Prepare for the Biggest Game in Vikings-Lions History
Week 7 brings us a heavyweight matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions as the top two in the toughest division in football are set to clash. Prepare for the biggest game in Vikings/Lions history as Dan Campbell brings his Lions to battle with Kevin O’Connell’s Vikings.
Prepare for the Biggest Game in Vikings-Lions History
Historically, the Vikings have dominated this rivalry, leading the series 80-43-2, but the Lions have had the best of the recent games, winning four of the last five.
That is the Lions’ best winning run since they won the first five meetings after the Vikings came into the league as an expansion team. Detroit is undoubtedly one of the strongest teams in the league right now, and it has started the season strong with a 4-1 record. A home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is the only blight on its record so far.
The Vikings come out of the bye week top of a division that lays a legitimate claim to be the strongest in the league. The four teams in the division have the top four-point differentials in the league, and the Packers sit at the bottom of the division with a record of 4-2. This is the first time since realignment in 2002 that all four teams in a division have had at least four wins through six weeks. Games within the division promise to be huge, and we’ve only had one so far — the Vikings winning in Green Bay.
Expectations
The Lions were beaten in the NFC championship game last season by the San Francisco 49ers – after wins over the LA Rams and Green Bay — and were rightly seen as one of the favorites to challenge for the Lombardi Trophy this season. So far, they are making good on that promise and looked like a force to be reckoned with as they demolished the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
The Vikings were supposed to be in a transition year and building for the future. Those in Minnesota had other ideas, and the 5-0 start to the season caught everybody out. The Vikings have beaten some good teams to start the season and will have to beat another one to keep their unbeaten start going.
Early News for This Week’s Game
The Vikings have positive news this week, with guard Dalton Risner designated to return to practice. We will have to wait and see when he is ready to join the roster. We are still waiting for TJ Hockenson to return after he was designated to return. The Vikings released DL Jalen Redmond to make room on the roster, suggesting a return could be imminent.
News is less favorable in Detroit, where the Lions lost Aiden Hutchinson for the season after he suffered a broken leg against the Cowboys. Losing one of the best players in the league is a massive blow, but plenty of good players remain on the Lions’ roster. Hutchinson wasn’t the only loss. DT Kyle Peko suffered a pectoral tear and will likely undergo season-ending surgery.
The Vikings and Lions are the last two division winners of the NFC North, and whichever team comes out of Sunday’s game will set a marker on their path to be this year’s champions.
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