The Vikings did not dramatically overhaul their defense after a poor performance in their previous game; instead, they played the way they are capable of playing when they give it their all.

The Vikings defense generated a pressure rate of 47.6% and a season-high five sacks in their Week 9 win over the Lions, with 10 different defenders recording at least one pressure. Eric Wilson led the team with six pressures and two sacks on 17 pass rushes. #MINvsDET | #Skol pic.twitter.com/4qFOPjXPnD

J.J. McCarthy, starting just his third game because of injuries, showed off his "blue-collar" mindset as he led the Vikings to an upset victory against the Lions.

Flores’ unit was tailor-made to stop Goff, and it threw the entire Lions offense for a whirl. You could see that in the penalties (10 penalties for 76 yards) and even the kicking game, which saw the Vikings block a rare field goal attempt from the Lions.

Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers thinks the officials missed a penalty by Lions receiver Jameson Williams late in Minnesota's 27-24 win in Detroit on Sunday.

J.J. McCarthy threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score in his return from an ankle injury, leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 27-24 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

The SportsLine Projection Model agrees with two legs of the SGP above, as it backs Lions -8.5 and the Over on 47.5 Detroit covers the spread in 54% of simulations, and the Over hits in 58% of simulations. The model is backing Minnesota on the money line, though, as the Vikings win in 26% of simulations to bring value as +368 underdogs.

The Minnesota Vikings, led by quarterback J.J. McCarthy, face the Detroit Lions, led by quarterback Jared Goff, on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025 at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.

Coming into their Week 9 game against the Minnesota Vikings, the Detroit Lions had the NFL's best defense by DVOA, and they were facing a quarterback in second-year man J.J. McCarthy, who hadn't played since Week 2 of the 2025 season,