NFL Pick: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
First of Three Thanksgiving Free Picks
Yes, it is Thanksgiving and that means there must be an NFL game that involves the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. The first of three games on Thanksgiving Day does offer the Minnesota Vikings (8-2 Overall, 3-1 Away) at the Detroit Lions (6-4 Overall, 2-3 Home) at 12:30 p.m. E.T. The Vikings come to the Motor City riding a six-game winning streak. The Lions are three of their last five and have a three-game streak. Our Minnesota plays Detroit 2017 NFL Thanksgiving pick has the Vikings at -2.5 and the over/under at 45.5.
Vikings at Lions- The Matchup
The Viking defense is holding teams to under 18 PPG, while the offense is good for 24.1 PPG. They are facing a defense that has a tough time against the run but is solid against the pass, and that’s allowing 23.4 PPG. Detroit is putting 27 PPG on the scoreboard. They offer a sound pass attack but their ground game is weak.
Minnesota Offense vs. Lions D
The Minnesota rush attack is decent. It features the one-two punch of Latavius Murray and dual threat Jerick McKinnon. Both are averaging close to four yards per rush and combined have seven TDs. McKinnon also has 35 catches and one receiving TD. QB Case Keenum has done well ever since Sam Bradford was injured and sidelined for the remainder of the season. Keenum has tossed a dozen TD passes and five picks.
The Detroit D has 11 INTs, 21 sacks, and 11 FF. They also have 31 TFL and 48 PD. Corner Darious Slay has grabbed four picks and defended 15 passes, while DT Anthony Zettel has six sacks and four TFL. Safety Glover Quin comes in with 50 tackles, three INTs, and five PD. The Detroit defense should help keep point totals down.
Detroit Offense vs. Vikings D
Matthew Stafford has hit for 19 TD passes while tossing five picks. He has been sacked 33 times. He’s got a good selection of receivers to toss to including WRs Golden Tate (59 REC, 3 TDs) and Marvin Jones Jr. (38 REC, 6 TDs). Seven different receivers have caught at least one TD pass. RB Ameer Abdullah is averaging 3.4 YPA and has three TDs. He’s the team’s primary rusher.
The Viking defense has made 27 sacks, eight interceptions, and eight forced fumbles. They’ve also defended 46 passes and made 33 TFL. DE Everson Griffen has made 10 sacks, three TFL, and forced two fumbles. Griffen is questionable for today’s game. Safety Harrison Smith, who has 53 tackles, three picks, and four PD, is essential to this defense. The Minnesota defense should do well against what is a weak Lion O-line.
Three Major Takeaways
Pur Minnesota plays Detroit 2017 NFL Thanksgiving pick offers these three takeaways:
- Lion O-line could be problematic
- Detroit secondary is top-notch
- Viking pass rush may create havoc
Our First Thanksgiving Pick
Our Minnesota plays Detroit 2017 NFL Thanksgiving pick likes the under in this game, which is at 45.5. We’re also taking the Vikings at -2.5 in this first game.
Minnesota at Detroit Free Thanksgiving Football Pick: Minnesota at -2.5 and under 45.5
