The NFL’s Christmas Day schedule has stuffed fans’ stockings quite nicely. The middle of the league’s tripleheader features the NFC North when the Detroit Lions (8-7) travel to Minnesota to face the Vikings (7-8) on Thursday.
Detroit is currently on the outside of the NFC playoff picture, looking in. The Lions missed a golden opportunity to keep pace with playoff contenders with their wild ending against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Vikings are headed in the opposite direction. Minnesota appeared dead on arrival before December, sporting a 4-8 record after their shutout loss to Seattle. But a three-game winning streak temporarily revived their once-dormant playoff hopes.
Can Minnesota continue its winning way, or will the Lions tame their NFC North rivals? We’ll cover that and provide bettors with our top three player props from this Christmas Day game.
| Player | Prop | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Jared Goff | Over 258.5 Pass Yards | |
| Jared Goff | Under 261.5 Pass Yards |
Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff UNDER 244.5 Passing Yards
Detroit has leaned on Jared Goff to keep its playoff hopes alive. The veteran signal-caller has thrown for over 300 yards in three straight games, helping him amass the third-highest passing totals this season with 4,036 yards. He’s been efficient in these games, too; Goff has completed 68.6 percent of his passing, throwing 32 touchdowns against only five picks.
Minnesota’s pass defense has been suspect most of the year, but its struggles in stopping the running attack are a recent development. Six of their last seven opponents have topped the century mark in terms of rushing yards. Expect Detroit to add to that total, and Goff will finish below his passing prop mark on Christmas Day.
| Player | Prop | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Jefferson | Over 75.5 Reception Yards | |
| Justin Jefferson | Under 78.5 Reception Yards |
Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson OVER 57.5 Receiving Yards
Justin Jefferson continues to produce no matter who the Vikings have under center. Currently, the wide receiver has 72 receptions for 917 yards and two touchdowns, stats that would rank among the worst of his six-year career.
Jefferson is looking to extend his 1,000-yard season streak to six, and Detroit presents his best opportunity to have another strong outing. In November, the receiver caught six of his nine targets for 47 yards and one touchdown. Expect him to have a bigger role on Thursday as he covers this receiving prop bet total.
| Player | Prop | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Jahmyr Gibbs | Over 95.5 Rush Yards | |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | Under 98.5 Rush Yards |
Detroit Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs OVER 71.5 Rushing Yards
Despite splitting backfield time with teammate David Montgomery, Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the league’s top athletes. The third-year player ranks seventh with 1,102 rushing yards while being tied for second with 13 touchdowns. He’s also hauled in 72 passes for 560 yards and four more scores in 2025.
Outside of his recent game against Pittsburgh, Gibbs’ effort in his team’s previous matchup against the Vikings was among his worst showings of the season. The running back had only nine rushing attempts for 25 yards in that early November showdown as Minnesota’s defense held firm.
Can Gibbs answer the bell for Detroit in their hour of need? The answer is yes. Since that contest, head coach Dan Campbell has become more involved in the offensive play-calling. Expect Gibbs to get a healthy dose of attempts on Thursday to cover his rushing prop total.
| Sunday, November 8 at 1:00 PM | Spread | Money | Total |
| Detroit Lions |  -6.5 (-115) |  -290 |  O 50 (-110) |
| Miami Dolphins | +6.5 (-112) |  +265 | U 49.5 (-105) |
Best Bet: Detroit (-6.5)
The Lions need help to make the playoffs with only one playoff spot up for grabs. A win by the Packers would punch their ticket, preventing Detroit from making the playoffs one year after being the NFC’s top seed.
Bettors should expect a ticked-off Lions squad to take the field on Thursday. After narrowly winning their first contest, Detroit will take out their frustrations against the Vikings on Thursday. Take them to cover the 6.5-point spread on Christmas Day.
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