Minnesota @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 4, 2018 ) Detroit 9, Minnesota 24

The Minnesota Vikings look to move closer to obtaining an NFC wild-card berth when they visit the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Minnesota currently occupies the second wild-card spot, sitting one-half game ahead of Philadelphia and Washington.

The Vikings fired offensive coordinator John DeFilippo after a dismal 21-7 loss to the Seahawks in Week 14 and replaced him with Kevin Stefanski, who was an immediate hit as the team registered a season high for points in last Sunday's 41-17 rout of Miami. Minnesota dropped three of its four games prior to the impressive victory and isn't about to look past Detroit, which has been eliminated from playoff contention. "They'll fight hard," Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins told reporters regarding the Lions. "We're all in this league fighting to put good things on tape, and we're all being evaluated, and nobody's safe. I think we're going to get a battle for four quarters." The Lions dropped a 14-13 decision to Buffalo last week, their sixth setback in eight games.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Vikings -6. O/U: 42.5

ABOUT THE VIKINGS (7-6-1): Minnesota recorded a franchise-record 10 sacks in a 24-9 win over the Lions on Nov. 4 as defensive end Danielle Hunter registered 3.5 of them and also returned a fumble 32 yards for a touchdown. Hunter is tied for second in the NFL with 14.5 sacks and notched two in the victory over the Dolphins as the Vikings posted nine overall. Cousins is 87 yards shy of his fourth straight 4,000-yard campaign while wide receiver Adam Thielen ranks second in the league in receptions (105) and eighth in receiving yards (1,255) despite recording season lows of two and 19 against Miami.

ABOUT THE LIONS (5-9): Matthew Stafford (19 touchdowns, 11 interceptions) will start his 127th consecutive regular-season game despite a sore back as he wasn't interested in listening to suggestions that he should sit out the final two games with the Lions having nothing for which to play. "I spend all offseason and all season working hard and playing games with these teammates and for this organization," Stafford told reporters. "So, I take no games for granted and I go out there and play whenever I feel like I can." Cornerback Darius Slay (three interceptions) is returning to the Pro Bowl as he is just the third Detroit defensive back to receive that honor in back-to-back seasons, joining Lem Barney (1972-73, 1975-76) and Dre Bly (2003-04).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Minnesota DT Tom Johnson recorded 2.5 sacks in the victory over the Lions in Week 9.

2. Vikings RB Dalvin Cook rushed for a career-high 136 yards and scored two touchdowns in the win over the Dolphins.

3. Detroit RB Kerryon Johnson (knee), who is the team's leading rusher with 641 yards despite playing in just 10 games, was placed on injured reserve.

PREDICTION: Vikings 30, Lions 24