The Minnesota Vikings have lost two consecutive games, with the last showing at the Los Angeles Chargers particularly embarrassing. The club has a chance to snap the skid on Sunday against a deadly opponent: the Detroit Lions.
For the first time in 2025, the Minnesota Vikings will meet the Detroit Lions, and like all games, this one has some delicious storylines to monitor.
Sportsbooks do not expect Minnesota to fare well in Week 9, but nevertheless, these are the main storylines to watch. And they’re pretty damn important, all things considered.
The Main Plots in Lions-Vikings
A division rivalry that has bent one-sided in the last three years.
1. Will Jahmyr Gibbs Carve up the Vikings — Again?
Last year, Gibbs shredded Brian Flores’ defense for 255 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns in two contests. In four career games against the purple team, Gibbs has exploded for 460 yards from scrimmage and 8 touchdowns. The small sample indicates that Minnesota has an Aaron Rodgers-like foe on its hands, a player who always seems to have the Vikings’ number.
Will this be the first time that Minnesota’s defense puts the clamps on Gibbs? Or will the 2025 rushing defense woes persist?
Zone Coverage‘s Trevor Ripley wrote this week, “The Lions have averaged 30.5 points per game against the Vikings since Gibbs was drafted and have emerged unscathed at 4-0. With the season on the line, maybe Flores can scrape up a vintage performance and clamp down on Detroit’s offensive attack.”
“During Gibbs’s rookie season in 2023, he was limited to just 110 total rushing yards in his two matchups against the Vikings. At 3-4, the Vikings find themselves in a compromising spot. A loss drops them to 3-5 with the Baltimore Ravens on deck, so it’s easy to see how things can spiral out of control pretty quickly.”
It’s worth noting, for good measure, that Minnesota was tasked with slowing down Saquon Barkley two weeks ago — and it did that despite losing the game.
“While Detroit and Gibbs don’t necessarily present an ideal matchup, a healthy Van Ginkel might be enough to turn the tables. Still, the defensive front, thought to be the strength of the team heading into the season, has a lot to prove this week. Stopping Gibbs has been a problem lately for the Vikings, and yet they’ll have no choice but to figure it out on Sunday,” Ripley continued.
“With a loss, Minnesota’s chances for a playoff spot drop to just 3%. While all eyes will likely be on J.J. McCarthy’s development, the Vikings’ hopes may instead rest on their ability to tame the Lions’ running backs.”
2. Do the Vikings’ Injured Players Returning to Health … Matter Enough?
If all goes according to plan and this week’s injury report, Minnesota will welcome back Andrew Van Ginkel, Christian Darrisaw, and Brian O’Neill to the starting lineup. Outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard was limited in practice, too, this week, but is fully good to go for Sunday.
Some have used injuries to explain the Vikings’ losing record through seven games; others call that an excuse.
On Sunday, folks will get a verdict on whether the injuries have mattered. Minnesota should be closer to full strength than at any time in 2025.
3. Dan Campbell’s Recent Domination of Kevin O’Connell
O’Connell took down Campbell and the Lions in his first attempt three years ago — back when the Lions were still “the Lions” and about a month away from turning into a foundationally sound franchise.
Then, that was it.
O’Connell has lost to Campbell every game since, racking up five straight losses. It’s time for the malarkey to cease. Can O’Connell get off the schneid against Campbell?
4. What Happens if the Vikings Get Blown Out?
This one is frightening — in the spirit of Halloween.
What if Detroit just disembowels Minnesota in front of its home crowd? That is — what if the Vikings pick up where they left off on Thursday Night Football, displaying ineptitude all across the enterprise? Some fans have already begun whispering about a hot seat for the head coach and general manager.
Another beatdown would not be received kindly by the team’s loyalists. If Minnesota is destined to lose on Sunday, it must look like an adept football team along the way.
5. Will J.J. McCarthy Play Competently?
Six weeks ago, in his second-ever start, McCarthy played like a moron. His offensive line didn’t help him one iota, but when the dust settled, McCarthy looked like an utter buffoon, and he suffered a high ankle sprain for good measure.
A panicked fan base — at least a portion of it — decided the Vikings had drafted a bust and a bust who also couldn’t stay healthy.
McCarthy is now healed, and rather desperately, the man needs a competent performance to silence the naysayers, especially with former McCarthy alternatives like Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and Aaron Rodgers playing elsewhere.
Can he do it?
