Call it a holiday miracle — undrafted rookie quarterback Max Brosmer is set to make his second NFL start as the Minnesota Vikings host the Detroit Lions for a Christmas Day showdown at U.S. Bank Stadium.
While the Vikings (7–8, 4th NFC North) have already been booted from the playoff race, they’d take great joy in dragging their eighth-seeded division rival Lions (8–7, 3rd NFC North) down with them.
The teams first met in Week 9 in Detroit, where the Vikings stole a 27–24 victory behind second-year signal-caller JJ McCarthy. But with “Nine” sidelined from a fractured hand, they’ll turn to the former University of Minnesota standout — and hope for a better result this time around.
Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET. Detroit enters as a 7.5-point road favorite, while Minnesota sits as a +300 underdog. The game’s total is set at 53.5 points.
Ahead of the Christmas Day matchup, here is my favorite Max Brosmer prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Best Max Brosmer Prop Bet for Lions vs. Vikings
Best Bet: Max Brosmer 30+ Pass Attempts (-141)
It wasn’t the debut start that Max Brosmer was hoping for. Against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 13, he threw for just 126 yards and dished out four interceptions as the Seattle coasted to a 26–0 shutout. The defining moment came in the first half when he threw an 84-yard pick-six while crashing to the turf.
But there was a silver lining: the Vikings trusted Brosmer’s arm. The former University of Minnesota standout, who threw for 2,828 yards in his final college season, attempted 30 passes against a formidable Seahawks defense, completing 19 of them for a respectable 63.3% completion rate.
Brosmer is coming off a bounce-back performance against the New York Giants. He completed seven of nine passes for 52 yards after relieving the injured McCarthy, including a clutch 21-yard connection with Justin Jefferson that set up the game-deciding field goal in a 16–13 victory.
Minnesota appears ready to ride that momentum into Thursday’s matchup with the Lions. Detroit’s defense has allowed the NFL’s 10th-most pass attempts and eighth-most passing yards. Adding to Brosmer’s responsibility: Minnesota’s lead running back, Jordan Mason, will miss the game with an ankle injury.
Count on the Vikings to let their rookie QB air it out on Christmas Day — whether it pays off is anyone’s guess.
