Lions–Vikings rivalry
Lions and Vikings face off during the 2012 season. | |
| Location | Detroit, Minneapolis |
|---|---|
| First meeting | November 19, 1961 Lions 37, Vikings 10 |
| Latest meeting | December 25, 2025 Vikings 23, Lions 10 |
| Next meeting | 2026 |
| Stadiums | Lions: Ford Field Vikings: U.S. Bank Stadium |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 129 |
| All-time series | Vikings: 82–45–2 |
| Largest victory | Lions: 45–7 (1981) Vikings: 34–0 (1980) |
| Most points scored | Lions: 45 (1978), (1981) Vikings: 44 (1988) |
| Longest win streak | Lions: 5 (1961–1963, 2022–2024) Vikings: 13 (1968–1974) |
| Current win streak | Vikings: 2 (2025–present) |
The Lions–Vikings rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings entered the NFL as an expansion team during the 1961 season and were assigned to the Western Division, becoming divisional rivals with the Lions. Following the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, both teams transitioned to the NFC Central, which was later renamed the NFC North after the NFL's realignment in 2002. While the two teams initially maintained a closely contested rivalry, the Vikings dominated in the 1970s, taking a big lead over the Lions.
The Vikings have outperformed the Lions since the inception of their rivalry and the most one-sided decades occurred during the 1970s and 2000s, where the Vikings went 35–5 against the Lions. Based on winning percentage, it is one of the most lopsided divisional rivalries in the NFL.
The Vikings lead the overall series, 82–45–2. The two teams have not met in the playoffs.