Let’s get it started, folks!
We’re about thirty minutes away from kickoff at U.S. Bank Stadium between the Detroit Lions and our Minnesota Vikings in a battle for the top spot in the NFC North and the entire NFC. Here’s everything you need to know heading into this one.
Date and Time: Sunday, 20 October 2024, noon Central time
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Television Coverage: KMSP-9 in the Twin Cities, FOX affiliates around the country, YouTube TV Sunday Ticket
Radio Coverage: Vikings Radio Network, SiriusXM Channel 229 (Vikings feed), SiriusXM App Channel 820
Line: Vikings -1.5, Over/Under 50.5
Chris’ Prediction: Vikings 31, Lions 27
Three Keys
1) Contain the run – The Lions have the best run game in the NFL and, arguably, the best running back tandem in Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Pretty much everything the Detroit offense does is predicated on being able to run the football, so if the Vikings can at least slow down the run game and keep the Lions behind the chains, it would go a long way towards a victory.
2) Settle down – The last time the Vikings played, in Week 5 against the Jets in London, Sam Darnold seemed to be playing for a lot of long passes, much to the detriment of the offense. The Lions’ defense, particularly without Aidan Hutchinson, is nowhere near the caliber of the Jets’ defense, so hopefully Darnold will be able to take enough time to make better decisions with the ball.
3) Pressure Jared Goff – The Vikings didn’t have a lot in the way of pass rush the last two times these teams faced off, and now they’re coming in with a defense that doesn’t necessarily have to blitz to get pressure. Brian Flores’ defense has been outstanding this year, and hopefully he’ll have something dialed up to get after Goff and keep him from getting comfortable.
Know the Foe: Pride of Detroit
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That’s everything you need to know heading into today’s matchup, folks. As always, we’ll have a new Discussion Thread dropping at the start of each quarter, so keep an eye out for those and keep the conversation flowing accordingly.
Here’s hoping that in about three hours or so we can all meet back here and talk about how awesome it is to have complete control of the NFC North and remain undefeated.
SKOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL VIKINGS!!!!