Vikings Know Your Enemy: Detroit Lions
Everyone reading this has enough knowledge about the Lions and who they are coached by and what they do well due to the first round of this article correct? They are coached by Jim Caldwell; they have a record of 6-4 and sit atop the NFC North Division. Great, now moving along to what the Lions mean to Thanksgiving Day.
The Lions are as much a part of Thanksgiving tradition as turkey itself; they have played 69 games, resulting in a 36-38-2 record. Regardless of record at the time, fathers everywhere urged sons and daughters to not bet against the Lions on the special day but just watch and hope they win.
The Lions will be going for their fourth straight victory on the holiday; a feat they have only accomplished in the 1950’s. Their three straight victories came after a rough 2000’s stretch in which they lost nine straight times, begging people everywhere to wonder why the Lions still played on Thanksgiving Day.
Thankfully though, the Lions still get to play on the family, football and feast day as they try to be the only team to beat the Vikings twice on turkey day. Not only are the Lions trying to beat the Vikings for the second straight time on Thanksgiving Day, they are trying to beat them for the second straight time this season.
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Strengths
Resilience; obviously this is something that cannot be proven on a stat sheet, however, the Lions are like a bad guy from a B-horror flick that just will not die. The Lions have trailed in the fourth quarter in every single game this season and have come out on top 60 percent of the time. This year’s team just will not go away, no matter what teams do well against them. Most of that may come from a coaching staff built around Jim Caldwell’s stoic demeanor; the rest comes from the players refusing to quit.
Although only 17th in the NFL in passing yards, the Lions and Matthew Stafford are still the identity of the offense. Since Jim Bob Cooter took over as offensive coordinator, the Lions and Stafford have seemingly taken the next step, even without that one guy that is now trying to be a dancer. The Lions look inept at times; however, in the fourth quarter, that is when the light goes on for the offense and they get the job done.
Weaknesses
Although an improvement when comparing them to the Vikings, the lions run game is about as inconsistent as it gets. The Lions currently rank 30th in the NFL with 795 yards rushing. Adding to it, last week, they only amassed 14 yards against a Jacksonville team that gives up the 10th most rushing yards in the league.
As mentioned in the cover32 preview of this game, the Lions are 31st overall against tight ends. Last weekend, however, they only surrendered five catches for 28 yards to Jaguar tight ends. Although better in recent weeks, the Lions are susceptible in the middle of their defense.
How can the Vikings win?
Getting to Stafford will be priority number one for Mike Zimmer’s defense this week. After allowing Detroit to tie the game in the fourth quarter with only 27 seconds left on the clock, Zimmer will bring much more pressure on big downs. There is no doubt in any fans’ mind that Zimmer will never just rush three defenders against Stafford ever again.
The Vikings may have to take a page out of the Lions’ playbook for this game. Using quick wide receiver screens and tight end shallow-crosses in front of a soft zone defense may be the recipe for the win in this one. The Vikings have Kyle Rudolph and now it is time to start using him as a weapon in all parts of the field, not just the red zone.
Matchups
Vikings | Lions | |
Coaching | Not as confident as the last time, but Zimmer still takes this one. | Very close call but Zimmer barely edges Caldwell. |
Offensive line | Have found a somewhat better recipe but are still one of the worst in the league. | The Lions have had their fair share of negatives along this unit but are still more consistent than the Vikings |
Quarterbacks | Bradford’s lack of a timer in his head has caused headaches for the team and for himself. | Stafford has been receiving some whispers for MVP this season. |
Running backs | Still more faith in the Lions, especially in the screen game. | At least these guys can break a tackle every once in a while. |
Receivers | Adam Thielen and Cordarrelle Patterson stepped up in a big way last week. | Still more faith can be instilled by who the Vikings’ receivers will face. |
Defensive line | Close here yet the Vikings take this one. | Close due to how it shaped up on the field last time but slight edge goes to Vikings in this one. |
Linebackers | If healthy, they are one of the best units in the league, lately that has not been the case. | If they could cover better, they would take this one, they can’t so they don’t. |
Defensive backs | Xavier Rhodes just proved his is one of the most dominant defensive backs in the league. | They never had an answer for Diggs last time out and may not once again this week. |
Special teams | Barely get edged out in this one due to how it turned out last time. | The Lions also had a punt return for a touchdown last week and more faith can be awarded them due to the way things went in the last game. |
Total | 5 | 4 |
As the matchup table suggests, this game should be another nail-biter that comes down to the wire. Either way, the team that plays more consistent on offense will win this game. Fans can expect anxiety induced hunger pangs to set in as the fourth quarter slowly ticks away at their souls. Luckily for most, food should be readily available to fill the voids immediately.
Wrap up
Obviously this is not your grandfather’s Lions that the Vikings will be playing on Thursday. However, it is a team that is beatable if the Vikings get back to playing hungry yet disciplined football.
The Vikings must avoid over pursuing the Lions receivers and running backs or they will get burned in the screen game. Likewise, the Vikings must use the Lions tendencies to over pursue in pass rush by setting up some screens.
Although never an easy task on a short week, the Vikings need this win as the division may slip away if they lose.
Giving Thanks
At vikings32, we are nothing without our readers. So, to all who find themselves in a warm room with the ability to watch the game on a television or listen to the game on the radio while eating a neatly prepared meal, we wish a wonderful Happy Thanksgiving Day to you all. Also, to others who may not have all that happiness in their life, we wish one day better fortunes will find you.
We also must remember those who may not be with us for this year’s meal so I urge all of you to look at your loved ones and simply smile because that is truly a blessing.
I personally hope at least somewhere; someone will be seated on a crowded davenport while watching the game on a television set that has at least one piece of fake wood on it and a broken dial. They will hopefully be able to hear four generations of loved ones conversing quietly around a meal consisting of turkey, ham and some kind of green bean casserole. I may not be the most emotional man in the world, but that is one thing I will always miss.
— Justin Ekstrom can be followed on Twitter @thesportscrib21 and will miss grandmothers E., V. and B. this holiday season. Be sure to follow and comment about vikings32 on Facebook and Twitter.
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