Week 14 Parlay (+257): Lions to Outpass Vikings in Victory
Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions
Sunday, December 9, 2022 at 1 p.m. ET at Ford Field in Detroit
A Crucial Firing
After a loss to Miami, Detroit fired defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant.
Since that loss, the Lions have improved monumentally on defense and overall.
To be exact, they've won four of their past five games.
Most recently, they induced Jaguar quarterback Trevor Lawrence to suffer one of his worst performances of the season in Detroit's 40-14 victory.
During their current stretch of success, the Lions have enjoyed more impressive results than beating Jacksonville, though.
For example, they easily covered the spread against and almost beat a top-caliber Buffalo team.
Bill quarterback Josh Allen mustered a poor 80.8 passer rating in his team's near-loss.
Only Two Exceptions
Since the firing, the Lions have given up over 18 points to two teams, Buffalo and Chicago.
What the Bills and Bears both have in common is a highly mobile quarterback who thrived on the ground against the Lion defense -- this is something that Detroit won't have to worry about in Minnesota's quarterback.
Neither Allen nor Bear quarterback Justin Fields posed a threat through the air.
Evidently, the Lion pass defense has found a positive solution by firing that defensive backs coach.
The Teams' First Meeting
On September 25, Detroit and Minnesota met in Minnesota.
Viking quarterback Kirk Cousins pulled off a late game-winning touchdown to avoid an upset loss at home.
His team's near-loss is surprising to consider because the Lions still had their less competent defensive backs coach.
Plus, the Lions were playing on the road where they are vastly less reliable than at home.
At home, Detroit has either suffered a near-loss to a winning team or achieved victory whereas its results on the road are much less reliable.
Now that these two teams meet again, the Lions have the advantages of not having their old defensive backs coach and of playing in Detroit.
Plan for Justin Jefferson
Life with Detroit's old defensive backs coach wasn't all bad, though.
They had a great plan for star Viking receiver Justin Jefferson.
Cornerback Jeff Okudah would play press man coverage, using his hands to disrupt Jefferson's route.
Okudah would play Jefferson underneath while he'd receive safety help over the top.
Similar instances of Lion teamwork were evident when Jefferson moved from the outside to the slot.
Given Detroit's efforts, Jefferson managed all of 14 receiving yards.
Detroit is evidently able to limit Minnesota's top offensive playmaker.
Kirk Cousins
Cousins is suffering one of the worst seasons in his career in terms of passer rating.
To be fair, much of his struggles are not directly his fault.
He's struggled many times under pressure, and he's attempted the second-most pressure throws so far.
The fact that he ranks 30thin pressured catchable pass rate shows that he struggles to give his pass-catchers good opportunities when he's dealing with pressure.
When Cousins faced the Lions earlier in the season, he benefited from Detroit not having its top sack-getter, rising star Aidan Hutchinson.
But Hutchinson is fit right now. He has accrued six sacks in his 10 games played.
Viking Pass Defense
Unlike Detroit's, Minnesota's pass defense still looks extremely problematic.
Most recently, Minnesota allowed Jet quarterback Mike White to approach 400 passing yards a week after letting Patriot quarterback Mac Jones achieve his best passer rating of the season.
Overall, Minnesota ranks dead-last in pass defense as measured by its failure to limit opposing passing yards.
Different Problems
Some Viking defensive backs have regressed relative to last year.
There's also little depth at cornerback after Patrick Peterson, although Peterson's success won't matter on Sunday because top Lion wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown enjoys lining up in the slot where he won't encounter Peterson.
Other Viking cornerbacks, linebackers, and safeties are allowing appallingly high pass completion percentages.
Jared Goff's Outlook
Lion quarterback Jared Goff is primed to achieve a second straight outing in which he eclipses 300 yards and exceeds a passer rating of 115.
Since his days as a Ram, he has been known for his success in play-action, which is a play type that Minnesota has struggled massively against.
Goff will often connect with St. Brown and running back D'Andre Swift.
Swift's outlook is particularly positive since Minnesota is one of the worst teams at limiting opposing receptions and receiving yardage from opposing running backs, and Swift is a consistently strong pass-catcher.
Wide receiver DJ Chark is coming off his best game of the season and is primed to exploit Minnesota's lack of cornerback depth.
Goff won't share Cousins' struggle to connect with his favorite target, and Goff has plenty of additional support.
Best Bet: Parlay Lions -2.5 at -110 & Under 52.5 at -115 at +257 odds with BetOnline
Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions
Sunday, December 9, 2022 at 1 p.m. ET at Ford Field in Detroit
A Crucial Firing
After a loss to Miami, Detroit fired defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant.
Since that loss, the Lions have improved monumentally on defense and overall.
To be exact, they've won four of their past five games.
Most recently, they induced Jaguar quarterback Trevor Lawrence to suffer one of his worst performances of the season in Detroit's 40-14 victory.
During their current stretch of success, the Lions have enjoyed more impressive results than beating Jacksonville, though.
For example, they easily covered the spread against and almost beat a top-caliber Buffalo team.
Bill quarterback Josh Allen mustered a poor 80.8 passer rating in his team's near-loss.
Only Two Exceptions
Since the firing, the Lions have given up over 18 points to two teams, Buffalo and Chicago.
What the Bills and Bears both have in common is a highly mobile quarterback who thrived on the ground against the Lion defense -- this is something that Detroit won't have to worry about in Minnesota's quarterback.
Neither Allen nor Bear quarterback Justin Fields posed a threat through the air.
Evidently, the Lion pass defense has found a positive solution by firing that defensive backs coach.
The Teams' First Meeting
On September 25, Detroit and Minnesota met in Minnesota.
Viking quarterback Kirk Cousins pulled off a late game-winning touchdown to avoid an upset loss at home.
His team's near-loss is surprising to consider because the Lions still had their less competent defensive backs coach.
Plus, the Lions were playing on the road where they are vastly less reliable than at home.
At home, Detroit has either suffered a near-loss to a winning team or achieved victory whereas its results on the road are much less reliable.
Now that these two teams meet again, the Lions have the advantages of not having their old defensive backs coach and of playing in Detroit.
Plan for Justin Jefferson
Life with Detroit's old defensive backs coach wasn't all bad, though.
They had a great plan for star Viking receiver Justin Jefferson.
Cornerback Jeff Okudah would play press man coverage, using his hands to disrupt Jefferson's route.
Okudah would play Jefferson underneath while he'd receive safety help over the top.
Similar instances of Lion teamwork were evident when Jefferson moved from the outside to the slot.
Given Detroit's efforts, Jefferson managed all of 14 receiving yards.
Detroit is evidently able to limit Minnesota's top offensive playmaker.
Kirk Cousins
Cousins is suffering one of the worst seasons in his career in terms of passer rating.
To be fair, much of his struggles are not directly his fault.
He's struggled many times under pressure, and he's attempted the second-most pressure throws so far.
The fact that he ranks 30thin pressured catchable pass rate shows that he struggles to give his pass-catchers good opportunities when he's dealing with pressure.
When Cousins faced the Lions earlier in the season, he benefited from Detroit not having its top sack-getter, rising star Aidan Hutchinson.
But Hutchinson is fit right now. He has accrued six sacks in his 10 games played.
Viking Pass Defense
Unlike Detroit's, Minnesota's pass defense still looks extremely problematic.
Most recently, Minnesota allowed Jet quarterback Mike White to approach 400 passing yards a week after letting Patriot quarterback Mac Jones achieve his best passer rating of the season.
Overall, Minnesota ranks dead-last in pass defense as measured by its failure to limit opposing passing yards.
Different Problems
Some Viking defensive backs have regressed relative to last year.
There's also little depth at cornerback after Patrick Peterson, although Peterson's success won't matter on Sunday because top Lion wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown enjoys lining up in the slot where he won't encounter Peterson.
Other Viking cornerbacks, linebackers, and safeties are allowing appallingly high pass completion percentages.
Jared Goff's Outlook
Lion quarterback Jared Goff is primed to achieve a second straight outing in which he eclipses 300 yards and exceeds a passer rating of 115.
Since his days as a Ram, he has been known for his success in play-action, which is a play type that Minnesota has struggled massively against.
Goff will often connect with St. Brown and running back D'Andre Swift.
Swift's outlook is particularly positive since Minnesota is one of the worst teams at limiting opposing receptions and receiving yardage from opposing running backs, and Swift is a consistently strong pass-catcher.
Wide receiver DJ Chark is coming off his best game of the season and is primed to exploit Minnesota's lack of cornerback depth.
Goff won't share Cousins' struggle to connect with his favorite target, and Goff has plenty of additional support.
Best Bet: Parlay Lions -2.5 at -110 & Under 52.5 at -115 at +257 odds with BetOnline
