Week 13: Detroit at Minnesota

This is a big one for both teams – a game with wild-card implications that will probably feature the return of Adrian “Might As Well Give Me Every NFL Rookie of the Year Award Right Now” Peterson.

Peterson, the Vikings’ rookie tailback, has missed two games after tearing the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee. That injury derailed what would have been a realistic chance at 2,000 yards. Even after the two-game break, he still leads the NFL with 1,081 rushing yards.

Minnesota coach Brad Childress said Peterson will likely be “eased back in” to the flow. “You’re not going to go back there and turn over the whole load to him,” Childress told reporters this week. So Chester Taylor will remain a big part of the Vikings offense as well, which runs the ball like nobody’s business even without AP. The Vikings lead the NFL in rushing, and it’s not even close. Their 173.3 per game average is more than 30 yards in front of everyone else.

The Vikings whipped the New York Giants last week, 41-17, mostly with their defense. They picked off Eli Manning four times and returned three of those for TDs, so the Viking defense actually outscored the Giants by itself. Minnesota has now won back-to-back games for the first time this season and has an outside chance at the playoffs, although the Vikes would probably need to go 4-1 to do it.

The Lions edged Minnesota at home in overtime, 20-17, earlier this season. That was back when they were a team to be reckoned with and before this current three-game losing streak.

Detroit quarterback Jon Kitna looked like a sage several weeks ago. He had predicted in a radio interview before the season that the Lions – who went 3-13 last year – would win 10 games. That was before the Lions’ current three-game losing streak, which has knocked them down into precarious position to win one of the NFC’s two wild-card berths. The Lions would still be in the playoffs if the postseason began today, but they have been faltering. Their latest loss was a Thanksgiving whipping at the hands of ageless Green Bay QB Brett Favre. They will have stewed on that one for 10 days by the time this game comes around. Favre ripped apart the Lions’ defense, completing 20 straight passes at one point. Detroit did get more out of WR Calvin Johnson than it has been, and RB Kevin Jones ran for 93 yards, but ultimately the result was a 37-26 Packers win.

Kitna has been telling people this week the Lions need to win four out of five to get into the playoffs. That won’t be easy given its schedule. But we see them as just squeaking this one out this week.

Detroit by 2