Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions Week 16 NFL Picks & Predictions 12/23/2018

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Ford Field

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Minnesota Vikings travel to Ford Field to take on the Detroit Lions on Sunday, December 23, 2018. The opening line for this game has Minnesota as 4 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 43.

The Vikings have an ATS record of 7-6-1 while their over/under record is 6-8-0. The Lions have an over/under record of 6-8-0 and they are 8-6-0 against the spread.

Valuable Minnesota Vikings Betting Trends

The Minnesota Vikings are 6-8-0 against the over/under

The Minnesota Vikings are 7-6-1 against the spread

Important Detroit Lions Betting Trends

The Detroit Lions are 6-8-0 against the over/under

The Detroit Lions are 8-6-0 against the spread

Key Minnesota Vikings Injuries

12/16/18 WR Chad Beebe Hamstring is questionable Sunday vs Detroit
11/28/18 S Andrew Sendejo Groin IR
11/04/18 CB Mike Hughes ACL IR
09/10/18 T Aviante Collins Elbow IR
09/04/18 DE Ade Aruna Knee IR
09/04/18 T Cedrick Lang Leg IR
09/04/18 DE Hercules Mata'afa Knee IR
09/04/18 FB Johnny Stanton Leg IR
09/04/18 TE Josiah Price Knee IR
08/10/18 C Nick Easton Neck IR

Key Detroit Lions Injuries

12/16/18 S Charles Washington Hamstring is questionable Sunday vs Minnesota
12/16/18 DL Da'Shawn Hand Knee is questionable Sunday vs Minnesota
12/16/18 RB Kerryon Johnson Knee is questionable Sunday vs Minnesota
12/16/18 FB Nick Bellore Ankle is questionable Sunday vs Minnesota
12/16/18 T Rick Wagner Concussion is questionable Sunday vs Minnesota
12/16/18 WR Bruce Ellington Hamstring is questionable Sunday vs Minnesota
12/11/18 DE Ezekiel Ansah Shoulder IR
12/11/18 TE Michael Roberts Ribs IR
12/06/18 LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin Neck IR
11/26/18 WR Marvin Jones Jr. Knee IR
11/14/18 G T.J. Lang Neck IR
10/15/18 CB Jamal Agnew Knee IR
09/04/18 S Marcus Cromartie Undisclosed IR
09/04/18 FB Nick Bawden Knee IR
09/04/18 LB Steve Longa Knee IR

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Minnesota Vikings are 10th in the NFL in points scored with 323. They have run 893 plays this season for 5,025 yards, which ranks them 11th in the league in total offense. The Vikings average 5.6 yards per play, which is 13th in the National Football League. As a team they have accumulated a total of 282 1st downs this year, placing them 6th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Minnesota has run for 1,330 yards as a team, which ranks 7th in the NFL. They've run 314 times, averaging 4.2 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Vikings have been penalized on offense 78 times for 671 yards so far this season, which has them 22nd in the league in penalties. Kirk Cousins has thrown for 3,913 yards this season. He has completed 384 passes on 545 attempts for a completion percentage of 70.5%. His quarterback rating is 99. He averages 7.2 yards per pass attempt and 10.2 yards per completion.

Defensive Statistics

Minnesota is 1st in the league in points allowed on defense with 308. They have surrendered a total of 4,400 yards on D, which is 1st in the NFL. The Vikings are ranked 2nd in yards per play allowed with 5.1. Their pass defense has given up 5.9 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 2nd in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses have completed 274 passes on 434 attempts against the Minnesota Vikings defense this season, placing them 7th and 19th in the National Football League. The Minnesota pass defense has also given up a total of 2,840 yards through the air, which is 2nd overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has allowed 380 attempts for 1,560 yards this year, putting them in 2nd place in the league against the run. The Vikings have committed 88 penalties for 677 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 20th in the NFL. They've given up a score on 34.2% of possessions on defense, which is 3rd in the league.

Special Teams Stats

Minnesota is ranked 6th in the league in punt returns with 27. They've accumulated 303 punt return yards and average 11.2 yards per return, which is 7th in the NFL. Their longest punt return so far this year is 70 yards. They have returned 20 kicks for 488 yards on special teams, ranking 21st in kick return yardage. The Vikings average 24.4 yards per kick return and have a long of 46 yards this year. They are 8th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,034. The Minnesota Vikings have attempted 29 field goals this season and made 19, which is 9th in the National Football League. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 65.5%. Minnesota Vikings kickers have made 97% of their extra points, going 32 for 33 this year. Their punters have totaled 2,711 yards on 62 punts, averaging 43.7 yards per punt. That places them 32nd in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Detroit Lions have run for 1,444 yards as a unit, which ranks 32nd in the league. They've run 343 times, averaging 4.2 yards per rush as a unit. The Lions have been penalized on offense 84 times for 763 yards so far this year, which has them 18th in the NFL in penalties. They are 7th in the National Football League in points scored with 284. They have run 878 plays this year for 4,611 yards, which ranks them 13th in the NFL in total offense. The Lions average 5.3 yards per play, which is 10th in the league. As a team they have accumulated a total of 283 1st downs this season, ranking them 21st overall as an offensive unit. Matthew Stafford has completed 329 throws while attempting 491 passes for a completion percentage of 67%. He has passed for 3,395 yards this year. He averages 10.3 yards per completion and 6.9 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating this season is 90.3.

Defensive Statistics

The Lions rush defense has given up 362 attempts for 1,615 yards this season, putting them in 18th place in the NFL against the run. They have had 78 penalties for 770 yards on defense this year. That places them 24th in the league. They've allowed a score on 36.2% of possessions on defense, which is 11th in the NFL. Detroit is 21st in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 333. They have given up a total of 4,845 yards on D, which is 27th in the league. The Lions are 25th in yards per play allowed with 5.9. Their pass defense has allowed 6.9 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 22nd in the National Football League. Opponent offenses have completed 283 throws on 428 attempts against the Detroit Lions defense this season, ranking them 27th and 28th in the league. The Lions pass defense has also surrendered a total of 3,230 yards in the air, which is 27th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Detroit Lions have tried 28 field goals this season and made 24, which is 13th in the league. Their kickers have a FG percentage of 85.7%. Detroit kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 26 for 26 this season. Their punters have accumulated 2,901 yards on 64 punts, averaging 45.3 yards per punt. That ranks them 25th in the NFL in punting average. Detroit is 10th in the NFL in punt returns with 21. They've totaled 128 punt return yards and are averaging 6.1 yards per return, which is 1st in the league. Their longest punt return this season is 16 yards. They have returned 18 kicks for 433 yards on special teams, placing them 26th in kick return yardage. The Lions average 24.1 yards per kick return and have a long of 45 yards this season. They are 11th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 5,414.

Who will win tonight's Vikings/Lions NFL game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take the Vikings -4

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