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Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings: PFM Team Comparison

PFM rates the Detroit Lions higher than the Minnesota Vikings overall, with a clear advantage. The main reasons are the more dependable offense and the steadier quarterback room.

Current PFM Team Scores

Clear edgeDET

Detroit Lions

86.7PFM Team Score#4 NFL
MIN

Minnesota Vikings

78.9PFM Team Score#18 NFL
Swap Teams Clear Comparison
PFM JUDGMENT

Why PFM Rates the Detroit Lions Higher

The Detroit Lions bring the broader offense. The unit has more answers than Minnesota when the opening approach stalls. The Minnesota Vikings are closest in defense, where the teams remain essentially even.

Detroit also brings the steadier quarterback room. Detroit adds the deeper roster. That is enough to keep the Detroit Lions ahead.

TEAM DNA COMPARISON

Detroit vs. Minnesota Across the Core Pillars

The farther a team reaches, the stronger the rating. Each category also calls out which team has the edge and the exact gap. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team.

DETDetroit Lions
MINMinnesota Vikings
Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings Team DNA comparisonPFM category scores on a 0 to 100 scale. QB Stability: Detroit Lions 85.4, Minnesota Vikings 76.4, edge DET +9.0; Offense: Detroit Lions 88.5, Minnesota Vikings 76.6, edge DET +11.9; Defense: Detroit Lions 80.5, Minnesota Vikings 80.2, edge DET +0.3; Coaching Direction: Detroit Lions 85.7, Minnesota Vikings 82.2, edge DET +3.5; Roster Depth: Detroit Lions 84.5, Minnesota Vikings 79.8, edge DET +4.7. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team at a time.
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MINNESOTA’S BEST PUSHBACK

Defense Is Minnesota’s Only Close Fight

Minnesota's defense gives the team one place to push back. The Vikings are only 0.3 points behind Detroit in Defense, but that is where Minnesota's case ends. Detroit still has Jared Goff at quarterback and the deeper roster, two advantages the Vikings cannot match in this comparison.

COMPLETE COMPARISON

Where Each Team Has the Edge

PFM Team Score

DET86.7
Detroit Lions 86.7
MIN78.9
Minnesota Vikings 78.9
Clear Detroit Lions edge

Overall NFL Rank

DET#4
Detroit Lions #4
MIN#18
Minnesota Vikings #18
Detroit Lions ranks higher

QB Stability

DET85.4
Detroit Lions 85.4
MIN76.4
Minnesota Vikings 76.4
Clear Detroit Lions edge

Roster Strength

DET84.5
Detroit Lions 84.5
MIN79.8
Minnesota Vikings 79.8
Clear Detroit Lions edge

Coaching Direction

DET85.7
Detroit Lions 85.7
MIN82.2
Minnesota Vikings 82.2
Clear Detroit Lions edge

Recent Performance

DET80.1
Detroit Lions 80.1
MIN79.9
Minnesota Vikings 79.9
Essentially even

Offense

DET88.5
Detroit Lions 88.5
MIN76.6
Minnesota Vikings 76.6
Major Detroit Lions edge

Defense

DET80.5
Detroit Lions 80.5
MIN80.2
Minnesota Vikings 80.2
Slight Detroit Lions edge

Franchise Direction

DET80.5
Detroit Lions 80.5
MIN77.0
Minnesota Vikings 77.0
Clear Detroit Lions edge

Explosiveness

DET84.9
Detroit Lions 84.9
MIN77.1
Minnesota Vikings 77.1
Clear Detroit Lions edge

Conference Rank

DET#3
Detroit Lions #3
MIN#8
Minnesota Vikings #8
Detroit Lions ranks higher

Division Rank

DET#1
Detroit Lions #1
MIN#4
Minnesota Vikings #4
Detroit Lions ranks higher

Outlook

DETSuper Bowl ContenderMINIn the Playoff Mix
Stronger outlook: Detroit Lions
TEAM CONSTRUCTION

How These Teams Are Built Differently

Detroit Lions

Strongest Rating
Offense
Category Edge
Offense
Biggest Matchup Concern
No clear matchup concern

Detroit's clearest category edge is Offense. The Lions can create offense in more than one way against the Minnesota Vikings. One bad matchup is less likely to shut down the entire scoring approach. Minnesota does not own a separate category that creates a major matchup concern.

Minnesota Vikings

Strongest Rating
Coaching Direction
Category Edge
None in this matchup
Biggest Matchup Concern
Offense

Minnesota's strongest current rating is Coaching Direction, but Detroit still leads that category. The biggest problem in this matchup is Offense, where Detroit owns the clearer advantage.

SCHEDULE CONTEXT

Which Team Has the Tougher Road?

Detroit Lions

Full schedule rank: #28

Toughest stretch: New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears

Strongest opponents: New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears

View Detroit Lions Road Ahead

Minnesota Vikings

Full schedule rank: #17

Toughest stretch: Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers

Strongest opponents: Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots

View Minnesota Vikings Road Ahead

Minnesota has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 17. The strongest opponents include the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, and New England Patriots. Detroit also has the more favorable road, which adds to the more dependable offense and the steadier quarterback room.

View the complete all-32 Road Ahead

Ratings and Schedule Freshness

PFM ratings updated August 25, 2026. Schedule data updated June 29, 2026.

How to Read This Comparison

PFM Team Score determines the overall order. The Team DNA comparison puts five core pillars on the same 0–100 scale, while the full rows show every current category.

PFM compares overall team strength rather than predicting one matchup. Road Ahead adds schedule context without changing PFM Team Score.

See the complete PFM NFL Team Rankings and methodology.

PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams