The Vikings finish their only homestand of the 2021 season on Sunday against the winless Lions, in what could be an oasis between a 1-3 start and a six-game blur that defines their season.
Though the Vikings are the only NFC North team to outscore their opponents through the first four games of the season, they are 1-3 after a trio of one-score losses, trailing the Packers by two games in the division as coach Mike Zimmer continues to say his team is close to a turnaround.
The Vikings are 9 1/2-point favorites on Sunday, the 10th time they've been favored by that much in Zimmer's eight seasons.