A Vikings Showdown like None Other
The Minnesota Vikings bested the Green Bay Packers in Week 17 because they are a better team. They also needed that result to set up a matchup for the ages in Week 18.
A Vikings Showdown like None Other
Headed to Detroit for a rematch with the Lions, it’s hard to fathom a regular season matchup carrying more weight.
The first time Minnesota played the Lions this season, they dropped a two-point contest coming out of their bye. Brian Flores’ defense couldn’t slow the opposition, and Ben Johnson coached the Detroit offense to 31 points. It should be expected that they’ll score plenty again on Sunday. The Vikings can, too.
Minnesota gets Detroit on a short week after the Lions needed to travel west and play the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. If something was evident in that contest, it’s that this current version of the Detroit defense is a mess. Sure, they’re hurt, but they also aren’t very good.
The Lions turned Brock Purdy over a couple of times, but they still gave up 400 passing yards and 34 points to a team that was missing many skill position players. Aaron Glenn has been mentioned as a candidate for the head coaching job next season, but his defensive unit is currently running on fumes.
It seems unlikely that the Lions could win a Super Bowl with the brand of defense they are currently capable of playing. That may also make a home matchup against Minnesota a tall task. Sam Darnold is playing the best football of his life and coming off a career-best yardage total.
The Lions know what they are facing against the Vikings, and with the number one seed in the NFC on the line, neither team wants to come up short. It’s always difficult to beat a team twice in the same season, but if Minnesota is going to pull the upset, they’ll have to negate a Ford Field home advantage.
There are plenty of rivalry games and marquee matchups throughout any given year. It’s unheard of to see two 14-win division rivals playing for the top spot in a winner-take-all final game.
Kevin O’Connell will have his team ready, and the hope would be that it’s enough for the Vikings.
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Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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