The Vikings will travel to Detroit this weekend for their first of two matchups against the Lions this season.
Minnesota and Detroit will face off in the 116th all-time contest between the NFC North franchises. The Vikings lead the series with a regular-season record of 74-39-2. The teams have never met in the postseason.
Sunday's game will mark the earliest the Vikings and Lions have played each other since 2017, when they met in Week 4.
The Vikings (4-2) will look to extend their win streak to three games. The Lions are coming off back-to-back losses, most recently suffering a last-second (and controversial) defeat to the Packers on Monday Night Football.
Look back at photos over the course of time featuring games between the Vikings and the Lions.
An image from the Nov. 23, 2017 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 30-23.
An image from the Nov. 23, 2017 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 30-23.
An image from the Nov. 23, 2017 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 30-23.
An image from the Nov. 23, 2017 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 30-23.
An image from the Nov. 23, 2017 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 30-23.
An image from the Nov. 23, 2017 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 30-23.
An image from the Nov. 23, 2017 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 30-23.
An image from the Nov. 23, 2017 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 30-23.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
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Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions January 07, 2023 Ford Field, Detroit, MI
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Here's a look at 10 numbers of note heading into the Week 7 matchup:
3 – Minnesota has won the past three games against Detroit (spanning Nov. 23, 2017 – Dec. 23, 2018) after losing three in a row previously (Nov. 6, 2016 – Oct. 1, 2017).
44.44 – The Lions rank 30th in the league in goal-to-go percentage, having scored touchdowns on just 44.44 percent of trips inside the 10-yard line so far this season. The Vikings are tied with the Buccaneers for 21st with a 63.64 success rate.
364 – Detroit's leading receiver is Kenny Golladay, who has 24 catches for 364 yards and five touchdowns. The 25-year-old notched his first career 1,000-yard season last year, during which he totaled 104 yards over two games against the Vikings.
159 – The Vikings are averaging 159 rushing yards per game thus far, good enough for third in the NFL. Dalvin Cook leads the team with 583 yards on the ground and is averaging 5.4 yards per carry.
99.1 – Lions QB Matthew Stafford through five games is 106-of-173 passing for 1,387 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions with a passer rating of 99.1. The 2009 No. 1 overall pick is slated to make his 147th start on Sunday.
63 – In 18 career games against the Vikings, Stafford has been sacked 63 times (3.5 sacks per contest), including 12 just last season thanks to a franchise-record, 10-sack performance by Minnesota in Week 8. The Bears have the next-highest total, with 46 career takedowns of Stafford.
7 – Vikings LB Eric Kendricks is currently tied with Harrison Smith for the team lead with seven passes defensed, having recorded two in back-to-back games against the Giants and Eagles, respectively. Kendricks also leads Minnesota in tackles with 61 (coaches' tally).
23.8 – Through five games (the Lions had a Week 5 bye), Detroit has averaged 23.8 points per contest, only slightly lower than Minnesota's 25. The Vikings defense has allowed opponents an average of just 15.5 points per game.
302 – The Vikings have averaged 302 passing yards in their past two wins over the Giants and Eagles. In the first four games, they averaged just 169 yards per game. Overall, Minnesota currently ranks 25th in the NFL with 213.3 yards through the air per game. Detroit is averaging 262.2 passing yards per game, which is ninth-best in the league.
234 – According to nflpenalties.com, the Lions have received 234 beneficiary yards off penalties, which is the least of any team in the NFL. Detroit and Minnesota (341) both are in the bottom 40 percent of the league in the respective category. Green Bay (501) has received the most beneficiary penalty yards.
