The Lions need this game to have any playoff chance, but it won't be easy on the road. Minnesota has played outstanding defense. The problem is the Vikings have rookie Max Brosmer playing for the injured J.J. McCarthy. That could be an issue, even against a Lions defense that has struggled.

Making it to Week 17 is very impressive, but it isn’t the goal. You still have two more weeks of NFL insanity to navigate, and the home stretch of the schedule throws more boobytraps at you than the opening scene of “Raiders of the Lost Arc”.