Vikings make their picks for this week’s regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field:
DANE MIZUTANI
Vikings 35, Lions 34: This is going to be a slugfest. A fitting way to end the race for the NFC North. The slight edge goes to the Vikings being that they’re healthier at this point in time.
JOHN SHIPLEY
Vikings 42, Lions 38: One likes to think the NFC North, with its lineage of mean defenses and indefatigable rushing games, will come down to one of those who-gets-the-ball-last shootouts we used to see in the AFC in the late-’70s. Vikings lead the NFL with 22 interceptions; that will be the difference.
CHARLEY WALTERS
Vikings 31, Lions 30: Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell is game-smarter than Lions coach Dan Campbell, who is inspirational but reckless. A poor decision by Campbell costs his team in the end.
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