Its a big game for both the Lions and Vikings this weekend. Both teams need a victory to really keep their playoff hopes alive. The once promising season for the Lions, with a 6 - 2 start only to fall to 6 - 5, now requires a win this week against the Vikings. And that won’t be an easy feat as the Vikings always give the Lions fits when the Lions travel there. In fact, they have lost their last nine games in the Metrodome.
A Lions loss could make for a six way tie for the final playoff spot this weekend. Unfortunately, four of those six teams have tie breaker advantages over the Lions.
The Vikings get rookie sensation and league leading running back Adrian Peterson back in the lineup this week. That might be significant except that Chester Taylor has more than shouldered the load at RB while Peterson was out. The Vikings plain and simply get yards on the ground. And with the Lions defensive line missing in action the last few weeks, this could be very problematic. In the earlier meeting between the teams, the Lions were able to get lots of pressure on Viking QB Jackson and even sent him to the sidelines with an injury. He is playing much better now than early in the season and coupled with the explosive run game, the Lions defense is on the hot seat. They are going to have to stop the run game and get pressure on the quarterback. Given recent history, thats not likely. They are likely to spend a lot of time on the field.
Offensively, the Lions are going to have to be more effective than recent weeks. Kitna has lost the sharpness he displayed early in the season. Its likely that the beating and number of sacks he has endured is finally taking its toll. Kitna is a fighter and I expect him to pick it up a notch this week. The Lions wide receivers are a bit angry this week and feel they have something to show after being called out by the coaching staff this week as not performing up to standards. They feel they have something to show.
Only offensive coordinator Mike Martz knows what the game plan will be this week. He has been schizophrenic the last couple of weeks. Last week he ran the ball an awful lot and tried to force the pass into Calvin Johnson almost ignoring Roy Williams. I don’t know if he is under pressure from Coach Rod or even Matt Millen, but he almost seems lost in his game plan the last few weeks. I hope he returns to normal.
The Lions have also moved Damien Woody to right tackle this week trying to fill their most troublesome spot on the line all year. I think Woody will eventually be able to play that spot nicely and certainly be an upgrade from the other guys that tried this year, but my concern will be how he does in his first week. He will line up against Viking Kenechi Udeze who had a sack in the first meeting this season. If the line can give Kitna some time, he should be able to find open receivers as his accuracy is much improved.
The Lions have also struggled in the red zone lately and settled for way too many field goals. They are going to have to put the ball in the end zone this week to have any chance, because the defense is going to give up some yards and points to the Vikings.
All in all, I think this is going to be more of an offensive struggle, perhaps a see-saw contest where the winning team if the team whose defense comes up with the big stand when needed. Unfortunately, with the inconsistency of the both the Lions defense and offense, I think thats going to be the Vikings. It hurts me to say this, but I am going with the Vikings to win this week, by a score of 35 - 28.
Loading ...
