Lions vs. Vikings: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction

Lions vs. Vikings: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction from Lions Wire’s Jeff Risdon

It’s Christmas Eve! The stockings are not yet hung by the chimney because there is Detroit Lions football today.

The return to the traditional 1 p.m. kickoff on a Sunday afternoon brings some normalcy back to the schedule. But as I sip the morning pot of coffee, I wonder if normalcy is so desirable? After all, normalcy for the Lions franchise means not winning the division, not capitalizing on the edge of glory. Today’s game can mean so much more than that.

Why I think the Lions will win

The depth of playmakers for Jared Goff and his willingness to use any of them on any given passing play. The Vikings like to create chaos with their exotic coverages and pass rush packages, but the perfect counter to that is a patient QB who isn’t locked into any one option. That’s Goff with Sam LaPorta, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Josh Reynolds and — especially in this matchup — Jaymhr Gibbs.
I like the matchup of Aidan Hutchinson against a hobbled Brian O’Neill, who is one of the NFL’s better right tackles. Hutchinson’s relentless energy and quick spin moves are trouble for healthy tackles, and O’Neill is questionable with an ankle injury. Vikings QB Nick Mullens under pressure is trouble for Minnesota, which also doesn’t run the ball well (23rd in yards per game, 21st in yards per carry).
The Lions restored the roar last weekend, and I think they can apply the lessons from the rout over Denver successfully in Minnesota. That means aggressive, proactive defense and a sharp, speed-based offensive attack that counters pressure. Having a healthy starting offensive line certainly helps in this regard.

What worries me about the Vikings

Brian Flores’ defense has given Goff fits over the years. Flores blitzes the most but also drops more players into coverage more often than any other defense. Goff has struggled against defenses that conceal their intentions well, and that’s the default setting for the Vikings. Rookie LB Ivan Pace can be a major problem for Detroit today.
They’re playing for their playoff lives, and they know it. Minnesota is a good enough team to parlay that anxious energy and sense of desperation into dangerous football.
With Justin Jefferson back, the Vikings have two legit downfield receiving threats. Rookie Jordan Addison is a good one, too. And old friend T.J. Hockenson is gunning for 100 catches (he’s at 91) and 1,000 yards (902) and you know he’ll be motivated against Detroit. The Lions have major issues covering the secondary and tertiary receivers down the field, and that’s exactly how Minnesota is built. Mullens isn’t shy about taking shots, either.

Final score prediction

Earlier in the week, I was pretty confident in the Lions to pull this divisional road win off. But the simple reality of the concept of Detroit winning the division on the road against a team that, in theory, matches up well with them is weighing heavily. The Lions can do it, no question. They probably should do it. But will they do it? I need to see it first. Vikings 26, Lions 24.

Lions vs. Vikings: How to watch, listen or stream the Week 16 matchup

The NFC North title is there to be had for the Detroit Lions in Week 16. A divisional road trip to Minnesota to face the second-place Vikings highlights Christmas Eve.

Detroit Lions (10-4) at Minnesota Vikings (7-7)

Sunday, December 24th

U.S. Bank Stadium, 1 p.m. ET

Watch

The game will be broadcast on FOX. Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma will have the call.

On the broadcast map below, the markets in red will get the Lions-Vikings game on their local FOX affiliates.

Listen

The game will be broadcast over the Detroit Lions radio affiliate network. Dan Miller handles the play-by-play, with Lomas Brown as the color analyst and T.J. Lang reporting from the sidelines.

The flagship station is 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit. The full list of affiliates can be found here.

On Sirius XM, the Lions broadcast feed is available on channel 812.

Stream

The NFL+ app (subscription required) is the league’s own network to view the game via a streaming device.

FUBO TV (subscription required) is another option.

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Best reactions after Bengals harm playoff hopes with loss to Steelers

Best reactions after Bengals vs. Steelers in Week 16.

To say the Cincinnati Bengals generated big reactions during Saturday’s loss at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers would be an understatement.

Dropping a game 34-11 to the struggling Steelers does that. So does falling to 0-5 in the AFC North when each game left on the schedule carried must-win status if the team was to have any hope at the playoffs.

And while all hope isn’t technically lost for the playoffs, it’s understandable that many of the reactions from after the game pointed to the play as a reason why the season might be over.

Here’s a look at some of the best reactions.

Instant analysis after Bengals flop in blowout loss to Steelers

Instant analysis after Bengals vs. Steelers in Week 16.

The Cincinnati Bengals fell flat on Saturday in Week 16, taking a 34-11 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road.

It was an ugly one from the start for the Bengals, with quarterback Jake Browning making some bad decisions with the ball to end his hot streak that had previously led to three consecutive wins.

The explosive plays that harmed the Bengals all year defensively were especially frequent against a Steelers team desperate to salvage a season of their own, leading to a 24-0 hole before the offense could even get on the board.

Here’s a look at the notable notes and takeaways from the loss.

Fantasy football inactives, injuries and weather: Week 16 Saturday Slate

Week 16 weather, injury updates and gameday inactives for the Saturday Slate.

Updates will begin when teams start releasing official pregame inactives and starter information to the league. This is typically around 60-90 minutes prior to the kickoff of their game.

Weather forecasts are courtesy of The Football Database.

Week 16 gameday inactives, weather and notes

KEY GAME-TIME DECISIONS

Afternoon game:
Night game:

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers (4:30 p.m. EST)

Kickoff Weather: 43 degrees, cloudy

Bengals

Inactives: OT D’Ante Smith, TE Irv Smith, WR Ja’Marr Chase, DT Travis Bell, LB Devin Harper, C Trey Hill and RB Chris Evans

Lineup notes: WR Ja’Marr Chase (shoulder) will not be available. RB Chase Brown (chest) closed out the week with consecutive full practices and avoided an injury label.

Steelers

Inactives: CB Darius Rush, LB Blake Martinez, DL DeMarvin Leal, OT Dylan Cook, S Minkah Fitzpatrick, QB Kenny Pickett and S Trenton Thompson

Lineup notes: QB Kenny Pickett (ankle) remains out of commission, and he’ll be joined by S Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee) after not practicing all week. TE Pat Freiermuth (knee) and RB Najee Harris avoided an injury designation.

Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Chargers (8:00 p.m. EST)

Kickoff Weather: 58 degrees, mostly cloudy (open-air dome)

Bills

Inactives: DE A.J. Epenesa, OG Alec Anderson, OT Germain Ifedi, RB Ty Johnson and S Micah Hyde

Lineup notes: TE Dalton Kincaid (shoulder) was limited all week but avoided an injury label. S Micah Hyde (neck) will miss Week 16 with a stinger. RB Leonard Fournette was elevated from the practice squad.

Chargers

Inactives: WR Keenan Allen, QB Max Duggan, CB Deane Leonard, TE Donald Parham and S JT Woods

Lineup notes: WR Keenan Allen (heel) will miss another contest, and he’ll be watching alongside LB Joey Bosa (foot).

Lions elevate two from practice squad to face the Vikings in Week 16

Lions elevate Michael Badgley and Anthony Firkser from the practice squad to face the Vikings in Week 16

In advance of Sunday’s matchup with the Vikings in Minnesota, the Detroit Lions have elevated two players from the practice squad to the active roster.

As expected, kicker Michael Badgley was promoted for the Week 16 game. It’s the second elevation in a row for Badgley, who beat out Riley Patterson in an in-season kicking competition. Players are allowed three elevations per season.

Tight end Anthony Firsker was also elevated. It’s the first elevation for the 6-year vet, who has not played yet in 2023. He will fill the role of reserve TE Brock Wright, who has been ruled out with an injury for the game after not practicing throughout the week.

The Lions did not elevate EDGE Bruce Irvin for the game. He will not play against Minnesota

Patriots’ 54-man roster by jersey number ahead of Week 16

Here is the Patriots’ 54-man roster ahead of Sunday’s Christmas Eve game against the Broncos.

The New England Patriots will have to do more roster shuffling with all of the injuries entering Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos.

Tight end Hunter Henry has been ruled out for the game, along with safety Jabrill Peppers, running back Rhamondre Stevenson, offensive tackle Conor McDermott and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.

So the Patriots might have to make use of multiple rostered players that rarely see the field. Tight ends Mike Gesicki and Pharaoh Brown are expected to see more snaps on Sunday. Offensive linemen Tyrone Wheatley Jr. and Vederian Lowe could get more work as well.

With the season winding down, this could be a perfect opportunity for a player that isn’t typically given a chance to step up and show their value. Here’s the full 54-man roster for the Patriots in Week 16:

Bengals inactive players vs. Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16

Bengals announce inactives for Week 16 vs. Steelers.

The inactives list for the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16 before kickoff against the Pittsburgh Steelers, as expected, features Ja’Marr Chase.

Chase suffered a shoulder injury last week against the Minnesota Vikings and wasn’t able to practice at all this week.

The full inactives list:

WR Ja’Marr Chase
RB Chris Evans
TE Irv Smith Jr.
OL Trey Hill
LB Devin Harper
DL Travis Bell
OT D’Ante Smith

While the Bengals wanted to take a day-to-day approach with Chase, a report suggested the star wideout could miss next week’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, too.

As for Sunday’s game against the Steelers, there aren’t any major surprises on the inactives list as the team shuffles around some new names at defensive tackle with roster moves and waiver claims in the wake of DJ Reader’s season-ending injury.

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Patriots Wire staff picks and scores for Patriots-Broncos game

The Patriots Wire staff make their picks for Sunday’s Patriots-Broncos game.

After losing to the Kansas City Chiefs at home last week, the New England Patriots go on the road for a Christmas Eve clash with another AFC West opponent in the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

The Broncos will finally be returning home for this matchup after a three-game road trip. They are 1-2 over that stretch, including last week’s blowout loss to the Detroit Lions.

Their playoff hopes haven’t been completely snuffed out just yet. So there’s still something to fight for in this game. Meanwhile, the Patriots are coming into this game with a 3-11 record, a banged-up roster and no hope of a postseason future.

However, that doesn’t mean they’re waving the white flag and calling it quits. They put up a better fight than anticipated against the Chiefs after upsetting the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. If they can run the ball effectively against Denver’s league-worst run defense, things could get interesting at Mile High.

Here’s the full round-up of Patriots Wire staff picks for the Week 16 matchup:

Jordy McElroy (6-8) – Patriots 17, Broncos 20

Danny Jaillet (12-2) – Patriots 17, Broncos 24

Cam Garrity (7-7) – Patriots 7, Broncos 13

Michael Braithwaite (7-7) – Patriots 13, Broncos 25

The Patriots have already ruled out wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and safety Jabrill Peppers for this game. They’ll also be missing tight end Hunter Henry, running back Rhamondre Stevenson and offensive tackle Conor McDermott.

It’s a significantly banged-up roster facing a desperate opponent on the road. What could possibly go wrong?

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How to Watch: Bucs vs. Jaguars live stream, time, and viewing info

Here’s how you can tune in to Tampa Bay’s game against the Jaguars on Sunday:

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are currently on top of the NFC South, but a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars would make that lead extend even further.

With the Saints’ loss on Thursday, the Bucs have to win two of their remaining three matchups to clinch the NFC South. The team has the opportunity to get one of those wins Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Christmas Eve, and it’ll be facing a team on a three-game skid that may or may not have their starting quarterback in Trevor Lawrence.

Here’s how you can check out the matchup on Sunday:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Dec. 24 (4:05 p.m. ET)

TV info: CBS

In-market live stream: fuboTV, Hulu

Radio: Tampa Bay – WXTB 97.9 FM / Orlando – WYGM 96.6 FM

Location: Raymond James Stadium

Forecast: Cloudy, 73 degrees

Opponent Wire site: Jaguars Wire

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