Post by Funkytown on Oct 18, 2024 21:42:34 GMT -6
A few Vikings-Lions related questions from the Purple Insider Mailbag:
Link:
www.purpleinsider.football/p/friday-mailbag-big-game-time
Kip N… Matthew 1) who wins ? 2) if the Vikings lose by a mile, does it change the narrative? 3) if the Vikings win close, does it change the narrative?
1- My copout answer is that I think the Vikings win if Aaron Jones plays. It feels like they have to be able to control the clock and hit on screens in order to beat the Lions and I’m not sure they can do that at the same level without Jones. Either way, it feels like one of those last-minute drives by somebody.
2- I hear people use the word “narrative” all the time and oftentimes I can’t really figure out how it’s being used. It feels like that word has been turned to mean something sinister. Anyway, the definition of narrative is, “a way of presenting or understanding events.” If the Vikings get blown out, then my understanding of the events will change a little, yes. Certain statements about the Vikings at 5-0 with the best point differential in the NFL would be viewed differently if they came off the bye week at home and got blasted. We could pretty clearly state that the Lions were still the team to beat in the NFC at that point. Seems like a fair way of presenting the facts, should that happen.
3- My understanding of the events if they were to win would not change much if they won close vs. Detroit. We all expect a close game. The math for the rest of the season is just different with a win. At 6-0 with the easiest part of the schedule coming up and a two-game lead over the Lions, the Vikings could be called the best team in the NFL at that point because they would have the best chance to have the NFL’s best record.
Ben…. What’s a weakness in the lions that the Vikings can exploit??
Always and forever, Jared Goff under pressure. All QBs are bad under pressure, but he’s terrible. He currently ranks 26th of 34 in PFF grade under pressure. Going back over the last five years (out of about 40 QBs each year), Goff ranked 21st, 30th, 25th, 37th, 15th.
But he’s a hard dude to pressure. 21 QBs have faced pressure more often than him this year, 23 last year, 28 the year before. His career sack percentage is 5.0%, which is in the top 25 all time. He’s close to Tom Brady (4.5%) in that regard.
Otherwise, they have a rookie corner. Terrion Arnold has only given up a 91.1 rating on throws into his coverage but he has eight penalties. That has sunk his PFF grade to the lowest on the Lions’ defense. I would imagine the Vikings will try to get Jefferson and Addison matched up against him to see if he’s going to be extra grabby this week.
Brad L… Who replaces Cashman?
It’s going to be a mix and match situation. Ivan Pace Jr. is going to take over the communication. Beside him I could see a combination of Kamu Grugier-Hill, Josh Metellus, Andrew Van Ginkel and maybe even a little more Dallas Turner in the mix off the edge if Van Ginkel slides to the middle for some plays. It’s nice for this Vikings team to have enough depth and versatility that an injury shouldn’t completely take apart the operation. That said, Cashman is a top 10 linebacker by PFF and he’s been the head of the defensive snake this year. It’ll take a complete team effort to fill his shoes.
Steve C… I like the matchup one level down. Ben Johnson and the Lions O against BFLo and the D is as good as it gets. KOC and the Viking O are on that level. Aaron Glenn and the DET D have not been on that level. Are they on that level this year? Is it because of opponents and game script, or are they legit? Do we have to tune in Sunday to find out
Defense is such a tricky beast. I always thought Glenn’s defenses did not produce at the same level he was praised, if that makes sense. They also didn’t have impressive personnel in the past. This year they are 11th in defensive Expected Points Added and third in opposing QB rating. The question is: How much of that is because of their opponents and the way Aidan Hutchinson was playing? The Hutchinson loss is absolutely massive.
Despite their success in pass defense, I have trouble believing the Lions can cover the Vikings’ receivers. For them it has to be about Branch and Joseph causing turnovers and getting interior pressure up front.
1- My copout answer is that I think the Vikings win if Aaron Jones plays. It feels like they have to be able to control the clock and hit on screens in order to beat the Lions and I’m not sure they can do that at the same level without Jones. Either way, it feels like one of those last-minute drives by somebody.
2- I hear people use the word “narrative” all the time and oftentimes I can’t really figure out how it’s being used. It feels like that word has been turned to mean something sinister. Anyway, the definition of narrative is, “a way of presenting or understanding events.” If the Vikings get blown out, then my understanding of the events will change a little, yes. Certain statements about the Vikings at 5-0 with the best point differential in the NFL would be viewed differently if they came off the bye week at home and got blasted. We could pretty clearly state that the Lions were still the team to beat in the NFC at that point. Seems like a fair way of presenting the facts, should that happen.
3- My understanding of the events if they were to win would not change much if they won close vs. Detroit. We all expect a close game. The math for the rest of the season is just different with a win. At 6-0 with the easiest part of the schedule coming up and a two-game lead over the Lions, the Vikings could be called the best team in the NFL at that point because they would have the best chance to have the NFL’s best record.
Ben…. What’s a weakness in the lions that the Vikings can exploit??
Always and forever, Jared Goff under pressure. All QBs are bad under pressure, but he’s terrible. He currently ranks 26th of 34 in PFF grade under pressure. Going back over the last five years (out of about 40 QBs each year), Goff ranked 21st, 30th, 25th, 37th, 15th.
But he’s a hard dude to pressure. 21 QBs have faced pressure more often than him this year, 23 last year, 28 the year before. His career sack percentage is 5.0%, which is in the top 25 all time. He’s close to Tom Brady (4.5%) in that regard.
Otherwise, they have a rookie corner. Terrion Arnold has only given up a 91.1 rating on throws into his coverage but he has eight penalties. That has sunk his PFF grade to the lowest on the Lions’ defense. I would imagine the Vikings will try to get Jefferson and Addison matched up against him to see if he’s going to be extra grabby this week.
Brad L… Who replaces Cashman?
It’s going to be a mix and match situation. Ivan Pace Jr. is going to take over the communication. Beside him I could see a combination of Kamu Grugier-Hill, Josh Metellus, Andrew Van Ginkel and maybe even a little more Dallas Turner in the mix off the edge if Van Ginkel slides to the middle for some plays. It’s nice for this Vikings team to have enough depth and versatility that an injury shouldn’t completely take apart the operation. That said, Cashman is a top 10 linebacker by PFF and he’s been the head of the defensive snake this year. It’ll take a complete team effort to fill his shoes.
Steve C… I like the matchup one level down. Ben Johnson and the Lions O against BFLo and the D is as good as it gets. KOC and the Viking O are on that level. Aaron Glenn and the DET D have not been on that level. Are they on that level this year? Is it because of opponents and game script, or are they legit? Do we have to tune in Sunday to find out
Defense is such a tricky beast. I always thought Glenn’s defenses did not produce at the same level he was praised, if that makes sense. They also didn’t have impressive personnel in the past. This year they are 11th in defensive Expected Points Added and third in opposing QB rating. The question is: How much of that is because of their opponents and the way Aidan Hutchinson was playing? The Hutchinson loss is absolutely massive.
Despite their success in pass defense, I have trouble believing the Lions can cover the Vikings’ receivers. For them it has to be about Branch and Joseph causing turnovers and getting interior pressure up front.
Link:
www.purpleinsider.football/p/friday-mailbag-big-game-time