Written By Sam Ekstrom
LAST WEEK
The Vikings took down the Jets in overtime 30-24. Teddy Bridgewater had arguably his second-best game as a pro, throwing for 309 yards and two touchdowns, one of which went for 87 yards to Jarius Wright in overtime.
Detroit crushed Tampa Bay 34-17 at Ford Field. Matthew Stafford threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns, while receiver Calvin Johnson notched 158 yards and a touchdown through the air. The Lions generated six sacks.
RECENT MEETINGS
Speaking of sacks, Detroit got eight of them the last time these two teams played. Teddy Bridgewater threw three interceptions in the game – his second career start – and the Vikings lost 17-3 at TCF Bank Stadium.
Last December, the Vikings closed down the Metrodome with a slow-going 14-13 win over Detroit. Cordarrelle Patterson scored both Vikings touchdowns – one on the ground and one through the air.
Nearly four months prior to that, Minnesota opened up a hopeful 2013 season against Detroit and was brought back to earth with a sloppy 34-24 loss. The Vikings had four turnovers while Detroit generated 469 total yards.
COMMON CONNECTIONS
Vikings fullback Jerome Felton spent the first three years of his career in Detroit after being selected in the fifth round of the 2008 draft. Cold Omaha spoke with Felton earlier in the week about his time with the Lions.
Former Vikings defensive coordinator Alan Williams got on board with Detroit as the Lions’ defensive backs coach this season. Williams was Minnesota’s DC for two seasons under Leslie Frazier.
OFFICIALLY ELIMINATED
Last week, I presented a scenario for the Vikings to make the playoffs. Though they survived through the slate of games last Sunday, all hope was lost when St. Louis fell to Arizona in this week’s Thursday night game.
Why, you ask, does a St. Louis loss affect the Vikings? Because the Vikings needed St. Louis to win out and tie the Seattle Seahawks (who had to lose out) at 9-7. In that scenario, the Rams would win the tiebreak against Seattle, but lose the tiebreak against the Vikings (who also won out) because of head-to-head record.
Mike Zimmer on Friday: “I didn’t know we were eliminated from the playoffs.”
Understandable. These scenarios give headaches to the average blogger. I can’t imagine a head coach has time to figure it all out himself.
BEATING POOR OPPONENTS
The Vikings have the worst strength of victory in the NFC and the second-worst in the NFL, only ahead of 7-6 Houston. Strength of victory is determined by opponent’s win-loss percentage, and the Vikings have yet to beat a team that is currently at or over .500. So far, Minnesota has beaten: St. Louis (6-8), Atlanta (5-8), Tampa Bay (2-11), Washington (3-10), Carolina (4-8-1) and the New York Jets (2-11).
Against teams that are currently over .500 this season, which Detroit (9-4) will be this Sunday, the Vikings have a -73 point differential and a winless 0-5 record.
A TEAM OF BACK-UPS
When the season began, the Vikings went into battle with a fairly healthy 22-man starting lineup … and now is it nearly half gone with several new injuries this week. Take a look at all the changes in the lineup since Week 1 that we will see on the field this Sunday.
Matt Asiata replaced Adrian Peterson (Week 2)
Teddy Bridgewater replaced Matt Cassel (Week 3)
Vladimir Ducasse (and eventually Joe Berger) replaced Brandon Fusco (Week 4)
Charles Johnson replaced Cordarrelle Patterson (Week 12)
Mike Harris replaced Phil Loadholt (Week 13)
Vladimir Ducasse replaced Charlie Johnson (Week 14)
Gerald Hodges replaced Anthony Barr (Week 14)
Shamar Stephen or Tom Johnson will replace Sharrif Floyd (Week 15)
Andrew Sendejo will replace Robert Blanton (Week 15)
This doesn’t even include Jerome Simpson, who would have received lots of reps had he not been suspended and eventually released for a substance abuse violation, nor does it include Kyle Rudolph, who missed a large chunk of games mid-season with hernia surgery.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
WR Calvin Johnson vs Vikings CBs – The Vikings secondary has played as well this year as they have in recent memory, but they’ve been their weakest when diminutive cornerback Josh Robinson is forced to go up against big receivers. Chicago’s tall tandem of Alshon Jeffrey and Brandon Marshall combined for 18 catches and 225 yards when they faced the Vikings after the bye week. Meanwhile, Xavier Rhodes has been blanketing receivers for about a month now to the tune of 54 total yards allowed in a four-game span. It’s been suggested that Rhodes lock on to “Megatron” and shadow him all over the field, but Zimmer didn’t jump at the idea. “I doubt that,” he said frankly on Friday.
PREDICTION
This game will be close; probably within the one-touchdown spread that Vegas predicts. Though both offenses have played well in their last two games, neither protects their quarterback very well (both top-10 in sacks allowed) and will be going up against very good defensive lines (both top-10 in sacks recorded). With so many injuries, the Vikings will be outmanned, though they’ll play freely and give Detroit a run for their money. Lions 24, Vikings 20.
Sam Ekstrom is a staff writer for Cold Omaha at 105 The Ticket and a play-by-play broadcaster in Burnsville, Minn. Hear him on 105 The Ticket Sunday mornings from 8-10 a.m. on “The Wake Up Call” or during the week giving Vikings reports. Follow him on Twitter @SamEkstrom for further insights.