Gameweek 18: Northern Savages and Norsemen battle to be Kings of the North

[whatever_gong82]

Wojo: Fair or not, Lions’ Super Bowl hopes hinge on game vs. Vikings

Bob Wojnowski
The Detroit News

Paywall article from the 3rd.


Allen Park — They’ve seen a lot and experienced a lot. They’ve plowed through the thickest tension imaginable, on almost every stage possible, winning many more than they’ve lost.


But the Lions have never faced anything quite like this. In fact, no game in NFL history has held the stakes and circumstances the Lions and Vikings are about to encounter.

It’s not win-or-go-home, but win-and-stay-home. It’s not a playoff game, but it certainly will feel like it. It’s a pair of 14-2 teams who have separated from everybody on their schedules, except each other. There’s never been an NFL regular-season finale with such gaudy records and bizarre consequences.


The winner Sunday night in Ford Field wraps up the NFC North title, captures the No. 1 seed, earns a bye week and guarantees it will host every game it plays up until the Super Bowl. The loser’s parting gifts? A polite pat for the best record ever for a No. 5 seed (14-3), then an immediate shove into a playoff path that almost certainly will be entirely on the road. A much, much more treacherous task, although not impossible.

Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) and Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) greet each other after Detroit's win in Minneapolis in October.
The Lions have been here before, in the incredible din of their home stadium, which certainly helps. Except they haven’t been exactly here before, with such stark ramifications.


“I do think that (experience) helps,” Dan Campbell said Friday. “If it’s shock-and-awe and it’s the crowd and it’s the media attention and it’s the record of the opponent, division game, all on the line — if you’re not used to that, it can be a little overwhelming. We’ve been in that, and I think we embrace the challenge of it, we embrace the bright lights of it, we respect the opponent that’s coming in here, and we love competition.”

It seems ridiculous and redundant that the Lions and Vikings have proven themselves superior to everyone in the NFC except maybe the Eagles (13-3), yet one will have a much tougher time proving it again. No, this isn’t a demand to change the NFL’s seeding system, which heavily rewards division champions, even if the champion has a significantly lesser record, such as the Rams (10-6), Buccaneers (9-7) or Falcons (8-8).


It’s kind of dumb that division standings dramatically outweigh overall records, but it’s rarely this wide of a gap. It’s just another twist of fate for the Lions, who have the league’s longest injury list and highest-scoring offense, and already beat the Vikings in Minnesota. This will be their seventh prime-time game this season, after winning twice in the playoffs a year ago, before falling in the NFC championship game.

“Stakes might be a little higher, but it’s just another game for us,” receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown said. “We’ve played in a lot of big games. This is just the next one in front of us. We have a lot of injuries, so being able to get some rest would be nice. Either way, I feel like we’ll be fine.”


That’s been the theme all week from the Lions, who are accustomed to dealing with various absurdities. They have 18 players on injured reserve, including seven starters, six on defense. The Vikings are on the extreme opposite end of the spectrum, with six players on injured reserve and only one starter, offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw.



The Lions under Campbell make no excuses, and none will be offered. Everything they’ve done the past two-and-a-half years has built to this. Could they still reach the Super Bowl without beating the Vikings and heading on the road? Sure, but it would be extremely daunting.

They boast one of the best home-field advantages in the league (they’re also 8-0 on the road, by the way), and they’re loaded with stars — seven Pro Bowl players, most in the NFC and most in franchise history. They have Jared Goff playing the best football of his career, an elite back in Jahmyr Gibbs, and play-making receivers in St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Their offensive line remains stellar, allowing Goff to run Ben Johnson’s creative (and occasionally crazy) scheme.



With the Vikings and Packers chasing so closely, the Lions have felt the urgency for a while. Now, for only the third time since 1975, two NFL teams will meet in the final game with the No. 1 seed on the line.

“It seems like we’ve been playing that way all year, feeling like you have to win every game,” Goff said. “I’m sure they feel the same way. It’ll be fun, a lot of energy in that building. We’ll be ready.”


So will the Vikings, presumably. They’ve won nine straight games, and their coach, Kevin O’Connell, has done for them what Campbell has done for the Lions. O’Connell revived the Vikings and quarterback Sam Darnold, just as the Lions revived Goff.

The Vikings’ authenticity has been questioned, partly because Darnold has been questioned. But the former No. 3 overall pick has been terrific, throwing for 4,153 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.


Most-feared receiver

The Vikings have won nine games by a touchdown or less, another suspicion-raiser. But they have the league’s most-feared receiver in Justin Jefferson (100 catches, 1,479 yards), along with rapidly rising Jordan Addison and an outstanding runner in Aaron Jones.



The Lions are 31st in the league in passing yards allowed, which is foreboding, considering Jefferson has piled up 730 in his last four games at Ford Field. The Lions are missing their top cornerback, Carlton Davis, and might still be without linebacker Alex Anzalone. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn keeps patching and plugging, and lately has cranked up the blitzing. That puts more pressure on rookie Terrion Arnold and veteran Amik Robertson, who swears he can’t wait for it.



“It separates the boys from the men, separates the dogs from the wolves,” said Robertson, who plays beyond his 5-foot-9 stature. “Ford Field always feels like the Super Bowl, every time you’re in there. I understand the game is big. I’m not going to underestimate it, but I don’t overthink the game. … You go out there to hunt, not to be scared and be hunted. Go out there with confidence. Go out there and see blood.”

Yep, the Lions’ hellbent mentality is still in good shape. They always seem to have the mental edge on opponents, thanks to Campbell’s aggressive style. But based on injuries and Jefferson’s brilliance, the Vikings might have a slight physical edge. Their defense under Brian Flores blitzes more than any team in the league, and they’re No. 1 in interceptions and third in sacks. Goff, though, is a superb blitz-buster, and the Lions have scored at least 30 points in four straight victories over the Vikings.



The prelude to Sunday night occurred Oct. 20 in Minneapolis, when the Lions fell behind 10-0, rallied for a 28-17 lead, then pulled it out, 31-29, on a clutch drive and Jake Bates’ 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds left. The teams were as evenly matched then (the Lions led in yardage 391-383) as they are now.


The stars then are the stars now, from Gibbs to Goff to St. Brown for the Lions, to Jefferson, Darnold and Jones for the Vikings. As weird as this deadlock is, maybe it was inevitable, even fitting.



“So exciting, man, this is why you’re in this business,” Campbell said. “Players love it, coaches love it, great for the organization and great for football.”

Great theater, great tension, great stakes. Technically, it’s just another game before the playoffs, even though it most definitely, historically, is not.



bob.wojnowski@detroitnews.com

@bobwojnowski

[whatever_gong82]

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2025/01/04/vikings-lions-tickets-week-18-ford-field/77460413007/

[whatever_gong82]

Brian Branch's greatest skill with the Detroit Lions? Passion to be perfect

Jeff Seidel
Detroit Free Press

Paywall article.



Brian Branch sat on a chair in the Detroit Lions locker room, wearing his full uniform, staring straight ahead.

Five minutes had passed after the Lions beat the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night, and Branch was still sitting there. Not moving. Beating himself up. Thinking about his mistakes. Ticked at himself for giving up a touchdown. Staring into his locker.


Ten minutes passed.

Some of the Lions were in the showers. Others had already dressed quickly and headed to the bus. But Branch was still wearing his shoulder pads. Jersey on. His pants grass-stained. Frozen in frustration at himself.



Almost 15 minutes passed. Branch still hadn’t moved, and linebacker Jack Campbell went over to Branch and talked to him. “He told me to ‘just keep going. Don’t hold my head down. Just move on,’” Branch said.

Branch sighed, looking at his locker. “I need to capitalize on the plays that come my way,” Branch said. “It just started with, we were in the red zone, and I got scored on. I should never allow that. I feel I let these guys down on defense.”


That single quote says so many things, starting with how Branch holds himself accountable. But it's more than that. How he is playing for his teammates. Get enough guys to do that and magic can happen.

“It starts with me,” he said softly. “I gotta pick it up. I gotta play better."


This is his superpower. This is what makes him so dang good. He has an unrelenting passion to be perfect.

Wanting to be great. Wanting to improve. Willing himself to a new level.


It’s the intangible the Lions saw when they drafted him

“That player is so hard on himself,” Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said. “It kind of reminds me about who I was as a player, of wanting to be perfect in everything or trying to perfect your craft of who you want to be, who you’re trying to be.”




Branch had a great season


By nearly every measure, Branch has had a fantastic season.

He has nine straight games with a pass breakup — the longest streak in franchise history.

He is one of the hardest defensive backs in the NFL to pass against; he has the seventh-lowest passer rating allowed, according to Pro Football Focus.


And Thursday, Branch was named to his first Pro Bowl team; and it’s hard to imagine it will be his last.

“His practice habits are like no other and that’s pre-practice, during practice, and after practice of him trying to improve,” Glenn said. “In every part of his game, he wants to make sure that he is top notch.”


Branch's stats are simply outstanding: 103 tackles, 15 pass breakups, eight tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, four interceptions, a forced fumble and a sack.

“I’m not surprised that he’s a Pro Bowler," Glenn said. That’s not what he’s looking at. He’s just looking at trying to be the best he can. If anything like that comes along, it comes along.”



Big cats gotta step up against Vikings


As Branch was still sitting at his locker, Za'Darius Smith was walking toward the bus. I stopped him in the locker room, probably 15 feet from Branch.

“He’s beating himself up,” I said. “What does that say about him?”

“Young cat, man,” Smith said. "To get frustrated, that happens sometimes. He's young, man, and he's starting to come around. Man, we gonna talk to him on the plane. Man, hug him. Man, love on him. Man, and get ready for next week. Hopefully forget about this one so we can get going on next week.”



Next week is already here.

The Lions are getting ready to play the Minnesota Vikings in the biggest game of the season — heck, it might be one of the biggest regular-season games in franchise history, considering the ramifications. Win and the Lions will get a first-round bye and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. Lose? They will have the hard road — literally, going on the road as a wild-card team — to the Super Bowl.

But the path to victory is pretty clear.




This figures to be a shootout: The Lions have scored more than 30 points in four straight games against the Vikings. And the Vikings offense is rolling.



So, the Lions just need to get a few stops to win this game. Create a few turnovers.

Not just to win this game, but to advance to the Super Bowl.

“You’re damn right we can do it,” Glenn said. “The thing we have to continue to do is make these impact plays that we’ve been making and we’re going to continue to do that.”



This is the kind of game that is usually decided by playmakers.

Guys like Branch. Impact players who make impact plays.

Which is how they beat the 49ers.




“I thought that our top players out-willed their top players, and to me, that’s what the focus is on for us," Glenn said about the 49ers win. "How many impact plays we can make and how our top players are going to outwill their top players. We send Brian Branch on a blitz, he goes up there and he makes the play. We send Kerby Joseph on plays where he can get a chance to go and make some plays and he does that.”


And that will be the key against the Vikings.

The young cats, the budding superstars like Brian Branch, have to out-will the Vikings.



Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff. To read his recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/jeff-seidel.

[whatever_gong82]

Lions vs Vikings game: Scouting report and prediction in Week 18

Dave Birkett
Detroit Free Press

Paywall article.



The Detroit Lions meet the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday Night Football in a titanic clash to end the NFL's 2024 regular season in Week 18.


Never have two teams with this many wins met in the regular season and there has never been more on the line for the Lions: A win or tie would net them the NFC 1-seed for the first time ever and dramatically increase their odds of appearing in Super Bowl 59, which would be the first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. A loss would send the Lions on the road as the 5-seed against either Tampa Bay, Atlanta or the Los Angeles Rams, with likely more road games to come should they advance.

Here's the Lions vs. Vikings scouting report and prediction from Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett.


Minnesota Vikings (14-2) at Detroit Lions (14-2)

The coaches: Lions-Dan Campbell (43-35-1 overall, 38-28-1 with Lions); Vikings-Kevin O’Connell (34-16 overall, 34-16 with Vikings).

Last game: Lions beat the San Francisco 49ers, 40-34; Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers, 27-25.

Last meeting: Oct. 20, 2024: Lions won, 31-29.


Lions vs Vikings key matchups

Vikings WR Justin Jefferson vs Lions CB Terrion Arnold

When Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn was asked this week what he has learned about Jefferson from playing against him the past four seasons, Glenn half-jokingly said, “I haven’t learning anything.” Glenn already knew Jefferson was one of the best players in the NFL, he said, and his answer was a reminder of how badly Jefferson has torched the Lions over the years.


Since holding Jefferson to a then-career-low 14 yards early in the 2022 season, Jefferson has games of 223 yards, 141 yards, 192 yards and earlier this season an 81-yard, one-touchdown game against the Lions. He’s the best receiver in the NFL, and whether it’s Arnold, Amik Robertson or some combination of other defensive backs, the Lions will have their hands full Sunday night.

“Man, he is a special one,” Glenn said. “I think he’s one of the toughest guys playing that position. He’s an old-school player in my opinion. It’s almost like he’s a defensive guy playing receiver. But listen, we’re going to do everything we can to stop him.”




Lions LT Taylor Decker vs Vikings OLB Jonathan Greenard

Greenard (11 sacks) and Andrew Van Ginkel (11½ sacks) were both voted Pro Bowl starters in their first season in Minnesota and give defensive coordinator Brian Flores two dynamic edge rushers for his blitz-happy scheme.


Greenard lines up primarily on the right side of the defense and beat Decker for a sack in the first Lions-Vikings game. He used a quick hand swipe to win at the line of scrimmage and forced a fumble the Lions were fortunate to recover.

This is the kind of game that could turn on one mistake and Greenard leads a Vikings pass rush that has forced plenty this year.


Lions vs Vikings scouting report


Lions run offense vs Vikings run defense

Jahmyr Gibbs has shouldered the bulk of the rushing load the past two weeks since David Montgomery tore his MCL and could be in line for even more work Sunday with Craig Reynolds questionable with a back injury.


Gibbs has topped 100 yards rushing each of the past two weeks and is averaging 5.5 yards per carry in that span. In the first meeting with the Vikings, he had 116 yards and two touchdowns, with two explosive runs, including a 45-yard score. The Lions got good perimeter blocking in that game from wideouts Tim Patrick, Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

The Vikings have the NFL’s second-best run defense at 88.1 yards per game allowed, with their two worst games against the run in December (against the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals). Harrison Phillips is underappreciated at nose tackle, and Josh Metellus (Michigan) played well against the Lions in October as an extra safety and box defender. Edge: Lions


Lions pass offense vs Vikings pass defense

Goff struggled against Flores-coached defenses early in his career but has been exceptional with his pre-snap reads against Minnesota of late. In October, Goff completed 22 of 25 passes against the Vikings. Two incompletions were deflected at the line of scrimmage and Kalif Raymond landed out of bounds trying to haul in a deep pass down the sideline on the third.


The Lions did give up four sacks in Week 7 and must protect better Sunday. The Vikings bottled up Williams in that game and don’t allow many big pass plays in general (four completions of 40-plus yards, tied for third fewest in the league). Sam LaPorta has re-emerged as a primary weapon for the Lions in recent weeks with 25 targets the past three games.

The Vikings lead the NFL with a 38% blitz rate according to Pro Football Reference and are tied for third with 47 sacks. Byron Murphy (six interceptions) has shined at cornerback and Lions center Frank Ragnow said safety Harrison Smith makes the Vikings’ scheme so tough because he can play deep safety from the line of scrimmage when the Vikings mug the front. Edge: Lions


Vikings run offense vs Lions run defense

The Vikings got a scare when Aaron Jones left last week’s Packers game with a quad injury. Jones missed practice time this week, but does not have an injury designation and appears to be in line for a full workload Sunday.

Jones has a career-high 245 carries this season (for 1,093 yards), but only ran the ball 14 times despite staking Minnesota to an early 10-0 lead in the first game. The Vikings rank 29th in the NFL with nine rushing touchdowns. Brian O’Neill leads a good offensive line, though Minnesota has been without star left tackle Christian Darrisaw since he suffered an October knee injury.

The Lions have started to wilt defensively because of their own injuries, but their run defense has remained solid. They’ve held seven of their past eight opponents under 100 yards and could get linebacker Alex Anzalone back on the field Sunday. Edge: Vikings


Vikings pass offense vs Lions pass defense

Sam Darnold won’t win MVP this year but has had a remarkable season after bouncing around three different teams in his first six seasons. He ranks fourth in the NFL in passing (4,153 yards) and fifth in touchdowns (35), though still makes too many turnover-worthy throws.


The Vikings might have the best collection of pass-game weapons in the NFL. Jefferson is a walking highlight reel who has owned the Lions the past two seasons. Jordan Addison has 62 catches for 875 yards and nine touchdowns in his second NFL season. And T.J. Hockenson has been a featured target since returning from his knee injury.

The Lions have the NFL’s 31st-ranked passing defense and allow more than 7 yards per pass play, but they’ve gotten timely takeaways from their secondary. Kerby Joseph, who made the hit that tore Hockenson’s ACL last year, needs one interception to become the first safety since Ronnie Lott in 1986 to have double-digit picks and an interception returned for a touchdown in the same year. Edge: Vikings


Lions vs Vikings special teams

The Lions have gone three games without punting this season, but Jack Fox has been so good he still made his second Pro Bowl. Fox is netting 45.8 yards per punt, and in big games the Lions always seem to have a trick play up their sleeve on the punt team. Jake Bates missed two extra points (one blocked) last week. He’s 25 of 28 on field goals this season but has a missed kick in four of the Lions’ past five games. Raymond, the Lions punt returner, is expected back from injured reserve to play Sunday.

The Vikings rank last in the NFL in punt-return average and 30th on kick returns. Brandon Powell muffed a return last week against the Packers that the Vikings were lucky to recover. Rookie Will Reichard is 21 of 26 on field goals with a long of 58 yards. He missed two kicks last week, one off the crossbar and one off the upright. The Vikings have one blocked punt this season and have allowed one block. Edge: Lions



Lions vs Vikings prediction

What a game to end the season. Lions and Vikings for the NFC North title. Winner gets a first-round bye and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs, loser goes on the road next week as the five seed. Campbell tried to keep the hype train in check this week by noting this isn’t playoff game. It feels like it, though, and that’s as big a reason as any why I think the Lions squeak out a win.

These are two evenly-matched teams. The Lions have the more explosive offense; the Vikings have the more dynamic defense. Last time they met, Bates kicked the winning field goal with 15 seconds to play one series after Darnold misfired on a pass to an open Jefferson that might have clinched a Minnesota win. I expect this game to come down to the wire in similar fashion. The Lions don’t have much room for error because of their injuries on defense, but Goff has played lights-out football of late and homefield advantage has to count for something. Pick: Lions 27, Vikings 26.


Dave Birkett is the author of the new book, "Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline.” Order your copy here. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.

[whatever_gong82]

Who has the edge? Check out the Lions-Vikings scouting report

Richard Silva
The Detroit News


Paywall article.


Lions vs. Vikings

▶ Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. Sunday, Ford Field, Detroit

▶ TV/radio: NBC/97.1 FM

▶ Records: Lions 14-2; Vikings 14-2

▶ Line: Lions by 2½

▶ Series: Vikings lead 80-44-2 (Last meeting: Lions, 31-29, Oct. 20)

Richard Silva of The Detroit News breaks down the Lions' Week 18 game against the Minnesota Vikings.


Key matchup

LIONS PASS GAME VS. VIKINGS PRESSURE

Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is known for putting opposing offenses in a blender. His unit leads the league in blitz rate at 38% this season — that's 4.5% higher than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are No. 2 — in an effort to throw quarterbacks off their game. It's largely worked, with the Vikings tied for the league lead in total turnovers (31) and alone at the top for interceptions (22). Cornerback Byron Murphy has six interceptions, safety Camryn Bynum has three and five other defenders have two apiece.

The issue for Minnesota? Lions quarterback Jared Goff has been cooking against the blitz this season. Goff has completed 106 of his 152 pass attempts (69.7%) for 1,374 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions when blitzed. He's been especially impressive in his three meetings with Flores over the last two seasons, completing 77.3% of his throws for 847 yards, five touchdowns and, most notably, zero interceptions.

So, will Flores adjust? Will he break his tendencies because his usual strategies haven't seemed to work on Goff? That's to be determined. Whichever decision Flores comes to could also impact how a third meeting between the Lions and Vikings go, should the two teams meet again in the playoffs.


Three Vikings to watch

▶ Aaron Jones, RB: Jones is one of 14 players entering Week 18 with at least 1,000 rushing yards, as he ranks 10th in the NFL with 1,093 in 16 appearances. He ranks 20th in yards per attempt at 4.5, which is just above league average (4.4). Jones has also chipped in 378 receiving yards, the 11th-most among all running backs.

▶ Jordan Addison, WR: Justin Jefferson naturally gets most of the attention — he's the best receiver in the NFL, and the Lions respect him as such — but Addison has been key in complementing him. Addison has caught 73.1% of his targets over the last six games, and he's got two 100-yard performances since November.

▶ Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB: Tied with Lions safety Kerby Joseph for the third-best odds to win Defensive Player of the Year (per FanDuel), Van Ginkel has been one of the best free-agent acquisitions of the offseason. The sixth-year outside linebacker has tallied a career-best 72 tackles, 11½ sacks and 17 tackles for loss.


Facts and figures

▶ Minnesota's 22 interceptions this season are the most the Vikings have had in 16 games since they logged 24 in 2005. Ten different players have at least one interception; that's tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most in 2024. Seven players on Minnesota have two or more, which is also tied with the Buffalo Bills for the league lead.

▶ For the first time in NFL history, a 14-win team will not win their division. The previous winningest team to not host a game in the first round of the playoffs were the 1999 Tennessee Titans, who finished with 13 victories and went on to lose Super Bowl XXXIV to the St. Louis Rams.


rsilva@detroitnews.com

@rich_silva18

[whatever_gong82]

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2025/01/05/best-seasons-in-lions-history-record/77453621007/

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2025/01/05/lions-tiebreaker-scenarios-vikings-playoffs-nfl-2024/77455508007/

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2025/01/05/aidan-hutchinson-injury-update-timeline-leg-lions/77457427007/

[whatever_gong82]

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2025/01/05/detroit-lions-picks-vs-minnesota-vikings-nfc-north-week-18-showdown/77457388007/

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2025/01/05/detroit-lions-seek-blood-in-nfc-north-finale-vs-minnesota-vikings/77455967007/

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2025/01/05/ford-field-detroit-lions-bag-policy/77470664007/

[whatever_gong82]

Game day guide: Everything you need to know and what to watch as Lions vs. Vikings vie for NFC's No. 1 seed

Justin Rogers
Jan 5



● What: Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings, winner earns the No. 1 seed in the NFC and a first-round playoff bye.

● When: Sunday, Jan. 5, 8:20 p.m.

● Where: Ford Field, Detroit

● How to watch: NBC (Mike Tirico/Cris Collinsworth/Melissa Stark

● How to listen: 97.1-FM The Ticket in Metro Detroit or any number of network affiliates around the state.

● Line: -2.5

● Injury report: The Lions ruled out running David Montgomery (knee) and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley. The latter was placed on the non-football illness list on Saturday.


Additionally, the team listed linebacker Alex Anzalone (forearm), wide receiver Kalif Raymond (foot), and running back Craig Reynolds (back) as questionable. Anzalone and Raymond were activated off injured reserve on Saturday. That doesn't guarantee they suit up and the team could opt to hold the linebacker out of action for another week.

Reynolds was a late-week addition to the injury report, but the Lions' decision to not elevate Jermar Jefferson off the practice squad hints at Reynolds being available for the contest.

● Officiating assignment: Brad Rogers’ crew. Promoted to referee in 2019, Rogers has been a regular for the Lions, officiating five of the team’s games the past three years, including a Week 3 matchup against Arizona this season.

Rogers’ crew can get a little flag-happy, throwing at least 16 in four of the past five games.


● Last meeting: In Week 7, the Lions knocked off the undefeated Vikings, 31-29, behind a game-winning field goal by Jake Bates with 15 seconds remaining. The Lions jumped out to an 11-point lead at the half, and survived a costly fumble that was returned for a touchdown. QB Jared Goff was sensational in the victory, completing 22-of-25 for 280 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions.


Three things worth watching


● As part of Jameson Williams’ breakout season, the third-year receiver is becoming increasingly less susceptible to dud performances.

Over the past seven games, Williams has had at least five receptions or a touchdown, averaging nearly seven grabs for 79 yards during the stretch, while finding the end zone four times.

Williams’ last no-show outing — outside two literal no-shows because of a midseason suspension — came when the Lions traveled to Minnesota in October. Despite running 24 routes in the game, he was targeted just once, catching the pass but losing 4 yards.


That’s right: One catch, -4 yards.

Needless to say, Williams is due for a rebound against the Vikings and what better time? With 34 receiving yards he’ll top 1,000 on the year.


● Against one of the better play-action quarterbacks in the NFL, San Francisco’s Brock Purdy, the Lions' defense had some real struggles protecting the middle of the field after play fakes.

It won’t get any easier this week. Minnesota’s Sam Darnold has had a monster year out of play-action, posting a 135.0 passer rating with those snaps. And while they don’t use it as frequently as Detroit, Darnold is faking a handoff on 29.3% of his dropbacks.


Part of the issue for Detroit has been linebackers over-committing, taking themselves out of position to properly defend the pass by getting drawn too far toward the line of scrimmage by the threat of the run.

The re-addition of Anzalone to the lineup would provide a considerable boost. He’s steadily improved in coverage since jumping to Detroit in 2021. Even with some rust accumulated during his six-week stint on IR, he’d be an upgrade to the backups of backups who have been playing the past month.


● Amik Robertson and Justin Jefferson battled in high school, summer recruiting camps, and college, when Robertson was at Louisiana Tech and Jefferson at LSU.

Robertson’s path has been harder. He’s always been the scrappy underdog contrasted against Jefferson’s seemingly limitless talent. But the cornerback can’t wait for the head-to-head opportunities on Sunday because, in his mind, it’s not David vs. Goliath, it’s Goliath vs. Goliath.


Robertson has admittedly been playing well since the Lions moved him outside to replace Carlton Davis III. He might only be 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, but he’s always been more comfortable playing on an island. Targeted a combined nine times by the Bears and 49ers, Robertson has allowed four catches for 63 yards while knocking away a trio of throws.

But Jefferson is a different animal, one who has proven capable of feasting on Lions. In nine games against Detroit, he’s racked up a whopping 1,154 receiving yards.


In Week 7, the Lions managed to hold Jefferson in check — seven catches for 81 yards and a touchdown. As the slot corner that day, Robertson didn’t see much of the Minnesota standout, although Jefferson did haul in a 25-yard touchdown over Robertson that afternoon.

Jefferson has averaged almost 13 targets in the past three games, and you can count on him being a significant part of the Vikings’ game plan on Sunday. Robertson would have it any other way.



Email: jrogers@detroitfootball.net

X: Justin_Rogers

Bluesky: Justin-Rogers

[ghandi]

Have to give Minny credit...Would have never guessed they would be 14-2 on the final week when their starting QB went down in preseason and a career journeyman took over....I dont think even Sam Darnold himself envisioned a season like this.

[CGVT]

Have to give Minny credit...Would have never guessed they would be 14-2 on the final week when their starting QB went down in preseason and a career journeyman took over....I dont think even Sam Darnold himself envisioned a season like this.

I think with rookie QB growing pains, they would have been a worse team