Detroit Lions Vs Minnesota Vikings: Here's What To Expect

DETROIT — The Detroit Lions (1-1) head to Minneapolis on Sunday to play the Minnesota Vikings (1-1) at U.S. Bank Stadium in a crucial divisional matchup set to kick off at 1 p.m. The Lions are coming off an impressive win, while the Vikings look to defend home field after an ugly loss in Philadelphia on Monday night. The winner could potentially find themselves alone in first-place in the NFC North.

What To Expect

Don't expect Lions quarterback Jared Goff to carve up the Vikings defense through the air the way Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts did Monday night. Rather, expect the Lions to utilize the run game like they did in their win over the Commanders, especially since the Vikings looked pretty soft against the run through their first two games.

Even though the Lions were down three starters on the interior of their offensive line, they stood up well, protecting Goff and paving the way for running backs D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams. It looks like the Lions will be without key starters on the line again, possibly center Frank Ragnow. Despite a nagging ankle injury, Swift should be able to go, even in a limited capacity.

Although the Lions are among NFL leaders in rushing the quarterback, expect Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins to really air it out against a Lions secondary that has struggled this year. The Lions could not cover Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown in their opening day loss, so expect the Vikings to really open the playbook and get the ball to their two very good wide receivers.

Keys To Game

For the Lions it's simple, run the ball effectively to set up single-read downfield passes. Through the first-two games, the Lions are among the leaders in the NFL running the football behind a stellar offensive line, and they weren't playing scrubs. Even without three starters last week, the Lions still ran for 191 yards against the Commanders.

Since the Lions are among the leaders running the ball, the Vikings will most likely play much of their interior defense in the box, looking to stop the run and neglecting to play two-deep safeties. Without over top cover, Lions wide receivers, including Amon-Ra St. Brown should get plenty of one-on-one matchups.

On the defensive side, the Lions need to rush Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins with four-down lineman, and the Lions top two defensive pass rushers, Aidan Hutchinson and John Cominsky are dealing with nagging injuries.

The injuries may prompt the Lions defensive coordinator to utilize multiple blitz packages, which could leave the Lions secondary alone against those two outstanding Vikings wide revivers, Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen.

Even though you never know what you're going to get from Kirk Cousins, the Lions cannot play seven back without pressuring Cousins. The Vikings wide revivers are too good, especially Jefferson, who you can bet Justin Jefferson will be a handful.

What Does All That Mean?

It means the Lions will be in the game until the end, and if they can capitalize on a Kirk Cousins mistake or two (which he's prone to do) then maybe they can steal a win. But the Lions are not favorites (6.5 underdogs) and they shouldn't be.

But it could give us a solid test to whom these Lions really are, and if they're really not those "same-old Lions." When healthy, the Lions have serious talent, especially on the offensive side of the ball (and we haven't even seen Jamison Williams yet).

But very seldom are NFL teams totally healthy, and that's the next step for this team, playing and coaching with that same consistency. We think Dan Campbell is on the right track, but who knows?