Christmas NFL: Detroit Lions v Minnesota Vikings Bet Builder Tips

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Tyler Smith

An enthusiastic sports writer with a passion for Football, American Sports and Formula 1, bringing sharp insight and informed betting analysis to every weekend.

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Christmas NFL - Detroit Lions v Minnesota Vikings

Christmas Day in the NFL delivers a marquee NFC North showdown as the Detroit Lions travel to face the Minnesota Vikings in a Week 17 clash loaded with significance. With the regular season reaching its final stretch, divisional games take on added importance, and this historic rivalry arrives with potential playoff and seeding implications on the line. Under the festive spotlight, this matchup promises intensity, physicality, and high-stakes football.

Detroit enter the contest aiming to continue building momentum behind a balanced and disciplined approach that has defined their season. The Lions’ ability to control games through physical play and efficient execution has made them a difficult opponent, particularly in pressure situations. Minnesota, meanwhile, will look to harness the energy of a Christmas Day home crowd, leaning on resilience and adaptability as they seek to disrupt Detroit’s rhythm and defend their divisional turf.

As the league pauses to celebrate the holidays, this game offers far more than festive entertainment. With playoff positioning, pride, and momentum all in play, both teams will treat this matchup as a defining moment in their Week 17 journey. In a rivalry that rarely lacks drama, Lions versus Vikings on Christmas Day has all the ingredients of a compelling and meaningful NFL showcase.

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Detroit Lions v Minnesota Vikings - Insight and Analysis

Key Matchups

Lions Run Game vs Vikings Front Seven
Detroit’s ability to establish the run remains central to its offensive success. The Lions’ physical rushing attack will test Minnesota’s front seven, which must hold its ground and maintain gap discipline. If Detroit can consistently win first contact and stay ahead of the chains, it will be able to control tempo and limit Minnesota’s offensive opportunities.

Vikings Passing Game vs Lions Secondary
Minnesota’s path to offensive success likely runs through the air, particularly in a game where scoring opportunities may be limited. The Lions’ secondary will need to stay disciplined against route combinations designed to create separation and exploit coverage mismatches. Limiting explosive plays will be a priority for Detroit.

Red-Zone Efficiency
With both defenses capable of tightening near the goal line, execution in the red zone could decide this matchup. Detroit have been efficient finishers throughout the season, while Minnesota must capitalise on any scoring chances to keep pace in a high-stakes divisional contest.


Tactical Preview

Detroit are expected to lean into a balanced, physical game plan, using the run to set up play-action and keep the Vikings’ defense guessing. Offensively, they’ll focus on sustained drives and ball security, while defensively they’ll aim to apply pressure without sacrificing coverage integrity.

Minnesota’s approach will likely centre on tempo and adaptability. Offensively, the Vikings will look to create space through motion and quick reads, while defensively they’ll attempt to disrupt Detroit’s rhythm with pressure packages and disguised coverages. Playing clean football will be essential to avoid giving Detroit short fields.

On Christmas Day, composure and execution often outweigh creativity. The team that handles situational moments — third downs, red-zone trips, and late-game decisions — most effectively will have a strong chance of emerging with a crucial Week 17 victory.


Players to Watch

Detroit Lions

  • Jared Goff (QB): His efficiency and decision-making are key to Detroit’s offensive rhythm.

  • Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR): A reliable and explosive target who thrives in high-leverage situations.

Minnesota Vikings

  • Justin Jefferson (WR): A game-changing presence capable of altering coverage schemes and producing explosive plays.

  • T.J. Hockenson (TE): A trusted target in the middle of the field and red-zone threat.

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Why Each Leg Makes Sense

Detroit Lions Moneyline

The Lions simply have to win. Their chances of making the playoffs currently sit around 15% meaning they have 0 wiggle room for any mistakes or losses. A spirited fight back wasnt enough to overcome the Steelers but i expect a big bounceback performance here.

Amon Ra St. Brown Anytime TD Scorer

Amon Ra is the main receiver and one of my favourite players in the whole NFL. A constant red zone target, see’s a lot of receptions and finds the end zone regularly. We like the price here.

Over 36.5 Points

The line for this game is so low due to the market not expecting Minnesota to do much offensively. However, a blowout is also possible in which case Lions could score 37 on their own!

Jared Goff Over 1.5 Passing Touchdowns

Even with some offensive weapons being down, a weaker offensive line, Goff has explosive players all over the pitch who can take any reception to the endzone. Its a good price and adds to our builder with stastical chance of landing.

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Where to Watch the NFL in the UK and the World

Watching the NFL in the UK

Sky Sports (Pay-TV and Streaming)

  • Sky Sports NFL has returned as the dedicated NFL channel for UK and Ireland audiences, launching September 1, 2025, under a new multi-year rights agreement running through 2027–28.

  • The deal brings a nearly 50% increase in live NFL coverage, including:

    • A second Sunday game at 6 p.m. local time

    • Up to two additional Sunday evening games at 9 p.m.

    • All London and European games

    • Thursday Night, Sunday Night, and Monday Night Football

    • NFL RedZone, Thanksgiving games, playoffs, Pro Bowl, and Super Bowl LX coverage

  • You can access Sky Sports NFL via:

    • Sky satellite (channel 412)

    • Sky Stream (channel 410)

    • NOW (Sky’s no-contract streaming platform)

    • Virgin Media, among other third-party providers

Channel 5 / 5ACTION (Free-to-Air)

  • A new free-to-air broadcast deal lets UK viewers watch two live NFL games each Sunday:

    • One at 6 p.m. on Channel 5

    • Another at 9 p.m. on 5ACTION, which will be branded “5NFL” during NFL evenings

  • Coverage includes:

    • Super Bowl, London & Dublin Games, Thanksgiving, and selection playoff games

    • A family-friendly, interactive studio show called NFL: Big Game Night, hosted by Dermot O’Leary, Sam Quek, and Osi Umenyiora

DAZN – NFL Game Pass International

  • Through DAZN in the UK, you can subscribe to NFL Game Pass International, offering:

    • Live and on-demand access to every regular-season and playoff game, plus the Super Bowl

    • Full access to NFL RedZone, NFL Network shows, replays, and exclusive content like press conferences and analysis

  • Pricing in the UK is available via DAZN (typically around £169.99 annually or installments discounted)

  • Note: DAZN in the UK will broadcast two Sunday games per week on a 24-hour delay as part of simulcast rules


Watching the NFL Around the World (Outside the UK)

DAZN – NFL Game Pass International

  • Globally (excluding the USA & China), NFL Game Pass International remains the primary way to watch:

    • All regular-season and playoff games live and on-demand (~335 games per season)

    • NFL RedZone, NFL Network, plus archival content like documentaries and NFL originals

  • Available in countries such as Spain, Germany, Italy, France, and beyond with localized pricing

Region-Specific Broadcasters

  • Across Europe and other regions, several broadcasters hold local NFL rights:

    • Spain: DAZN

    • Germany/Austria/Switzerland: DAZN; RTL Deutschland also covers select games free-to-air

    • France: M6 Group and beIN Sports

    • Italy/Netherlands: DAZN and ESPN

    • Nordic countries: TV 2 Sport (Denmark), TV4 (Sweden/Finland)

    • More in: Portugal, Poland, Greece, Hungary, etc

NFL Sunday Ticket

  • Available in Canada on DAZN

  • Optionally in Mexico, Central America, South America & the Caribbean through platforms like Sky México, Vrio, and Vivo TV

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