Special Preview
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
Vikings: They are beginning to run away with the NFC North, a division that’s normally gift-wrapped to the Green Bay Packers year in and out especially with Aaron Rodgers on the field. Ever since his unfortunate injury, this has been their division. Their performance against the Los Angeles Rams really had the non-believers speaking after the game. They were able to really limit the top-ranked offensive team in the NFL that averaged close to 33 points per game and held them to a single touchdown. Their gameplan was simple and that was to crowd the line of scrimmage and shut down Todd Gurley and they also accounted for him in the passing game as well and took away that asset of his game. As an offense, they got Latavius Murray the ball and it honestly feels as if they haven’t really established him as much in the ground game. Everything may seem dandy right now, but there’s one thing that’s holding the Minnesota Vikings back and that’s an issue at the most important position, the quarterback. As much as Mike Zimmer may not want to come out and say it, they have a quarterback controversy because he’s continued to stick with Case Keenum who’s done great, but he isn’t necessarily committing to him especially with Teddy Bridgewater back on the active roster for the first time since 2015. I know how I’d solve this issue: I’d continue to keep starting Keenum because he does have them in a position that nobody expected them to be in. They’ll be playing on Thanksgiving for the second straight year in Detroit.
Lions: It’s safe to say that the Detroit Lions play down to their competition at times. The game against the winless Cleveland Browns, they were down by ten points at least twice and last week in Chicago, they struggled and the Bears gave them a battle as I expected and held on for the victory after Barth missed a kick that would’ve tied the game. The Lions would be a much better team if they were able to establish a consistent ground game. I understand it’s a passing league now, but I really believe that Stafford needs some pressure taken off of him and if they did, their offense would be scarier. The Lions are 6-4 and in the thick of the NFC playoff race and just imagine what their record could be if three of those four losses were wins. They dropped a close game against Atlanta, the Panthers and they played the Steelers tough but fell short. They wouldn’t be in the hunt for January football without Stafford at the end of the day. He’s also one guy that I would have on the field when I need a go-ahead score in the fourth quarter. He’s no stranger to the clutch phrase as he led the NFL with eight fourth-quarter comebacks and this year, he almost erased a 35 point lead against the New Orleans Saints. Stafford ranks in the top five in the NFL in passing yards, touchdowns, and interception percentage. The annual Thanksgiving game is set to take place on Thursday morning.
Vikings Player To Watch: Andrew Sendejo– He along with Harrison Smith makes a very effective tandem in the backend of the Vikings defense. Harrison is your cover guy and Andrew is your “hammer”. He can lay that big hit and he can make a receiver think twice about running in his direction.
Lions Player To Watch: Taylor Decker– He finally returned to the field after battling a shoulder injury all year. He needs to be at his best when handling a Vikings defense that can rush the passer as consistently as they do.
Final Analysis: The Lions took the first matchup from the Vikings in week four and at that time, it looked to be a three-team race in the NFC North with Detroit, Green Bay, and the Vikings. My, how things have changed. The Vikings will bring the heat defensively throughout the game, so it’ll be key for the Lions offensive line to contain the tandem of Griffen and Hunter or it could be a long game. The Vikings need to continue to give Murray the football and let him run it.
Prediction: Vikings 26 Lions 23
