(Photo: Sporting News)
NFC Game Of The Week
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
Vikings (6-0):
On Sunday, three undefeated teams entered Week 7 with a zero in the loss column. By the end of the week, that was no longer the case. The San Francisco 49ers fell short against the Atlanta Falcons, and on Sunday Night Football, the Kansas City Chiefs struggled mightily and came up short against the Seattle Seahawks. If you predicted that the Vikings would be the last undefeated team standing in the NFL, you need to play the lottery because you’re good! When Minnesota signed Kyler Murray, I knew the team would be improved, but I didn’t expect it to be 6-0 good at this point in the season. I’ve always been high on defensive coordinator Brian Flores, and this is, by far, the best all-around defense in the league today. This defense has been the Vikings’ saving grace, carrying the team while allowing just 12 points per game. Flores is known for sending aggressive blitzes and using exotic pressures to disguise defensive looks. Through their first six games of the season, the Vikings have allowed just 74 points. In this day and age of football, though, you can’t always rely on one side of the ball, and I’ve had legitimate concerns about their offense. Kyler has delivered and made big plays when his number has been called, but I need to see more consistency from this unit. Don’t get me wrong, what they’ve accomplished is impressive, but playing this way won’t necessarily hold up in December, let alone January. When both sides of the football are clicking, good things happen. This Sunday, the Vikings make their way to Motown for a huge divisional showdown.
Lions (4-2):
When I was recording the most recent episode of Monday Evening Quarterback, I brought up an interesting question: Why aren’t we giving Jared Goff some MVP love? Don’t get me wrong, Brock Purdy has been phenomenal this year, and this is the best I’ve ever seen him look. But let’s look at Jared’s numbers. He’s thrown 14 touchdown passes this season and has yet to turn the ball over. You read that correctly: He’s yet to throw an interception! Sunday was a big game for the Detroit Lions, and I thought they were going to give the game away to the Green Bay Packers, but they held on. First, I noticed how they won the big matchups, generated explosive plays through key offensive weapons, and, most importantly, made the decisive plays when the game was on the line. I was expecting a shootout between these two teams, but it ended up being a street fight, which I can appreciate. Amon-Ra St. Brown did what he does best, dominating in the passing game and providing Jared Goff with a reliable target. Jameson Williams provided a reliable weapon in the red zone, while Jahmyr Gibbs did what he does best: make plays behind an offensive line that helps control the line of scrimmage. This was one of the most well-rounded victories I’ve seen from the Lions all year because both sides of the football were humming and clicking on all cylinders. In Week 8, Detroit will face the lone undefeated team in the NFL in a massive divisional showdown.
Vikings X-Factor: Dallas Turner
I remember watching Dallas Turner during his days with the Alabama Crimson Tide. This year, playing on a stout Vikings defense, he’s been a major piece for Brian Flores and company. Dallas is disruptive and can make life miserable for an opponent if you don’t account for him. In Sunday’s contest, he must make his presence felt by threatening the edge, collapsing the pocket, and keeping Jared Goff from comfortably stepping into his throws. The Vikings aren’t necessarily asking Dallas to finish the game with three or more sacks. Instead, they need him to disrupt Goff’s timing and force the Lions’ offense off schedule. Turner’s ability to win off the edge could be huge for Minnesota. If he can consistently generate pressure, he could make a significant impact without necessarily filling up the stat sheet.
Lions X-Factor: Jahmyr Gibbs
He’s the best player on the field, if you ask me. Since last season, I’ve said that the Lions’ offense is at its best when the game runs through him. In my opinion, Jahmyr is the one player who can complicate Brian Flores’ entire game plan. Flores is known for disguising coverages and bringing pressure, and that’s where Gibbs can hurt Minnesota. If he gets the football in space while the defense is focused on pressuring the quarterback, he can create problems in a hurry. Gibbs can impact this game with a single touch. He brings tremendous versatility because he’s just as dangerous as a receiver as he is carrying the ball out of the backfield. If Detroit gets him going, the Lions can control the pace of the game, put pressure on Minnesota’s defensive front, and open up opportunities for the rest of the offense.
Final Thoughts:
It’s another big game in the NFC North. Believe it or not, if the playoffs were to begin today, all four teams in the division would be playoff teams! The Vikings got all they could handle from the Indianapolis Colts last week, while the Lions had to grind out a victory against the Green Bay Packers. What intrigues me most about this matchup is that neither team has faced an opponent quite like the one they’ll see on Sunday. Minnesota will face one of the most potent offenses in the league in Detroit, while the Lions will be going up against arguably the toughest defense they’ve faced all season. The first order of business for Minnesota is to contain Gibbs. The Vikings need to limit his explosive plays, bring him down in space, and stay alert to screens and checkdowns. They also need to pressure Goff, disrupt his timing, and prevent him from getting comfortable in the pocket. Finally, Minnesota needs to get Justin Jefferson going. He must receive meaningful targets early to help establish the passing attack. For Detroit, protecting Goff against Minnesota’s defensive front is paramount. The offensive line must win the battle at the line of scrimmage, establish the running game, and give Goff enough time to make plays. The Lions must also finish their drives against a Vikings defense that has allowed just 74 total points through its first six games. Both teams have the talent to make a deep playoff run, and this matchup should give us a better idea of where they stand against elite competition. We should be in for some entertaining football on Sunday afternoon!
