Post by Danchat on Dec 21, 2018 19:39:54 GMT -6
The Vikings could clinch a playoff spot with a win against the deflated Detroit Lions. Will the Vikings find a way to blow this free win?
Comparisons with Lions roster back in Week 9:
Players Lost to injury:
HB Kerryon Johnson
TE Michael Roberts
WR Marvin Jones
RG TJ Lang
DE Ezekiel Ansah
DE/DT Da'Shawn Hand
* My thoughts *
Last time, the Vikings limped into the Lions game and won thanks to an impressive defensive effort. This time, the Lions limp in with tons of injured players and no motivation to play under the maligned Matt Patricia. Stafford looked hurt against the Cardinals, and since scoring just 9 points against the Vikings Week 9, the Lions' highest-scoring game was 22 points with their last 6 games falling in between 13-22 points. Their personnel is simply gone and there's nothing left. Dynamic rookie HB Kerryon Johnson is on the IR, so Zach Zenner (wasn't even on the roster Week 9!) will start with Blount stealing a few carries for no good reason (dead last averaging 2.8 yards per carry). Theo Riddick will catch a bunch of checkdowns, and hopefully the Vikes will be ready for him without Kenricks. Eric shut him down Week 9.
The Lions' O-line looks decent on paper, but the Vikings absolutely crushed it back in Week 9. Part of that was Stafford holding the ball forever, but they also shut down HB Johnson and covered the WRs near-perfectly. Taylor Decker hasn't been the same since being injured back in 2017... maybe they miss Reiff? Ragnow is an average guard, Glasgow is a quality center, but Kenny Wiggins is a liability in both phases. They miss T. J. Lang badly. Finally, Ricky Wagner is a good RT, but the Vikings have had his number, more specifically Danielle Hunter has beaten him at least 3 times in the last 3 matchups. Finally, the WRs group is barren. Golladay is a really good WR, but he's banged up and has nothing behind him. Ellington's out, PFF has T. J. Jones ranked below Treadwell (how is that possible?!), and somebody named Andy Jones will play a lot of snaps. Levine Toilolo is a great blocker and like a 6th O-lineman, but he's not a good receiving TE.
Matt Patricia has his defense playing at a decent level, but the offense just hasn't supported it lately. The D-line has lost Ezekiel Ansah (had a sack on Cousins) and Da'Shawn Hand (a very good run stuffer) and might be vulnerable. They're anchored by Snacks Harrison, who's a beast of a run stopper. The Vikings need to run their plays away from him. A'Shawn Robinson is having a great year in run stopping too... but they don't have a good interior pass rusher. Romeo Okwara is a decent pass rusher who's collected 6.5 sacks. Kerry Hyder hasn't done much since returning from injury.
The LBs have improved, though Jarrad Davis has similar grades to Dolphins Kiko Alonso, who was atrocious against the Vikings. Davis' cover grades are terrible, and most teams have torched him using HB passes. The improvements I mentioned have come from Christian Jones and Devon Kennard. Kennard has made 7 sacks and will usually be going after the QB on passing downs. The Lions have used 3 safeties on the field at times, getting Tavon Wilson and now more recently Tracy Walker out there instead of a LB. The primary safeties haven't fared so well. Diggs hsa poor cover grades but a good run stopping one. Glover Quin has struggled big time in all phases, which is shocking after such a good 2017 campaign.
The Lions' only good CB is Darius Slay, who's given the Vikings a buttload of problems. He's a lockdown corner who will probably be matched up to Diggs. Hopefully Thielen can have a big game as UDFA Mike Ford might be on him in the slot. The Lions gave up on Teez Tabor in the slot, and it was a good thing because his PFF grade (29.2) was one of the lowest I've ever seen. They've just thrown a UDFA CB into the slot role, so I can't see that ending well. Nevin Lawson is a poor 2nd outside corner.
My prediction: Vikings 26, Lions 10
I just don't see how the Lions are going to move the ball. Stafford has nobody to throw to, nobody good to hand it off to, and he's not playing well through an injury. The Lions defense should be able to slow the Vikings offense [again], but their defense will break down because their offense can't stay on the field. I know many have called this a trap game, but I can't see the Lions pulling this one off, and the Vikings thrive off beating inferior competition.
Any thoughts?
Injury Report
Vikings
LB Eric Kendricks - Out
Lions
WR Bruce Ellington - Out
S Charles Washington - Out
CB Jamal Agnew - Questionable
HB LeGarrette Blount - Questionable
WR Kenny Golladay - Questionable
DT Damon Harrison - Questionable
LB Devon Kennard - Questionable
QB Matthew Stafford - Questionable
Vikings
LB Eric Kendricks - Out
Lions
WR Bruce Ellington - Out
S Charles Washington - Out
CB Jamal Agnew - Questionable
HB LeGarrette Blount - Questionable
WR Kenny Golladay - Questionable
DT Damon Harrison - Questionable
LB Devon Kennard - Questionable
QB Matthew Stafford - Questionable
Comparisons with Lions roster back in Week 9:
Players Lost to injury:
HB Kerryon Johnson
TE Michael Roberts
WR Marvin Jones
RG TJ Lang
DE Ezekiel Ansah
DE/DT Da'Shawn Hand
* My thoughts *
Last time, the Vikings limped into the Lions game and won thanks to an impressive defensive effort. This time, the Lions limp in with tons of injured players and no motivation to play under the maligned Matt Patricia. Stafford looked hurt against the Cardinals, and since scoring just 9 points against the Vikings Week 9, the Lions' highest-scoring game was 22 points with their last 6 games falling in between 13-22 points. Their personnel is simply gone and there's nothing left. Dynamic rookie HB Kerryon Johnson is on the IR, so Zach Zenner (wasn't even on the roster Week 9!) will start with Blount stealing a few carries for no good reason (dead last averaging 2.8 yards per carry). Theo Riddick will catch a bunch of checkdowns, and hopefully the Vikes will be ready for him without Kenricks. Eric shut him down Week 9.
The Lions' O-line looks decent on paper, but the Vikings absolutely crushed it back in Week 9. Part of that was Stafford holding the ball forever, but they also shut down HB Johnson and covered the WRs near-perfectly. Taylor Decker hasn't been the same since being injured back in 2017... maybe they miss Reiff? Ragnow is an average guard, Glasgow is a quality center, but Kenny Wiggins is a liability in both phases. They miss T. J. Lang badly. Finally, Ricky Wagner is a good RT, but the Vikings have had his number, more specifically Danielle Hunter has beaten him at least 3 times in the last 3 matchups. Finally, the WRs group is barren. Golladay is a really good WR, but he's banged up and has nothing behind him. Ellington's out, PFF has T. J. Jones ranked below Treadwell (how is that possible?!), and somebody named Andy Jones will play a lot of snaps. Levine Toilolo is a great blocker and like a 6th O-lineman, but he's not a good receiving TE.
Matt Patricia has his defense playing at a decent level, but the offense just hasn't supported it lately. The D-line has lost Ezekiel Ansah (had a sack on Cousins) and Da'Shawn Hand (a very good run stuffer) and might be vulnerable. They're anchored by Snacks Harrison, who's a beast of a run stopper. The Vikings need to run their plays away from him. A'Shawn Robinson is having a great year in run stopping too... but they don't have a good interior pass rusher. Romeo Okwara is a decent pass rusher who's collected 6.5 sacks. Kerry Hyder hasn't done much since returning from injury.
The LBs have improved, though Jarrad Davis has similar grades to Dolphins Kiko Alonso, who was atrocious against the Vikings. Davis' cover grades are terrible, and most teams have torched him using HB passes. The improvements I mentioned have come from Christian Jones and Devon Kennard. Kennard has made 7 sacks and will usually be going after the QB on passing downs. The Lions have used 3 safeties on the field at times, getting Tavon Wilson and now more recently Tracy Walker out there instead of a LB. The primary safeties haven't fared so well. Diggs hsa poor cover grades but a good run stopping one. Glover Quin has struggled big time in all phases, which is shocking after such a good 2017 campaign.
The Lions' only good CB is Darius Slay, who's given the Vikings a buttload of problems. He's a lockdown corner who will probably be matched up to Diggs. Hopefully Thielen can have a big game as UDFA Mike Ford might be on him in the slot. The Lions gave up on Teez Tabor in the slot, and it was a good thing because his PFF grade (29.2) was one of the lowest I've ever seen. They've just thrown a UDFA CB into the slot role, so I can't see that ending well. Nevin Lawson is a poor 2nd outside corner.
My prediction: Vikings 26, Lions 10
I just don't see how the Lions are going to move the ball. Stafford has nobody to throw to, nobody good to hand it off to, and he's not playing well through an injury. The Lions defense should be able to slow the Vikings offense [again], but their defense will break down because their offense can't stay on the field. I know many have called this a trap game, but I can't see the Lions pulling this one off, and the Vikings thrive off beating inferior competition.
Any thoughts?