How the Vikings Can Beat the Lions
The Minnesota Vikings are heading to the playoffs — no matter what.
How the Vikings Can Beat the Lions
The next step is determining if Minnesota enters the dance as a Wildcard combatant or division winner. The Vikings head to Detroit for Sunday Night Football, taking on the Lions for the NFC North crown, the NFC’s No. 1 seed, and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. It’s arguably the most important regular season game in franchise history.
And if Minnesota is to pull off the impossible — earning homefield advantage throughout the playoffs in the “Sam Darnold season” — here’s how it must happen.
1. No Turnovers (or Just One)
Minnesota has done a fabulous job reducing turnovers in the last month. Coincidentally, that was right around the time that the club began to play super efficiently. Funny how that works, huh?
Kevin O’Connell’s team has limited its once-obligatory 1st Quarter fumble problem, and Sunday night is not the time for the demon to re-arrive.
This one is as straightforward as it gets: Minnesota and Detroit are so evenly matched at the moment that the team winning the turnover battle will probably win the NFC North and the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC.
Don’t fumble. Limit picks.
2. Run the Ball Efficiently
The Vikings’ offense utterly hums when Aaron Jones cooks.
There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. The offense often struggled in 2023 because the ground game stunk. Well, the rushing attack isn’t elite this season (or anywhere close), but it’s decent, and that’s what Minnesota needs to open up the passing game.
Against the Lions, Minnesota cannot abandon the run if Jones gets swallowed up early. Winning a passing shootout at Ford Field seems unlikely.
3. Survive the Onslaught
Let’s get this in print: Detroit will probably score 24 points, no matter what.
It’s how many points in addition to the 24 that will determine the victor. To use an extreme example, an NBA team that holds LeBron James to 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists is considered to reasonably contain James.
That’s what Minnesota needs in Detroit. The Lions will get theirs, but holding them to 24 feels like the magic number.
4. Clutch Darnold
Every step of the way in 2024, Samuel Richard Darnold has delivered in crunchtime. The Vikings have asked Darnold to win a game late in the 4th Quarter or overtime about 3-4 times, and he has not faltered.
Sunday Night Football is absolutely not the time for Darnold to produce his first dud in the clutch.
It’s unlikely for Minnesota to run away with the game to the tune of a 34-10 victory, and on the other hand, the showdown will probably come down the final drive or two. Darnold must replicate his recent doings — lead Minnesota on a game-winning drive.
Not for nothing, that will be the ask of Darnold for the next few games. It’s just how it goes at this time on the calendar.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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