Published Oct 27, 1:26pm ET by
Paul Lebowitz - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Oct 27, 1:26pm ET
Grok AI
Updated Oct 27, 1:26pm ET
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| Detroit Lions | -8.5 (-105) |
| Minnesota Vikings | +8.5 (-115) |
Given how invested the Vikings are in J.J. McCarthy, it's unlikely that backup Carson Wentz could have wrested the job from him no matter what Wentz did. But Minnesota was 2-3 with Wentz, and the veteran was mediocre at best with 6 TD passes, 5 interceptions, and an 85.8 passer rating.
He played poorly against the Chargers. In fairness, he was dealing with a shoulder injury. However, he completed 15 of 27 passes for 144 yards, 1 TD, and 1 pick. Max Brosmer replaced him once the game was out of hand.
It's McCarthy's ball for 2025. Let's see if he runs with it.
The first two games were not encouraging, but for one hot quarter. The team split those games. He completed 24 of 41 passes for 301 yards, 2 TDs, and 3 interceptions. He has a 67.2 passer rating and, during extended periods, has looked completely overwhelmed.
74 YARD PICK 6!🚨
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 9, 2025
The Bears intercept JJ McCarthy and take it all the way back!
(via @ChicagoBears) pic.twitter.com/Al2kkjaWZB
Their defense is not good enough to account for a popgun offense. They're vulnerable to the pass, ranked 24th in passing yards per game and 19th in points allowed per game. The run defense is ranked 8th.
An offense with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Mason, and T.J. Hockenson should be better than this. And the problem has been its quarterbacking.
They are not going to bail on McCarthy after three games. They're invested in him. And no matter how many times they're questioned about the wisdom of not doing the obvious thing and franchise tagging Sam Darnold to let McCarthy sit for another year coming off a season-ending knee injury, this is what head coach Kevin O'Connell decided to do. They will succeed or fail with it.
After the Lions faltered in the 2024-25 playoffs and then lost both their offensive and defensive coordinators to head coaching jobs, it was expected that they would take a step back with a closing championship window.
The Packers dominated them in Week 1. The 27-13 Lions loss did nothing to change the perception that they blew their chance. Since then, they have won 5 of 6, with the sole loss being to the defending AFC champion Chiefs.
Jared Goff is again having a Pro Bowl season. He has 15 TD passes and only 3 picks.
Jahmyr Gibbs has emerged as a leaguewide superstar with 526 yards rushing on 104 carries and 26 receptions for 194 yards.
Jahmyr Gibbs' 78-yard rushing TD was the longest of his career 🦁 @accenture pic.twitter.com/Ahv8dMmwCm
— NFL (@NFL) October 22, 2025
Aidan Hutchinson has returned to his previous form after a horrific leg injury ended his 2024 season and could have cost the Lions a chance at the Super Bowl. He leads the NFL in forced fumbles with 4.
Their defense has been surprisingly solid, ranked 16th in defensive passing yards per game and 4th in defensive rushing yards per game. They are 5th in the league in takeaway differential at +5.
| PLAYER | STATUS |
|---|---|
| Andrew Van Ginkel, MIN | INJURED |
| Jeff Okudah, MIN | INJURED |
| Brian O'Neill, MIN | INJURED |
| J.J. McCarthy, MIN | INJURED |
| C.J. Ham, MIN | INJURED |
| Zach Cunningham, DET | INJURED |
For the Vikings-Lions Week 9 battle in Detroit, Minnesota is still facing severe questions at quarterback. Detroit and head coach Dan Campbell will exploit McCarthy's inexperience and his penchant for throwing the ball to the guys in the wrong color uniform. They will pressure him heavily to force mistakes.
Goff, Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and the rest of Detroit's still potent offense will tear Minnesota apart.
Expect McCarthy to take a beating and for the Lions to run the Vikings off the field in a walkover, easily covering the 8.5-point spread.
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Pick
Detroit Lions -8.5
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