The Minnesota Vikings will host the Detroit Lions
The Bye Week is finally over, and we can now get back to preparing for more Minnesota Vikings games! This week the Vikings will host their division rivals, the Detroit Lions. It will be the Vikings chance to sweep a division series for the second time this year.
The Lions have a lot of things working against them this game.
- The Vikings have only lost 1 game this year
- The Lions have only won 1 game this year
- The Vikings have beat the Lions in 4 straight games
- The Vikings are 14-1 in their last 15 games with the Lions
- The Vikings have beaten the Lions 11 straight times at home
- Overall, the Vikings have only lost to the Vikings at home 12 times in 47 matchups, many of them coming in the Vikings early years in the league
- The Minnesota Vikings are +5 in turnovers.
- The Detroit Lions are -7 in turnovers
- The Vikings lead the NFL with 31 sacks
- Only 4 teams have given up more sacks than the Detroit Lions
- Only 1 team scores more points per game than the Minnesota Vikings this year
- Only 6 teams score less points per game than the Detroit Lions this year
- No team in the NFL has thrown fewer interceptions than the Minnesota Vikings this year
- Only 1 team has thrown more interceptions than the Lions this year
- The Minnesota Vikings are ranked 3rd in 3rd down percentage
- The Detroit Lions are ranked 17th in 3rd down percentage
- Only 1 team has fewer penalty yards than the Vikings this year
- Only 6 teams have more penalty yards than the Lions this year
- The Vikings leading rusher has 784 yards
- The Lions leading rusher has 460 yards
- The Vikings quarterback has 16 touchdowns and 3 interceptions
- The Lions quarterback has 5 touchdowns and 12 interceptions
- The Vikings leading receiver has 585 yards
- The Vikings second leading receiver has 389 yards
- The Lions leading receiver has 352 yards
- The Vikings leading scorer (not counting kicks) has 9 TDs
- The Lions leading scorer (not counting kicks) has 3 TDs
Things do not look good for the Detroit Lions. The Vikings are 16.5 point favorites over Detroit, which I will admit seems a bit much, but the fact remains, this should be Minnesota’s game. If they don’t completely blow it, they’ll win.
Antoine Winfield is sitting out
Winfield has been taking a limited part in practice this week, but he says that his foot still hurts when he cuts, so he’ll be sitting out this game. He hopes to be back for week 12 against the Seahawks.
I personally like this move. I think Paymah and Allen leave a lot to be desired when compared to Winfield, but I think they can hold their own against the Lions. If the defensive line puts pressure on Stafford, it shouldn’t matter much anyway.
The Viking Ship Keys To Victory:
-The Vikings Need To Pressure Stafford
Jared Allen is leading the league in sacks with 10.5. The Vikings are leading the league in sacks with 31. They need to keep up that momentum and make sure they’re putting Stafford under pressure. Stafford has thrown 12 picks this year, and he has given the league reminders that he’s still a rookie quarterback trying to learn the game. If the Vikings can keep him from getting into any kind of rhythm, they’ll be fine.
-The Vikings Need To Flex Their Offensive Muscles
In Week 2 the Vikings beat the Lions by 14 points despite the fact that Favre had under 200 yards throwing and Peterson had under 100 yards rushing. The Vikings offense is much more dynamic these days, but they have a tendency to score in spurts, but not stay consistent through the whole game. Even though they’re playing a weaker team, I’d like to see the Vikings move with consistency, and not stall at any point in the game.
-The Vikings Need To Not Blow It
Let’s face it: This is the Vikings game to win or lose. The Lions don’t control much of Sunday’s destiny. The Vikings are better than the Lions at every aspect of the game. If the Vikings don’t play dumb, they’ll be just fine
My Prediction?
Pain. (for the Lions fans, that is) The Vikes are gonna hurt ‘em, they’re gonna crucify ‘em… real bad.
Even though the point spread seems like a lot, I’m going to give it to the Vikings. I think they’ll win this one 42-14. I think Favre will have 3 TDs, Peterson will have 140 yards, and we’ll see T-Jack in the 4th quarter.
Related posts:
- IT IS GAME TIME – Week 2 Game Preview – Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
- IT’S GAME TIME – Week 11 Preview: The Minnesota Vikings vs The Seattle Seahawks
- IT’S GAME TIME – Week 7 Preview Vikings vs Steelers
- IT’S GAME TIME – Week 12 Preview: The Minnesota Vikings vs the Chicago Bears
- IT’S GAME TIME – Week 15 Preview: The Minnesota Vikings at The Carolina Panthers
