• WHERE: U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET | FOX

This NFC North matchup is the only Week 7 game featuring two teams in the Power Rankings‘ top five.   

Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room. The Lions lost Aidan Hutchinson — better known as the bulk of their pass rush — to a season-ending leg injury. How they will respond going forward remains to be seen, and this week presents perhaps the toughest test in doing so. Offensively, the Lions are elite in every sense of the word — they lead the league in points per game (30.2) as a two-headed monster, ranking fourth in rushing efficiency and fifth in passing efficiency.  

The Vikings’ record speaks for itself as they are one of two undefeated teams and currently rank No. 1 in the Power Rankings. They have been juggernauts through five weeks. Their +63-point differential (first) is in large part due to a defense that’s holding teams like the Texans to seven points. 

Notably, the Vikings enter this game off a bye week. Per NFL Pro, teams that are undefeated (5-0 or better), playing at home, and coming off a bye week are 9-0 all time in the game following, and have won by an average of 19.8 points. 

NFL Pro Insight for Lions-Vikings

Sam Darnold led the NFL in yards per attempt (12.3), touchdown passes (nine) and total EPA (+27.7) against man coverage through the first four weeks of the season. He completed seven of 10 such passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns when targeting Justin Jefferson, the most such yards between any QB-receiver duo during that span. 

The Lions defense leads the NFL in interceptions (six) and completion percentage over expected allowed (-12.9%) when playing man coverage this season.