Online Betting Overview The Detroit Lions know that it has to win out if it wants to have a shot at making the playoffs. Catching the 12-0 Green Bay Packers for the NFC North title is not going to happen. But at 7-5, the Lions could finish the season at 11-5 at edge out a Chicago Bears team that is struggling without its starting quarterback for an NFC wild card spot. That is not bad considering that it was only a few years ago that the Lions went 0-16. But the Lions have been doing a lot of losing lately, and some of the Lions’ players are making headlines on and off the field. Star defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh seems to be out of control as he is serving the second of a two-game suspension for stomping on a Green Bay Packers offensive lineman. While on his suspension, Suh got into a car wreck that seems to be getting worse and worse as more details come out. The Lions are distracted and disheveled. The Minnesota Vikings are hoping to have running back Adrian Peterson back in time for this game, according to the price per head sports experts. The one thing that the Vikings could have going in their favor in this game if Peterson does return is a running game. The Lions just cannot keep their running back Jahvid Best healthy, which makes the Detroit running game ineffective. The price per head bookmaking experts are figuring that Christian Ponder is not quite the quarterback that Matthew Stafford is just yet. Ponder has had problems getting used to the NFL game all season long, but the Vikings are sticking with him. It won’t be the difference in the game, but it will be a significant factor. Detroit Lions It is hard to say how good the Detroit Lions could have been this season if they had been able to control Ndamukong Suh. On top of costly personal foul penalties that Suh had taken all season long, this newest issue takes Suh right out of the line up. If Peterson is back for Minnesota, and Suh is not in to stop the run, then this could be a long day for the Lions. The Lions have other strong defensive players, but this defense plays best as a unit. Because of Suh’s actions, it will not be a unit for this game. Minnesota Vikings According to the Sportsbook.com reviews of offensive stats, the Vikings have the sixth best running game in the league. That is only when Adrian Peterson is in the line up. But Ponder is having problems passing the ball and moving the team down the field. At 2-10, the Vikings have been out of the playoff race for a while. The team is now playing for pride and to help preserve the job of head coach Leslie Frazier. Without Suh on the line, even an 80 percent healthy Adrian Peterson would be effective in this game. The Bottom Line The veteran NFL players in the Detroit locker room need to remind the younger players that the team is still in the playoff hunt. The team needs discipline if it is going to win the games it needs to win to make the playoffs. We will see if it can maintain discipline when Suh is back in week 15. Pick: Detroit Lions
