Vikings Expected to Stick with QB Nick Mullens vs Lions, as Playoffs Loom

The (7-7) Minnesota Vikings are coming off of their 3rd loss in four games, but their doesn’t appear to be any quarterback changes on the horizon this week.

Minnesota Vikings expected to stick with Nick Mullens

According to Jeremy Fowler (ESPN), head coach Kevin O’Connell will stick with Nick Mullens for the team’s biggest game of the year Sunday vs the NFC North leading (10-4) Detroit Lions.

Quarterback Nick Mullens is expected to make another start for the #Vikings on Sunday vs. the #Lions, per sources.

Mullens passed for 303 yards last week vs. Cincinnati pic.twitter.com/N3qE0ijEtf

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) December 18, 2023

NFC North title, NFL Playoffs both on the line

Playoff implications? Sunday’s game has them. A lot of them. If the Lions win, they lock in their first division crown in three decades (1993). The Vikings, on the other hand, probably need two wins in their last three weeks, if they want to get into the NFL playoffs. Two of those games are against the Lions.

Related: Dave Portnoy Dumbfounded by Vikings Moronic Tush Push Personnel Decisions

And the division isn’t completely lost yet, either. Some sites, as referenced in our updated Vikings Playoff Odds, still give Minnesota as good as an 11% chance of overtaking Detroit for the NFC North’s no. 1 spot, before the dust settles on this 2023 regular season.

Vikings making right choice

Without a doubt, both teams enter Sunday’s noon matchup with every possible motivation to win. Clearly, KOC believes Nick Mullens gives them the best chance of doing that. And I agree.

Nick made some horrible decisions and his two red zone interceptions contributed a fair share to the Vikings loss in Cincinnati on Saturday. But it was his 80% completion rate, 313 yards passing and 2 touchdowns that gave them a really good chance to win, too.

Nick Mullens gets the throw off and Jordan Addison takes it all the way!

📺: #MINvsCIN on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/vtmfEKvOLy pic.twitter.com/LsiyRrp1bD

— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2023

Watching the Vikings offense vs the Bengals, with Mullens under center, was like turning on Bad Boys 2 for the first time after you’ve been forced to sit inside and watch Cocomelon for the past month-straight. Mistakes and all, I’m riding with Nick Mullens.