Dan Campbell admitted Friday that he's "shocked" the 5-7 Lions are favored Sunday against the Vikings, who come to Detroit with a 10-2 record and a chance to clinch the NFC North. But he doesn't view it as a newfound sign of respect for his team, which has won four of its past five to claw back into the playoff race.
"No, it's the same people that (said) we were trash when we were 1-6, so it's irrelevant," said Campbell. "If we don't win this game, then it's back to, 'Oh, we're not what we were. It's a fluke and blah blah blah.'"
The Lions' 2.5-point edge in Vegas is such a national storyline that it made the opening segment Friday on ESPN's Pardon The Interruption. Co-host Tony Kornheiser, for his part, isn't buying the hype. Asked if the Lions should really be favored Sunday, he said, "Absolutely not."
"The Lions have won four out of five, which is really good. The Vikings have won nine out of 10, which is really better," he said. "There are reasons that the point spread can shrink: It's in Detroit, it's a divison game. But, no, there's no way on earth. The Lions are fun to watch and they score a bunch of points, buy they are the worst defense in the league. Worst in yards allowed, worst in points allowed, so absolutely not, they shouldn't be (favored.)"
Mike Wilbon, your thoughts?
"The Detroit Lions are going to win the game," he said. "Look, I've watched these NFC Central games all my life. (Your age is showing, Mike.) I told you in about Week 6 when the Vikings were 5-1, 'The Bears are going to beat the Vikings this year, the Lions are going to beat the Vikings this year.' And that's going to happen. The Bears have no players left and they're still going to beat the Vikings.
"So (the point spread) doesn't have anything to do with football. The Vikings are still going to win the division, they are having a terrific season, but they're gonna lose to the Lions at Ford Field on Sunday. That's the deal."
The Vikings have won close games all season. In fact, their only win that wasn't decided by one score came in Week 1 and their narrow plus-10 point differential suggests they're on shaky ground. But Minnesota has beaten some really good teams along the way, including the Dolphins and the Bills on the road, both of whom beat the Lions in Detroit. In the NFL, 10-2 is 10-2.
"This team has won 10 games and it doesn't matter how you did it," Campbell said. "You won them, and you earned that. There is no, 'Well, it was a fluke.' That doesn't exist in this league. They are finding ways to win. They always have and they're where they're at for a reason and you cannot overlook that. Man, if you don't have respect for those teams, you'll get buried by them."
Asked if he's brought up the spread with his players, Campbell reminded everyone, "We can't bet. That's illegal. I'd get banned for life from this league. So since we can't bet, it has no bearing on us."
Wilbon would tell you to bet on the Lions, at least to win. And if you're leaning toward the Vikings, Kornheiser -- believer in the Lions or not -- would tell you to be careful.
"What (the spread) tells you is, this is the potential trap game. They lure you into betting on Minnesota, and then you put the money on Minnesota and somehow Detroit wins," Kornheiser said. "Maybe that will happen, but, no Detroit should not be favored."
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