The Detroit Lions (4-1) will head to Minneapolis to face the Minnesota Vikings (5-0) in their first divisional matchup. The game will be on October 20th at 1:00 PM, and the Vikings are 1.5-point favorites heading into Sunday. The winner of this game will be in first place in the NFC North and first place in the NFC. The Lions have a 4-2 record against the Vikings in the Dan Campbell era, and the Vikings were the team Dan Campbell got his first career win as an NFL head coach against.
Quotes from The Coaches
After a dominant win against the Cowboys and two straight games in which he scored 40 points on offense, Dan Campbell has his team rolling and looking like one of the best teams in football. He had a lot to say about the daunting Vikings defense ahead of the game against the Vikings. He said, “Pretty good personnel. [Jonathan] Greenard, and [Andrew] Van Ginkel have been excellent for them. [Blake] Cashman. Harrison [Smith] is still back there [at safety]. [Camryn] Bynum has been coming on. And [Josh] Metellus I’ve been thinking a lot of. And [Ivan] Pace has been doing a hell of a job. A lot of good guys are active back there. Flores is doing a great job with them, active defense. It really starts with them.” He praised the defensive coordinator Brian Flores as one of the best in the business, and the Vikings’ defense will be the best unit they have faced all season.
Kevin O’Connell is entering his third season as the Vikings’ head coach. With a 5-0 start, the team looks like one of the biggest threats in the NFC. Coming off a bye week, his team should be ready to go in their second divisional game. About the Lions O’Connell said, “They have weapons everywhere. Really good receivers. Really good running backs. Good quarterback. Really, across the board it’s a complete team. This is one of those games you know is going to be a battle going into it but it’s exactly what we’re looking for. Two of the best teams in the league going at it.” This will be another tough test for a Vikings team that has taken several strong opponents this year in the Texans and Packers.
Key Players for the Lions
Injury Report: Guard Christian Mahogany is out(Illness), Cornerback Carlton Davis is questionable(Quad), and Guard Kevin Zeitler is questionable(Groin)
Quarterback Jared Goff has been excellent the past two weeks. With perfect performances by QBR versus the Seahawks and Cowboys, he looks like he has gotten his season back on track after a rough start. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs had their best game of the season last weekend against a horrible Cowboys run defense. While this week is a significantly tougher matchup, look for them to be dominant again. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has been the team’s best wide receiver, and the Jameson Williams emergence has made the team nearly unguardable. Right tackle Penei Sewell had his best game of the season against the Cowboys and is slowly becoming the best offensive lineman in the NFL.
Defensively, Alim McNeil just got a huge extension, and he is here to stay in Detroit for the long run. D.J. Reader has also steadily improved each week for the Lions. Linebacker Jack Campbell has become one of the best coverage linebackers in the NFL in his second season. In the secondary, the safety duo is where this unit shines. Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch make up the best safety duo in the league and have dominant performances weekly.
Key Players for the Vikings
Injury Report: Linebacker Blake Cashman is out(Toe), Cornerback Akayleb Evans is out(Hip), Linebacker Patrick Jones II is questionable(Shoulder), Running back Aaron Jones is questionable(Hamstring), Defensive Tackle Harrison Phillips is questionable(Shoulder, Tight End T.J. Hockenson is questionable(Knee), Guard Dalton Risner is questionable(Back)
Quarterback Sam Darnold has had a career resurgence this year in Minnesota. After bouncing around for the last couple of years, he cemented himself as the starter for the Vikings, leading them to an early 5-0 record. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson is still the best wide receiver in the NFL, and the Lions have always struggled to handle him over the past two years. On the offensive line, the tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neil have been outstanding at keeping Sam Darnold clean and creating holes in the run game.
Defensively, the defensive line with Jonathon Grenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Harrison Phillips have been some of the main reasons the unit has succeeded. Linebackers Ivan Pace Jr. and Blake Cashman also provide tremendous support, whether as blitzing linebackers, playing in coverage, or defending the run. While the secondary doesn’t have huge names, they have been one of the best pass-defense units in the league. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore and Shaquil Griffin have been solid, while safeties Harrison Smith, Josh Mettelus, and Camryn Bynum have been outstanding in coverage.
Keys for the Lions to Win
1)Where is the Pass Rush Going to Come From?
With Aidan Hutchinson going down with a brutal, season-ending leg injury, the Lions will be looking for one or two guys to emerge as premier pass rushers with the loss of a DPOY front-runner. Hutchinson was the only genuinely elite pass rush talent on the defensive line, and while the team is still immensely talented up front, they will need to find a guy who will burst onto the season as a dominant force. Whether from the interior with guys such as Alim McNeil, D.J. Reader, or Levi Onwuzirike or on the edge from Josh Paschal or James Houston, some of these guys will have to replace the production brought by Hutchinson. Even if this means more blitzes coming from the linebackers, the entire front seven will have to up their play for the rest of the season or until they find reinforcements through the trade market. This week, Alim McNeil and D.J. Reader must be the primary pass-rush guys. The Vikings’ interior offensive line has struggled in pass protection this year, particularly guard Ed Ingram, so attacking that position group will be vital to their success.
2)Jared Goff Excellence Versus the Blitz
Brian Flores loved to blitz, and the Vikings are one of the most blitz-heavy defenses in the NFL and have been one of the best teams in the league. However, this works in favor of the Lions. Not only do the Lions have one of the best offensive lines in the league, but Jared Goff is one of the best quarterbacks against the blitz. Last season versus the Vikings, Goff was blitzed 57 times and performed exceptionally well. He had 510 yards, three touchdowns, and 8.9 yards per attempt. Even this season, Goff has a 112.8 QBR versus the blitz. Goff’s excellence versus the blitz will be the key for the Lions’ offense to move the ball.
3)Mitigate the Blitz
The Lions have the personnel to mitigate what the Vikings like to do defensively with their dominant offensive line. Protecting Jared Goff is the main priority, given how good he is against the blitz. He can dissect the undermanned pass defense if they can keep the pressure from getting to him. Defending the blitz will also be vital to getting the run game going. If they can block the run blitzed effectively, David Montogmery and Jahmyr Gibbs will be able to run all over the Vikings’ defense.
