Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions, Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Sunday, January 2, 2011, 1:00 pm EST, TV: FOX
Opening Line: Lions -3
Current Line: Lions -3
Opening Total: 42
Current Total: 42.5
Money Line: Lions -180 / Vikings +160
The nightmare season for Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings (6-9) is about to come to a close while the Detroit Lions (5-10) have already started a good story to build on for next season. Of course it would not be a game with Favre without some more drama, which will be resolved by the time you read this or before the opening kickoff at Detroit (-3) on Sunday.
Favre’s $50,000 fine for not cooperating with the NFL on sexual harassment accusations stemming from a text messaging scandal is no longer an issue on the field, although his health is definitely in question. He was not suspended for his actions but has still not been cleared to play after suffering from post-concussion symptoms from his last start two weeks ago in a 40-14 loss to Chicago. Favre was knocked out of the game in the second quarter and has yet to return.
Rookie quarterback Joe Webb made his first career start for the Vikings against Philadelphia on Tuesday night and led them to an improbable 24-14 victory. Webb completed 17 of 26 passes for 195 yards and ran six times for 31 yards and a touchdown against the Eagles, and he figures to get the nod again if Favre is not able to play one more time before he retires for good.
While Super Bowl aspirations were never really a possibility for Minnesota this year, the Lions hope to finish the season on a four-game winning streak with a victory in the finale. They had shown flashes of their potential earlier but are now putting it all together, giving fans hope that they will be competing with Chicago and Green Bay for the division title next year.
Detroit finally snapped its NFL-record 26-game road losing streak by winning at Tampa Bay 23-20 in overtime two weeks ago and followed that up by going back to Florida last week and beating Miami, 34-27. The team edged the Packers 7-3 in the last home game and hopes to have wide receiver Calvin Johnson available after he hurt his ankle against the Bucs.
The Vikings are dealing with more injuries than just Favre, as wide receiver Sidney Rice is coming off a concussion and running back Adrian Peterson is still battling a sore knee. Peterson has been especially dangerous against the Lions, going over 100 yards in five of the last six meetings.
Minnesota has won 16 of the last 17 games against Detroit, going 6-2-2 against the spread in the past 10. However, the Lions have covered their last four games overall and are 6-1 ATS at home this season.
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