The Detroit Lions are taking advantage of a much-needed bye week, sitting at 5-2 following their Monday night win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, their pursuit of a championship is far from over and will resume in Week 9 when they host the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field.

When the NFL schedule was released earlier this year, this matchup stood out as one of the more anticipated divisional battles. Yet after Minnesota’s disastrous 37-10 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night, it suddenly appears far less threatening—a potential minor obstacle on the Lions’ path toward a title run.

Lions Have Chance to End Vikings’ Season in Week 9 Home Clash After Bye

Not long ago, the Vikings were among the Lions’ biggest challengers in the NFC. Their Week 18 meeting last January decided both the NFC North crown and the conference’s No. 1 seed, and Detroit delivered one of its top performances of the year in a 31-9 win. But Thursday’s meltdown proved this Vikings team looks nothing like the one the Lions defeated last season.

Minnesota took a significant gamble this offseason by allowing quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones to walk in free agency, choosing instead to fully commit to rookie J.J. McCarthy while turning down interest from veteran Aaron Rodgers. McCarthy’s ankle injury—or what some describe as a “soft benching”—has slowed his progress, and Detroit could be preparing to face either a rusty McCarthy, who hasn’t played since Week 2, or Carson Wentz, who struggled mightily Thursday and is now nursing a shoulder issue.

Beyond the quarterback turmoil, the Vikings’ offensive line has become another glaring concern. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw exited Thursday’s game after just nine snaps, while right tackle Brian O’Neill (knee) and center Ryan Kelly (concussion) were already sidelined. The makeshift line allowed Wentz to face pressure on 53.1% of his dropbacks, according to Pro Football Focus, while the team managed a mere 34 rushing yards and just 3.09 yards per carry.

The Vikings’ defense, a strength a year ago, has also regressed. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns with ease, and the run defense completely fell apart—surrendering 207 rushing yards, including 117 and a touchdown from Kimani Vidal. It marked the second time this season Minnesota has allowed more than 200 rushing yards in a single game.

Stacking up those issues against the Lions’ strengths paints a clear picture for Week 9—it could easily become a comfortable multi-score win for Detroit.

The Lions’ defense has been dominant, limiting MVP contender Baker Mayfield to just 228 passing yards while holding Tampa Bay to nine total points. Detroit ranks 10th in the league in pressure rate at 23.6% and could regain rookie corner Terrion Arnold from a shoulder injury, while defensive tackle Alim McNeill benefits from another week of rest following his ACL recovery.

Minnesota’s defensive woes also play right into Detroit’s offensive formula. The Lions’ rushing attack, led by David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, sits fifth in the NFL with 133.7 rushing yards per game, and quarterback Jared Goff currently boasts a league-best passer rating of 118.0.

With the struggling Vikings limping into Ford Field, the situation looks ideal for Detroit. Every win will be crucial in keeping pace with the division-leading Green Bay Packers and an improved Chicago Bears team. For Lions fans, seeing last year’s top rival unravel only adds to the satisfaction—and a dominant Week 9 performance could mark the Vikings’ complete collapse.