GameScope NFL research

DET at MIN uncertain forecast

Sun, Dec 20 at 8:20 PM ET · U.S. Bank Stadium

Most likely outcome
MIN wins — 64.7%
DET win
35.3%
MIN win
64.7%

Expected score: DET 19.5 – MIN 26.7

Total anchored to the league-wide baseline of 46.2 points — a shared baseline, not a matchup-specific forecast.

Home-field adjustment included (+65 Elo rating points)

Fair odds (display only): DET 2.83 · MIN 1.55

How this forecast is calculated

Team ratings (Elo): DET 1522.8 vs MIN 1563.1. 393 games trained (Oct 30).

Model: nfl-elo-v2 — Elo ratings trained on real ESPN results (2025 regular+postseason and 2026 regular season to date), chronological replay, K=20, home advantage = 65 Elo rating points, applied only at true home venues: games the feed flags neutral-site get no home bonus, in training and in prediction. Totals baseline is the mean total points of the training games (measured, not assumed). Score-model spread/total probabilities use the engine's bivariate-normal assumptions (score std 13.5, correlation 0.3) — documented approximations, not measured NFL parameters. No backtest against closing lines exists; treat all outputs as experimental uncertain forecasts.

What the win probability uses: Elo ratings only, plus a home-field adjustment of 65 Elo rating points at true home venues (no adjustment at feed-flagged neutral sites).

Contextual research (displayed, not in the calculation): Contextual research only — form, rest, injuries, head-to-head, weather, and travel do not change the win probability above.

Totals: Expected scores are centered on a shared league-wide totals baseline of 46.2 points (the mean total of the training games) — a baseline, not a matchup-specific forecast.

Score-distribution assumptions: Spread/total probabilities assume team scores are bivariate normal (score std 13.5, correlation 0.3) — documented approximations, not measured NFL parameters.

Validation status: No backtest against closing lines exists. Treat all outputs as experimental uncertain forecasts.

Data used

Form & rest contextual research

DET (4-2) — 56 days rest

Last 5: 3-2 (2 straight wins)

Oct 25, 2026GBW20-17
Oct 11, 2026ARIW45-21
Oct 4, 2026CARL26-32
Sep 27, 2026NYJW31-24
Sep 17, 2026BUFL31-41

MIN (6-0) — 56 days rest

Last 5: 5-0 (5 straight wins)

Oct 25, 2026INDW16-10
Oct 11, 2026NOW23-13
Oct 4, 2026MIAW15-10
Sep 27, 2026TBW23-16
Sep 20, 2026CHIW9-3

Head-to-head contextual research MIN 2 - DET 2

Coverage: 2024-2026 regular+postseason schedules (ESPN)

DateScoreWinner
Oct 20, 2024MIN 29 - DET 31DET
Jan 5, 2025DET 31 - MIN 9DET
Nov 2, 2025DET 24 - MIN 27MIN
Dec 25, 2025MIN 23 - DET 10MIN

Injuries contextual research

Week 8 report — availability for Week 15 unknown. These designations were published for Week 8's games. They are the latest available report, kept as dated context; they do not say who will be available in Week 15.

DET

Kerby JosephOutJoseph (knee) was limited in Thursday's practice.
Ennis Rakestraw Jr.QuestionableRakestraw (ankle) is not believed to be dealing with a major injury after he was forced to exit Sunday's win over the Packers, Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News reports.
Ben BartchInjured ReserveThe Lions placed Bartch (foot) on injured reserve Friday.
Devin WhiteInjured ReserveThe Lions placed White (forearm) on injured reserve Friday.
Tom KennedyInjured ReserveThe Lions placed Kennedy (knee) on injured reserve Friday.
Show all 25 (20 more)
Tyleik WilliamsActive
Jacob SaylorsActive
Amon-Ra St. BrownActiveSt. Brown (ankle) practiced in full Thursday.
Jahmyr GibbsActiveGibbs (shoulder) practiced fully Thursday.
Jack CampbellActiveCampbell tallied 11 tackles (eight solo) during the Lions' 20-17 win over the Packers on Sunday.
Brian BranchActiveBranch recorded four tackles (one solo) and an interception during Sunday's 20-17 win over Green Bay.
Isaac TeSlaaActiveTeSlaa caught one of his two targets for 10 yards in the Lions' 20-17 win over the Packers on Sunday.
Jackson MeeksActive
Bishop FitzgeraldActive
Ahmed HassaneinActive
Mekhi WingoActive
Seth McLaughlinActive
Sam LaPortaActiveLaPorta caught one of two targets for 18 yards in Sunday's 20-17 win over the Packers.
Jameson WilliamsActiveWilliams caught five of nine targets for 91 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 20-17 win over Green Bay.
Jared GoffActiveGoff completed 22 of 32 passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 20-17 win over the Packers.
Jake BatesActiveBates went 2-for-2 on field-goal attempts and made both of his PATs during Sunday's 20-17 win over the Packers.
Cade MaysActiveMays (wrist) was activated from injured reserve Saturday and no longer has an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Packers.
Rock Ya-SinActiveYa-Sin (hamstring) does not have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Packers.
DeAndre CarterActiveThe Lions signed Carter to the active roster Thursday.
DJ WonnumActive

MIN

Aaron Jones Sr.QuestionableJones (knee) was limited at Thursday's practice.
Gavin BartholomewQuestionablequestionable
Show all 25 (23 more)
Brian O'NeillActive
Joe HuberActive
Blake CashmanActiveCashman recorded 12 tackles (8 solo) including 2.0 sacks and four passes defensed during Sunday's 16-10 win versus the Colts.
Harrison SmithActiveSmith recorded four tackles (two solo) including 0.5 sacks and an interception during Sunday's 16-10 win versus the Colts.
Elijah WilliamsActive
Demond ClaiborneActive
Caleb TiernanActive
Charles DemmingsActive
Jakobe ThomasActive
Max BrosmerActive
Jauan JenningsActiveJennings caught two of three targets for 34 yards in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Colts.
T.J. HockensonActiveHockenson caught four of five targets for 35 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Colts.
Jordan AddisonActiveAddison caught two of three targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Colts. He added three yards on his lone carry.
Jordan MasonActiveMason carried the ball 15 times for 68 yards in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Colts. He failed to catch either of his two targets.
Kyler MurrayActiveMurray completed 14 of 24 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Colts. He added 39 rushing yards on five carries.
Justin JeffersonActiveJefferson caught four of seven targets for 44 yards in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Colts.
Will ReichardActiveReichard went 3-for-4 on field-goal attempts and made his only PAT during Sunday's 16-10 win over the Colts.
Myles PriceActivePrice (head) was back on the field for the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Colts, Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Christian DarrisawActiveDarrisaw (concussion) does not have any injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Colts, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports.
James PierreActive
Michael JurgensActiveJurgens (elbow) is active for Sunday's game against the Saints, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports.
Ben YurosekActiveYurosek (ankle) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Saints, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports.
Brett ThorsonActiveThorson (hamstring) was a full participant in practice Wednesday and Thursday.

Labels: Out = confirmed unavailable; Doubtful = projected unavailable; Questionable = projected uncertain.

Weather & travel contextual research

n/a — indoor venue

Travel (DET): ~542 miles, 1h time-zone shift west

Research only — not betting advice. All probabilities are uncertain forecasts from a simple model, never guarantees or 'locks'. GameScope places no wagers.
Scores/records/injuries: ESPN unofficial API (live). Weather: MET Norway.