The second NFL game on Christmas Day features the second of threedivision rivalries on the slate as the Detroit Lions visit the Minnesota Vikings. The Lions come in clinging to the slimmest playoff hopes, needing to win their final two games and get quite a bit of help in the process. For the Vikings, it's simply about playing spoiler to a division foe and ending their season early.
Detroit (8-7) dropped a tough one to Pittsburgh in Week 16 with acontroversial OPI call on Amon-Ra St. Brown that endeda Lions comeback effort. Now the Lions are in a must-win scenario these last two weeks as they fight for a third consecutive postseason berth. Detroit hasn't made the playoffs in three consecutive years since the Barry Sanders era of the mid-1990s.
Despite the disappointing season and already being eliminated from playoff contention, the Vikings (7-8) still have the opportunity to finish the season with a winning record. They've already beaten Detroit once this year, and shouldMinnesota spoil the Lions' Christmas, they'd be .500 for the first time since early November. After winning 14 games last season, the Vikings have been hampered by the injury bug in 2025, along with being surpassed by the rest of the NFC North.
How to watch Lions vs. Vikings on Christmas
Lions-Vikings start time:4:30 p.m. ETLocation:U.S. Bank Stadium | Minneapolis, MNTV channel, live stream:Netflix, NFL+
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more as the Lions and Vikings face off on Christmas Day in Week 17:
Kate Magdziuk
Vikings' J.J. McCarthy out in Week 17 with hand injury
With backup Carson Wentz out for the year, that puts rookie Max Brosmer in line for his second career start.
In his first, a loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 13, he completed 19 of 30 pass attempts for 126 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions, taking four sacks for a loss of 30 yards on the day.
Injuries have been the story of McCarthy's tenure so far in the league, missing his entire rookie season with a knee injury he suffered in the 2024 preseason. In 2025, he's started just nine games, having missed several games with an ankle injury and another with a concussion (Week 13), leading up to his latest injury.
Along with those injuries have come plenty of growing pains for the quarterback, playing in his first season of live action. He's completed just 57.3% of pass attempts this year for 1,450 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Lions, Vikings announce Week 17 inactives
With less than 90 minutes remaining until the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings kick off on Christmas afternoon, each team has announced its Week 17 inactives for gameday.
