Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions
Ford Field, Detroit, MI
November 2, 2025 – 6 p.m. BST
Carson Wentz was placed on injured reserve on Monday after being scheduled for surgery on the labrum in his left shoulder
After another performance in which his weaknesses were exposed and his strengths were made to look very few indeed, Carson Wentz’s time as the Minnesota Vikings’ starting quarterback is finally over, and not a week too soon! Following a humiliating 37–10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, Wentz underwent season-ending surgery on his left shoulder and was placed on injured reserve. That clears the way for J. J. McCarthy to return from a high ankle sprain against the two-time defending NFC North champion Detroit Lions this Sunday.
A game against arguably the best team in the division on their home turf may not be what the Vikings would have wanted for the return of their first-year starter, but what better an opportunity for the former Michigan man to show Kevin O’Connell and the coaching staff exactly why they shouldn’t regret spending the 10th overall pick on him last year?
With a pair of home games to follow, an unlikely victory away to the Lions would be a welcome tonic ahead of a return to US Bank Stadium. Read on to find out how the Vikings might do this weekend and how you’ll be able to watch events unfold in the UK and Ireland.
How to watch Vikings vs. Lions
- Vikings vs. Lions date: Sunday, November 2nd
- Vikings vs. Lions kickoff time: 6 p.m. BST
- Vikings vs. Lions UK channel: Channel 5 (Freeview: 5, Freeview HD: 105, Sky: 105, Virgin Media: 105, EE TV: 5) / NFL Game Pass on DAZN (stream)
This game is Channel 5’s selection to show in the 6 p.m. window on Sunday, which means it will also be available to watch live and in full via NFL Game Pass on DAZN. Coverage on Channel 5 will start as part of Big Game Night at 5:30 p.m., when regular hosts Dermot O’Leary, Samantha Quek and Osi Umeniyora will be joined by comedian Jon Richardson.
What uniforms are the Vikings wearing against the Lions?
The Lions are the home team for this game and have opted to wear their primary home uniforms, consisting of light blue jerseys and silver pants. The Vikings will therefore wear their primary road uniforms of white jerseys and purple pants.
Keys to the game
Justin Jefferson’s only touchdown this season came against the Bears in week 1
Justin Jefferson has yet to light the league on fire this year – his two 100-yard games in 2025 have both come on this side of the Atlantic and he hasn’t scored a touchdown since week 1 in Chicago. Not the stat line you’d expect from the youngest player in league history to reach 8,000 career receiving yards. The return of Jordan Addison has unlocked him somewhat, but inconsistent quarterback play has limited both of their ceilings. With J. J. McCarthy expected to return to the starting lineup against the Lions, perhaps we’ll finally see the Vikings offense we were promised before the season began.
The team’s struggles on offense have only compounded their issues on the other side of the ball, forcing the defense to stay on the field far longer than Brian Flores would like. Only once this season have the Vikings limited their opponents to fewer than 17 points, and that game against the Bengals in week 3 is starting to look like a statistical anomaly rather than the norm. The biggest thing the Vikings can do to help their defense out going forward is to let them stay off the field as much as possible.
Previous meetings
As divisional rivals, the Vikings have faced the Detroit Lions more than most teams in the NFL, with 127 previous meetings all coming in the regular season. The Vikings dominate the series with an 80–45–2 record, but the Lions have been historically strong in recent years and have won each of the last five clashes between the two. They’ve also won the last four at Ford Field, including a 31–9 win in week 18 of last season that gave the Lions a second straight NFC North title thanks to four touchdowns from running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Vikings’ last win over the Lions came at US Bank Stadium in week 3 of the 2022 season, when tight end T. J. Hockenson got on the scoresheet for his former team, but you’d have to go back almost two more years for their last victory at Ford Field. In the final game of the 2020 season, Kirk Cousins passed for over 400 yards, including 133 to rookie wide receiver Justin Jefferson, and rushed for another as the Vikings ran out 37–35 winners.
Vikings injury report
The Vikings began the week by sending QB Carson Wentz for surgery on the shoulder labrum injury he suffered against the Browns in London, placing him on season-ending injured reserve. With J. J. McCarthy dealing with his own ankle injury since week 2 and undrafted rookie Max Brosmer the only other available option, Wentz forced himself through two full games carrying the injury, which finally got too much for him in last Thursday’s loss to the Chargers. This move clears the way for McCarthy to return to the starting lineup, as the first-year starter completed his first full week of practice since the loss to the Falcons on September 14.
Tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill (both knee) were listed as questionable for the game, although O’Neill was a full participant in the team’s final practice before Sunday. Darrisaw was limited as his recovery from last year’s ACL/MCL tear continues, but both should play some part against the Lions. OLB Andrew Van Ginkel is also questionable despite a full week of practice amid a neck injury, as is S Joshua Metellus, who was limited on Friday with a foot injury.
There was some concern over OLB Jonathan Greenard (ankle) after he was limited on Wednesday, but he returned to full participation on Thursday and Friday and has no injury designation for Sunday’s game. CB Isaiah Rodgers is also fit to face the Lions after being limited on Wednesday and Thursday with a shoulder injury. FB C. J. Ham (hand), CB Jeff Okudah (concussion) and TE Josh Oliver (foot) did not participate in practice all week and were ruled out for Sunday.
Lions injury report
The Lions will be missing a key piece on defense for Sunday’s game, as S Kerby Joseph remains sidelined with a knee injury he suffered in Detroit’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in week 6. He’ll be joined on the sidelines by LB Malcolm Rodriguez and RB Craig Reynolds. There’s also the possibility that the Lions could be shorthanded on offense, as LT Taylor Decker (shoulder) was listed as questionable after missing practice on Friday. Also questionable are RB Sione Vaki, S Daniel Thomas and DB Avonte Maddox. OLB Al-Quadin Muhammad (hamstring) and CB Terrion Arnold (shoulder) should be fit for the game despite being listed on the injury report during the week.
Score predictions
- John: Vikings 34, Lions 24
- Reece: Vikings 29, Lions 28
- Darren: Vikings 14, Lions 52
- TPJ: Vikings 20, Lions 42
- Rich: Vikings 9, Lions 38
Let us know your score predictions. Send us an email at UKVikingsFanClub@gmail.com or get in touch via any of our social media channels.
