We are less than an hour away from kickoff at Ford Field between the Detroit Lions and your Minnesota Vikings. This is a big one for both teams, and the Vikings desperately need this one to avoid an 0-3 start within the division and keep the momentum they’ve picked up over the past couple of weeks.
Here’s everything you need to know about today’s game.
Date and Time: Sunday, 20 October, 2019, noon Central time
Location: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Television Coverage: KSTP-9 in the Twin Cities, FOX affiliates around the country, DirecTV Channel 710
Radio Coverage: Vikings Radio Network, Sirius Channel 127, XM Channel 230 (DET feed), SiriusXM App Channel 819
Line: Vikings -2, Over/Under 44
Chris’ Prediction: Vikings 30, Lions 20
Three Keys
1) Continue the usual battering of Matthew Stafford - If it seems like the Vikings sack Matthew Stafford a lot, that’s only because they do. One of the matchups between these two teams in 2018 saw Stafford sacked a Vikings’ franchise record 10 times. They only got him twice in the other game, but the Vikings’ defense also held Stafford to just 116 yards through the air. The Lions’ offensive line has been improved, but we’ll have to see how they hold up against Danielle Hunter, Everson Griffen, and company.
2) Make the plays that are available - The Lions’ defense, statistically, has not been good this season. They’re 27th in the NFL against the run, 28th against the pass, and have only collected 10 sacks in the team’s first five games. The passing offense has gotten into a groove over the past couple of weeks behind Kirk Cousins, and we know that Dalvin Cook has been doing great things in the run game. There should be plays to be had against the Detroit defense, but it’s up to the Vikings’ offense to make them whether it’s on the ground or through the air.
3) Continue winning on special teams - Dan Bailey has regained his footing. . .pardon the pun. . .as one of the NFL’s best kickers, and Britton Colquitt has been doing an outstanding job punting (and holding, which is apparently every bit as important). The Vikings need Bailey to continue putting those points on the board when called upon, and giving the Lions long fields to deal with will go a long way towards Minnesota’s success in this one.
Know the Foe: Pride of Detroit
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We’re going to have a brand new Open Thread at the start of each quarter, so be sure to keep your eyes open for those. Other than that, let’s hope that the Vikings can build on the past couple of weeks and run their winning streak to three.
SKOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL VIKINGS!!!!