The Vikings return back to U.S. Bank Stadium for the first time in three weeks, to take on another divisional foe.
Minnesota will host the Detroit Lions (4-4) in the first of two meetings this season.
The Lions finished (7-9) last season, but are having more success in 2016.
Let's see who the experts pick to win Week 9's Sunday matchup.
Look, I love a tie as much as anybody, but I am genuinely worried we could see one for the third consecutive week. The Lions haven't had a tie since Nov. 4, 1984. Their last one before that came back on Sept. 23, 1973, when starting quarterback Greg Landry threw for 91 yards. That's OK — Packers QB Scott Hunter put up all of 80 yards. Landry was Detroit's last Pro Bowl quarterback before Matthew Stafford, who is in the midst of his best overall season in the NFL. He's going to face a heckuva motivated defense — as the Vikings are riding a two-game losing streak — in front of a charged-up Minnesota crowd. Every Lions win this year has come courtesy of a game-winning drive by Stafford. Speaking of quarterbacks ... Can Kyle Rudolph, under his new/old OC following Norv Turner's stunning resignation, stop the Vikes' bleeding? Not this week. #DETvsMIN
Lions 25, Vikings 20— Elliot Harrison,NFL.com
I know Minnesota's reeling right now.
I know Norv Turner just resigned.
I still have a tough time believing this team — with all that talent — will drop three games in a row, especially against an average to below-average Lions defense that struggles against the pass. Sam Bradford won't need to read the rush as much, either.
This Lions game might play out a little like the last six or seven. Matthew Stafford is asked to do too much to keep his one-dimensional offense afloat. Can he play hero ball again against a proud Vikings defense that was just embarrassed on national television? I don't see it.
Vikings 20, Lions 17 — Chris Simms, Bleacher Report
*The Vikings have big-time problems on that offensive line that could derail their entire season. But the Lions aren't exactly lighting it up with their pass rush. I think Minnesota gets back on track here. The defense carries them to a close victory. *
Vikings 19, Lions 16 — Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
Sam Bradford has turned in a couple of ugly performances the last two weeks, but that should change on Sunday. The Lions have the worst pass defense in the NFL.
Vikings 27, Lions 17— Michael David Smith, Pro Football Talk
The Vikings are in disarray, but that's typically when they seem to get their act together unexpectedly.
Vikings 23, Lions 17— Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk
The Vikings have hit a bit of a bump in the road, and I'm honestly not sure it's fixable. The offensive line woes are very real, and there just isn't a guy on the street who is an upgrade from what they're trotting out there. Minnesota's running backs are averaging less than 3 yards per carry, and the defense — something that has carried the team all season long — can't be asked to suffocate every NFL offense and score points each week. I have real concerns about Minnesota. And I think a loss to the Lions on Sunday is in the cards.
Lions 24, Vikings 16— Peter Schrager, FOX Sports
Each Tuesday, WhatIfSports.com's NFL simulation engine generates predictions and box scores for every NFL game for the coming week. The highly sophisticated algorithms simulate every play of every game to produce each team's likelihood to win. Each matchup is simulated 501 times.
Vikings Win Likelihood Percentage: 59.2 percent, Average Score: Vikings 24.5, Lions 21.3— WhatIfSports.com
FiveThirtyEight's 2016 NFL forecast uses an Elo-based model to calculate each team's chances of advancing to the playoffs and winning Super Bowl LI. Playoff probabilities are based on 20,000 simulations of the season and will update after each game.
Pre-game win probabilities: Vikings 71 percent— FiveThirtyEight.com
5 of 8 experts pick the Vikings,CBS Sports
5 of 6 experts pick the Vikings,FOX Sports
4 of 5 experts pick the Vikings, USA Today
7 of 10 experts pick the Vikings,ESPN
