Big injuries on offense cost the wounded Detroit Lions ground in the NFC North as they suffered a disappointing home loss last week to the Buffalo Bills. The Lions could once again be without their key offensive weapons for their visit to the Minnesota Vikings, who have had a few extra days to lick their own wounds following their Thursday night thumping against the Packers.
For more exciting division games, check out our previews of the Patriots vs. Bills over in the AFC East, and the Steelers vs. Browns in the AFC North. And now, on to this NFC North preview.
[sc:Football ]Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings Preview
Where: TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
When: Sunday, October 12, 1:00PM ET
Line: Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings – view all NFL lines
Betting on the Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions’ offense is in bad shape at the moment, with injuries to their top players leaving them short of weapons. The Lions couldn’t overcome those injuries to their best receiver as well their running back platoon as they produced just 263 yards in a 17-14 home loss to the Buffalo Bills.
[sc:NFL240banner ]For the second straight week, wide receiver Calvin Johnson was hampered by a nagging ankle injury, while running back Reggie Bush also injured his ankle against the Bills to join the concussed Joique Bell on the sideline.
Head coach Jim Caldwell is contemplating finally sitting Johnson against the Vikings in order to fully rest up his troublesome ankle. Bush could also miss the game, but Bell is looking good to make his return. Golden Tate has stepped up in the absence of Johnson, with 15 catches and 250 yards in his last two games.
However, the already shorthanded Lions have not been helped by the offensive line failing to protect Matthew Stafford. The Lions quarterback has been sacked 17 times, 10 in the last two games alone. Stafford is being sacked 8.3 percent of the time he drops back to pass, which is second-worst in the league only behind Jacksonville.
The defense has been doing its part, limiting its opponents to just under 14 points per game in its last three contests. Their very good run defense will be a particular asset against a Vikings team that has run the ball well in the last few weeks. But the Lions still need to put more points on the board to pull out the win.
A possible upgrade in their kicking game will be a big help in that regard. Kicker Alex Henery missed not one, not two, but three field goals against the Bills, and has subsequently been cut. Former Broncos kicker Matt Prater set to step into Henery’s inaccurate shoes.
Aside from injuries, history also won’t be on the Lions’ side this week. In the last two decades, Detroit is a horrendous 2-18 at Minnesota, and has covered the spread just once in their last nine road games against the Vikes.
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Betting on the Minnesota Vikings
Christian Ponder starting against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers went just about as expected, which is to say disastrously. Ponder completed just half of his passes for 222 yards, and was intercepted twice, one of which resulting in a pick six, in a 42-10 defeat on Thursday night.
The imminent return of Teddy Bridgewater from an ankle sprain should give the Vikings an upgrade under center, but even he won’t fare much better if the offensive line can’t contain Detroit’s pressure. The Lions are currently sixth in the league in adjusted sack rate, which will make the O-line’s task of keeping the rookie quarterback upright a challenge.
After executing a conservative gameplan against the Falcons, head coach Mike Zimmer may have to hand Bridgewater more responsibility against the Lions, in large part because the Vikings could have trouble running the ball.
The Vikings have leaned on their running game in the past two weeks, following up their amazing 241-yard, four-touchdown effort against the Falcons with 111 more yards against the Packers last week. However, the Falcons and Packers just so happen to be two of the four worst run-stopping teams in the league on a yards per game basis, while the Lions are the fourth-best.
Should he be called to throw more, Bridgewater will have a trio of capable receivers to work with in Greg Jennings, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Jarius Wright, with whom he connected for 132 yards on eight receptions against the Falcons.
After getting burned by Aaron Rodgers and the Packers receivers last week, the Vikings defense have the good fortune to avoid a healthy Megatron, as well as a toothless Lions running attack. With barely any ground game to worry about, the Vikings can turn their attention to applying pressure on Stafford, which Lions opponents have done with ease this season.
Writer’s Prediction
The Lions defense shuts down the run and pressures young Bridgewater all night, while Stafford generates just enough offense for the Lions to win and cover on the road.
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