On deck: Last place in the NFC North on the line as Lions travel to Minnesota for Christmas matchup with injury-riddled Vikings

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Allen Park — A little less than a year ago, the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings met in one of the more anticipated regular-season games in NFL history.

Both 14-2, the teams squared off in a primetime finale to determine the No. 1 seed in the NFC, while the other tumbled to a Wild Card slot, requiring them to hit the road to open the postseason. The Lions romped, but it turned out the playoff seeding didn’t matter as both were unceremoniously dumped in their first playoff game.

This season, the sides conclude their home-and-home series a week earlier, with considerably fewer stakes. Wait, is last place in the division even considered a stake?

The currently carefree Vikings, winners of three in a row, are already two weeks removed from being eliminated from playoff contention. Meanwhile, the Lions are left hoping for a miracle after dropping two straight.

Realistically, Detroit players can comfortably start booking tee times or an Airbnb on the beach for the second week of January. Projected odds vary, but it’s a big ask to expect the Lions to finish with back-to-back wins and the Packers to lose their remaining two games.

Part of the reason the Lions are on the ropes is that they were barnstormed by the Vikings coming out of the bye in Week 9. You remember that one, right? When Jared Goff got sacked five times and hit 11 times because former play-caller John Morton couldn’t adjust to the Vikings’ A-gap blitzes that repeatedly left running back Jahmyr Gibbs as his quarterback’s last line of protection.

Morton certainly remembers because it effectively cost him play-calling duties, with coach Dan Campbell taking the reins after the contest.

That win took the Vikings to 4-4 on the season, but they went into a tailspin immediately after, dropping four straight, while quarterback J.J. McCarthy became a popular punchline on social media.

McCarthy had rebounded a little as of late, but the quarterback suffered a throwing hand injury in Sunday’s win over the New York Giants that puts his status for Christmas Day in doubt. If he can’t go, the Vikings will turn to Max Brosmer, an undrafted rookie who has attempted 47 passes this season and been intercepted four times.

McCarthy is far from the only injury the Vikings are dealing with heading into the rematch with the Lions. They suffered a number of notable losses during the past two weeks.

Prior to the matchup with the Giants, the Vikings placed left tackle Christian Darrisaw, defensive end Jonathan Greenard and safety Joshua Metellus on injured reserve.

Then, in addition to McCarthy’s departure on Sunday, the team also had center Ryan Kelly exit with a concussion and running back Jordan Mason with an ankle sprain. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave didn’t even make it to the game, getting ruled out earlier in the week with a thigh injury.

That’s brutal attrition. Netflix is probably dealing with a tinge of buyer’s remorse for the broadcasting rights. $150 million just doesn’t go as far as it used to, I guess.

However, if you’re among the proud looking to ditch your family to watch some football on the holiday, and you’re trying to update those lineup cards, I’ve got you.

We already talked about Brosmer. Along the offensive line, it will likely be Justin Skule for Darrisaw and Michael Jurgens for Kelly, assuming the starting center can’t clear protocol on a short week.

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, a healthy scratch the last time the Lions played the Vikings, got the start in place of Greenard on Sunday, logging 24 snaps. And Jay Ward, a 2023 draft pick with fewer than 70 defensive snaps coming into the season, has stepped in for Metullus.

Don’t worry, there won’t be a quiz. It’s Christmas, after all.