Lions Fight for Playoff Survival Against Injury-Depleted Vikings on Christmas
Detroit faces a must-win game against Minnesota, who aim to play spoiler despite being out of playoff contention and missing quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
Detroit faces a must-win showdown Thursday with its playoff future hanging in the balance, while Minnesota—already eliminated from contention—looks to play spoiler on Christmas Day.
The Lions need to win out to secure a third consecutive playoff appearance, making Thursday's game against the Vikings a critical juncture in their season. Minnesota, knocked out of playoff contention weeks ago, has won three straight games heading into the holiday matchup, but the team will be without quarterback J.J. McCarthy due to injury—a potential advantage for Detroit.
The Vikings' depleted quarterback situation could prove decisive in a game where the Lions' season may depend on it.
