A Brief Look at Vikings/Lions History

As we look forward to the Week 2 matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions (because we certainly don't want to look back at Week 1), it's time to take a look back at their history against their longtime division rival. As always, these in-depth statistics come from Pro Football Reference.

Total Games Between the Vikings and the Lions: 107 (0 post-season)

All-Time Regular Season Record: Vikings, 69-36-2

Total Vikings Points Scored, Head-to-Head, Regular Season: 2312 (21.61/game)

Total Lions Points Scored, Head-to-Head, Regular Season: 1989 (18.59/game)

Longest Vikings' Winning Streak vs Lions: 13 (6 October 1968 - 22 September 1974)

Longest Lions' Winning Streak vs Vikings: 5 (19 November 1961 - 27 October 1963) (First five games of the series)

Most Recent Vikings' Victory in Minnesota: 29 December 2013 (Final score 14-13) (Final game in the Metrodome)

Most Recent Lions' Victory in Minnesota: 12 October 2014 (Final score 17-3)

Biggest Vikings' Victory in Minnesota: 34 points, 9 November 1980 (Final score 34-0)

Biggest Lions' Victory in Minnesota: 27 points, 19 November 1961 (Final score 10-37) (First ever meeting)

Current Winning Streak: Lions, 2 (12 October 2014 - 14 December 2014)

A few more interesting tidbits about the series:

• The Vikings obviously hold the huge edge in the all-time series, but it certainly didn't start that way. The Lions won the first five meetings (in their longest win streak mentioned above) and started 7-1-1 over the Vikings. Since then the Vikings are 68-25-1, good for an incredible 73.1% winning percentage.
• The Vikings longest winning streak came in the late 60's and early 70's, but perhaps the most impressive streak came in the past decade. Minnesota beat Detroit 16 out of 17 times between 13 October 2002 and 26 September 2010.
• Between 20 September 1998 and 26 September 2010, the Vikings recorded 13 consecutive home victories over the Lions. The longest home winning streak the Lions have had in the series? Three, which were the first three times Detroit hosted Minnesota from 1961 to 1963.
• While the Vikings hold the significant historical edge in the series, Detroit has won 6 of the last 9 meetings against the Vikings dating back to 2 January 2011. The Lions have swept the season series from the Vikings two of the past four seasons, including last year. Before that, the previous time Detroit had won both games against Minnesota was way back in 1991.