The Detroit Lions (3-8) head to Minneapolis to face the Vikings (8-4) in an NFC North contest. The Vikings have won the last four contests. Both teams met back in Week 7 when Kirk Cousins and Matt Stafford each threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns. However, it was Vikings running back Dalvin Cook’s 142 yards rushing and two touchdowns that provided the difference in the game. Can the Vikings pick up another divisional win and inch closer to the Packers? We’ll find out Sunday.
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Lions vs. Vikings
When: Sunday, December 8
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)
Everything seemed to be going wrong at the quarterback position for the Lions. Stafford and Jeff Driskel were both out, so it was next man up for Detroit. David Blough completed 22 of 38 passes for 280 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, but the team lost 24-20 vs. Chicago, its fifth loss in a row. Bo Scarborough rushed for 83 yards and Kenny Golladay reeled in four catches for a season-high 158 yards, his fifth game over 100 yards. Detroit can put up points and it will try and beat you through the air. The Lions rank seventh in total yards (337.2 YPG) and seventh in passing yards (271.7 YPG).
While the offense is successful, the Lions defense has struggled mightily. Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns. As a unit, the defense is 29th in total yards allowed (398.1 YPG) and 30th in passing yards allowed (280.1 YPG). The Vikings rely on the run, but with Cook’s production down the last two games, they could put the ball in Cousins’ hands more and allow his weapons on the outside to make plays.
Don’t count the Vikings out in any games. Their last four have been decided by seven points or less and that includes a 26-23 loss to Kansas City on the road and a 37-30 loss in Seattle last week. Cousins completed 22 of 38 passes for 276 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Those passes went to a total of nine different wide receivers. Cook injured his shoulder in the game and has since said he will be ready to play, but how productive will he be? In his last two games, he has a combined 55 yards and two touchdowns. Not the numbers the league’s fifth-best rusher (1,046 yards) is accustomed to putting up.
The Seahawks totaled over 450 yards of offense against Minnesota. Russell Wilson made plays with his arm and accounted for 240 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, but it was Seattle’s ground and pound rushing attack that was the most damaging. Chris Carson and Rashad Penny combined for 38 carries, 176 yards, and two touchdowns. How will the defense bounce back against a weak Lions running attack? Can it stop the passing game? That is Detroit’s forte and the Vikings are ranked 20th in that category (242.9 YPG), the worst of any major defensive statistic.
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