Three things Vikings fans should keep an eye out for in Sunday’s NFL games

The Minnesota Vikings are on bye this week, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing noteworthy going on in Week 13.

The Vikings enter this week in the thick of the NFC playoff chase, as the Seattle Seahawks fell to the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night. However, with Green Bay, the Los Angeles Rams, and New Orleans all just outside of the final playoff place, Minnesota faces stiff competition as the season winds down.

So, what should Vikings fans be watching? Here are some of the most important storylines from Week 13.

1. Is the Lions’ season officially over?

One of the most upsetting aspects of the team’s loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday night was the missed opportunity to gain ground on the Detroit Lions in the NFC North.

The Lions hold a 2.5-game lead over the Vikings in the division battle entering this week, but they have shown symptoms of weakness in recent weeks. Despite being destroyed by Jordan Love and the Packers on Thanksgiving, they also trailed by double digits late in their Week 11 comeback triumph over the Bears.

The greatest issues for Detroit have been turnovers and defense. The Lions have turned the ball over seven times in their last two games and will face a Saints defense that ranks fourth in the league with 20 takeaways.

While the Saints rank 21st in points scored this season, they could be energized by a Detroit defense that has allowed 98 points in its last three games.

If the Lions are unable to stop the Saints or continue to give their opponents the ball, their route to their first division title since 1993 could become hazy, especially with two games against the Vikings remaining in the season.

2. Is Jordan Love the next Green Bay Packers quarterback to be inducted into the Hall of Fame?

This is a painful subject for Vikings supporters who have witnessed the Packers’ transition from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers, but Love is beginning to turn things around after a bad start to the season and is making a case to be the Packers’ long-term quarterback.

In his first seven games as a starter, Love completed just 57 percent of his throws for 1,492 yards, 11 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Love has turned the turnaround since losing to the Vikings on Oct. 29, completing 65 percent of his throws for 1,107 yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions.

The 25-year-old has been particularly impressive over the last two weeks, throwing for 322 yards and two touchdowns against the Chargers on Nov. 19 and 268 yards and three touchdowns against the Lions last week.

Love, who has stats that are strikingly comparable to Rodgers’ in his first 11 games as a full-time starter, is assisting the Packers in forcing their way into the postseason position with three wins in their last four games. If he outperforms Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night, the Packers may have found another long-term quarterback solution.

3. Do the Rams have a chance to make the playoffs?

The Rams have been an afterthought in the NFC playoff picture, but they have some momentum coming into their game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

The Rams dropped to 3-6 after a 20-3 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 5, but they came back to beat the Seahawks 17-16 on Nov. 19 and the Arizona Cardinals 37-14 last week.

Los Angeles will also get a break from the football gods when they face Joe Flacco, who will start for the Browns after Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury and Dorian Thompson-Robinson suffered a concussion last week against the Denver Broncos.

The Rams’ schedule includes road trips to Baltimore and San Francisco, as well as a home game against the Saints, but it also features winnable matchups against Washington and the New York Giants, which might keep them in contention.

If the Rams beat Cleveland on Sunday, they will be a legitimate danger to the Vikings for one of the NFC’s final playoff positions.