Task Enterprises presentsNFL Intelligence

1999 · Week 17 · Division

Final

Lions

Detroit

QB Charlie Batch

17·24

Vikings

Minnesota

QB Jeff George

Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome · dome · astroturf

Closing spread

MIN -7

Total

48.5

Model margin

+4.8est.

MIN perspective

Push chance

4.9%est.

the line sits on a key number

Win probability

  • Vikings
  • Lions

How each play moved the game.

Vikings winsLions wins

Matchup

Where the edges are

Season-long league percentiles for both sides, mirrored. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge.

Lionsedge mapVikings
  • -0.057EPA / play+0.042
  • 38.8%Success rate44.6%
  • +0.024EPA / dropback+0.128
  • -0.222EPA / rush-0.092
  • 8.4%Explosive rate10.9%
  • 35.5%Third-down rate44.4%
  • 61.8%Red-zone TD rate57.8%
  • 1.19Points / drive1.72
  • 2.0%Turnover rate3.4%
  • -0.055EPA / play allowed-0.008

Bar length is league percentile, already oriented so longer is better. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge; rows within ~12 points are washed as even.

The rivalry

MIN lead 36–18 since 1999

MIN have won 2 straight. Meetings average 44.5 points. MIN are 25-25-4 ATS in the series.

Previous meetings
SeasonMatchupScoreWinner
2025 · W17DET @ MIN1023MIN
2025 · W9MIN @ DET2724MIN
2024 · W18MIN @ DET931DET
2024 · W7DET @ MIN3129DET
2023 · W18MIN @ DET2030DET
2023 · W16DET @ MIN3024DET
2022 · W14MIN @ DET2334DET
2022 · W3DET @ MIN2428MIN

Box score

Individual performances

Lions

Passing

PlayerC/AttYdsTDINT
Gus Frerotte14/2218011
Charlie Batch17/2416110

Rushing

PlayerCarYdsAvgTD
Ron Rivers1160.50

Receiving

PlayerRecTgtYdsTD
Johnnie Morton10141282
Germane Crowell8131200
David Sloan36400
Herman Moore22160
Brian Stablein11120
Ron Rivers4480
Sedrick Irvin1270

Vikings

Passing

PlayerC/AttYdsTDINT
Jeff George14/2427512

Rushing

PlayerCarYdsAvgTD
Robert Smith22974.41
Leroy Hoard7415.91
Jeff George1-1-1.00

Receiving

PlayerRecTgtYdsTD
Randy Moss581551
Cris Carter35520
Andrew Glover13230
Andrew Jordan22130
Jake Reed12130
Robert Smith11130
Leroy Hoard1160

Where this game is likely to land

  • Model
  • Smooth (normal)
  • Betting line

Probability of each final margin. Football scoring clusters — the spikes at 3 and 7 are real, and a smooth model misses them.

line +73.5%6.5%7.5%3.2%4.9%3.2%3.0%

Positive margins favour Vikings; negative favour Lions.

Half-point at risk

4.93%

outcomes that flip if the line moves 0.5

Model home win

61.9%

Expected total

44.4est.

Model

Where the number comes from

Each component is additive, in points of expected margin.

  • Team ratings (opponent-adjusted EPA)+1.16
  • Home-field advantage+2.56
  • Quarterback adjustment+1.18
  • Rest differential-0.08
  • Expected margin+4.82