Lions vs. Vikings: Full Minnesota Game Preview
Week 1 of the NFL regular season was not kind to the Minnesota Vikings or the Detroit Lions. The pair of NFC North division rivals will meet this Sunday at Minneapolis' TCF Bank Stadium with a chance to get back on track following disappointing losses.
After opening up a 21-10 lead against the San Diego Chargers headed into halftime, the Lions faltered down the stretch and ultimately fell to their Week 1 opponents by a final score of 33-28. Detroit received plenty of help from rookie running back Ameer Abdullah, who tallied 94 total yards in his regular-season debut, but it wasn't enough to hold off quarterback Philip Rivers and a determined Chargers team.
Potentially the greatest story coming out of Detroit's defeat was an absence of superstar wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Johnson, who has been prolific throughout his career, caught just two passes on four targets for a grand total of 39 yards. Getting him the ball more in Week 2 seems to be an obvious expectation, given his lack of involvement in the Lions' disappointing loss last Sunday.
On the other side of the field, the Vikings are coming off an equally disappointing defeat at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. Minnesota was dominated in the trenches, and second-year running back Carlos Hyde gashed a seemingly tired Vikings defense for 168 yards on the ground. Minnesota ultimately crumbled 20-3 in a crushing defeat on the road.
Similar to Detroit, Minnesota was unable to get its greatest offensive weapon going, as the return of running back Adrian Peterson certainly did not go the way many would have hoped.
Peterson totaled just 52 total yards, receiving a grand total of 10 carries, most coming out of the shotgun formation. Just like Johnson, it seems obvious that the Vikings will look to get the 2012 MVP award winner the ball early and often, as Minnesota looks to get back on track in a key divisional matchup.
Location: TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Time: 12 p.m. CT/1 p.m. ET
TV: Channel 9 Fox KMSP (Local)
Week 1 Results and Recap
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The Week 1 results for Minnesota certainly were not very pretty, and the recap may actually be even more ugly, so let's keep this short and sweet.
Minnesota was gouged on the ground by a San Francisco rushing attack led by running back Carlos Hyde. The Vikings, who had been hyped by many analysts coming into the 2015 season, appeared tired and unprepared for the game plan that 49ers coaches Jim Tomsula, Geep Chryst and Eric Mangini had in store for them.
Defensive end Everson Griffen, who became a star in his first year starting in Minnesota, didn't showcase his pass-rushing prowess or elite skills in the run defense. Aside from Anthony Barr, who totaled 12 tackles in a truly impressive effort, the Vikings defensive front-seven was dreadful in a 20-3 loss to the 49ers.
Second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater missed multiple big-play opportunities throughout the evening, totaling 231 passing yards and an interception on 32 attempts. He had very little time to make decisions with the interior offensive line crumbling in front of him—particularly Brandon Fusco and Joe Berger—but this does not excuse multiple errant throws and indecisiveness.
On the bright side, new wide receiver Mike Wallace and tight end Kyle Rudolph both played well, totaling 63 and 53 receiving yards, respectively. Additionally, safety Harrison Smith and cornerback Xavier Rhodes put together solid efforts when defending against the pass.
New starting right guard Mike Harris also did everything asked of him and more in his first opportunity to protect Bridgewater as an interior offensive lineman.
Above all, Monday's Week 1 loss was a "reality check" for the Vikings, as Bridgewater put it for reporters, and should add some fuel to the fire for Sunday's matchup with the Lions.
| NFC North Division | W | L | T | PCT | DIF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | +8 |
| Detroit Lions | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | -6 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | -17 |
| Chicago Bears | 0 | 1 | .000 | -8 |
News and Notes
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Everson Griffen Predicts Victory Over Detroit
After playing a key role in a decimating loss, football players tend to respond impulsively to the media, and Griffen does not represent an anomaly.
During a recent conversation with Chris Tomasson of the Saint Paul Pioneer Press, Griffen declared that the Vikings will defeat the Lions this coming Sunday. Ted Glover of the Daily Norseman also noted the declaration with his typical hint of a comedy.
"#Vikings DE Everson Griffen: "We're going to go out there and beat Detroit. So I’m very angry right now.''
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) September 16, 2015"
Victory predictions—especially of the Super Bowl variety—or nicknames based on roster talent have very up-and-down histories of coming to fruition. Former New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath was very successful; whereas former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Vince Young wasn't even close.
Following a dismal loss to the 49ers, Vikings fans certainly hope Griffen is on to something, as the whole "getting your hopes up only to have them brutally shot down" thing is getting a bit old in Minnesota.
No Competition for Blair Walsh
After missing yet another makeable field-goal attempt during Monday Night Football, many have suggested its time to bring in a potential replacement for struggling Vikings kicker Blair Walsh. But according to ESPN NFL Nation reporter Ben Goessling, Mike Zimmer isn't ready to do so just yet.
"He hit 28 out of 28 in practice last week. He’s got to carry it to the game," Zimmer said of Walsh. "And it’s worrisome."
Goessling was quick to note that Zimmer isn't planning on making any drastic decisions just yet.
"I’m bringing in consideration for him to pull out of this thing and start kicking like he’s capable of kicking," Zimmer said.
As Zimmer noted, the hope here is that Walsh will begin kicking the way he did as a rookie and as a sophomore, when he made 92.1 and 86.7 percent of his field-goal attempts, respectively. Walsh also nailed 12 of 15 attempts from 50-plus yards away during this timespan, including a perfect 10-of-10 during his rookie campaign.
With the Vikings struggling on offense and defense in Week 1, they desperately need to receive strong special teams play, and Zimmer is confident that Walsh will turn the corner this Sunday against the Lions.
Adrian Peterson Felt 'A Little Hesitant' in First Game Back
Among the laundry list of concerns spouting from the Vikings' 20-3 loss in San Francisco last Monday was the play of running back Adrian Peterson, who appeared to look a little rusty after not playing for over a year.
However, as Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star Tribune detailed, Peterson doesn't believe he is rusty, but was willing to say he was playing a little hesitantly:
""But I felt a little hesitant a couple of times, [taking handoffs] out of the shotgun,” said Peterson, who had only 10 carries for 31 yards and three catches for 21 yards as the Vikings were mauled 20-3 at San Francisco’s Levi’s Stadium. “But outside of that, I felt pretty good, picking up guys in protection. A couple of the runs I had, it felt like I could have done a little better and a couple of them were pretty decent."
"
Peterson, who has struggled against the 49ers in the past, failed to answer the challenge of those who were saying that he was over the hill this offseason. Throughout his career, the Vikings running back has totaled just 205 yards on 68 carries (3.01 per-carry average) against the 49ers, making San Francisco arguably his most difficult opponent statistically.
Offensive coordinator Norv Turner's game plan to use him out of the shotgun in Week 1 certainly didn't help, as Peterson has become accustomed to running "downhill" in single-back and "I" formations throughout his illustrious career.
The Minnesota running back, who has a knack for making explosive comebacks, will look to get back on track against a Lions defensive front four that lost defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley to free agency during the offseason.
Latest Injury News
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Aside from the long-lasting, substantial injuries to offensive linemen Phil Loadholt and John Sullivan, the Vikings enter Week 2 fairly healthy after not sustaining any further ailments against San Francisco.
| Player | Position | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Jerick McKinnon | RB | Ankle |
| Shamar Stephen | NT | Knee |
All injury information courtesy of Vikings.com
Both backup running back Jerick McKinnon and backup defensive tackle Shamar Stephen are listed on the team's official injury report, but the pair of key role players participated fully during Wednesday's practice.
With only Loadholt and Sullivan as well as cornerbacks Josh Robinson and Jabari Price (suspension) expected to miss Sunday's game, Minnesota will not have the same injury excuse it did in Week 1.
The team now has been prepared to miss these key contributors for some time now and must perform with what is available, as the NFL is not a forgiving professional sports league.
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Key Matchups
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CB Xavier Rhodes vs. WR Calvin Johnson
As long as cornerback Xavier Rhodes and wide receiver Calvin Johnson are on the field during this divisional rivalry, this head-to-head pairing will be a key matchup.
Mike Zimmer has yet to place his best shutdown defensive back exclusively on Johnson, but Rhodes has been mostly responsible for the elite wide receiver on multiple occasions in the past. Johnson and Rhodes have faced off only twice in four Minnesota-Detroit matchups since Rhodes was drafted by Minnesota in 2013 (due to injuries).
Here are their head-to-head statistics, courtesy of Pro Football Focus:
| Date | Targets | Receptions | Yards | Touchdowns |
| 2013: Week 1 | 4 | 3 | 49 | 0 |
| 2014: Week 15 | 4 | 3 | 24 | 0 |
| Total | 8 | 6 | 73 | 0 |
As the table shows, Rhodes has allowed 75 percent of the balls thrown at him while covering Johnson to be completed, but the physical aberration known as Megatron hasn't managed to find the end zone or dominate Minnesota's No. 1 cornerback.
Rhodes will likely again be asked to spend plenty of time shadowing Johnson again this Sunday, as (No. 2 cornerback) Terence Newman's 5'10" height appears to be a physical mismatch in coverage against Megatron's 6'5" frame.
Given his size and length, it would make sense to see rookie cornerback Trae Waynes (6'1") get some snaps against Johnson, but don't count on it:
"I asked Mike Zimmer what #Vikings rookie CB Trae Waynes must do to get some snaps. "Cover guys better,'' was all Zimmer said.
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) September 16, 2015 "
The results have been solid in the past, and Minnesota will need Rhodes to play the part of Optimus Prime if the Vikings are to be able to stop Detroit's aerial attack.
QB Teddy Bridgewater vs. Detroit's Defensive Secondary
The 71.8 completion percentage in the box score won't show it, but Teddy Bridgewater did not play well in his 2015 opening performance against the 49ers. San Francisco was up to the challenge in defending against the pass, but on paper, it sure appears that Detroit boasts an even tougher defensive secondary.
Cornerback Darius Slay and safety Glover Quin represent Pro Bowl-caliber defensive backs for the Lions, and the duo made its presence felt against San Diego, as both players recorded interceptions against Philip Rivers.
Bridgewater owns a 1-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio in his two meetings with the Lions in the past, so the second-year signal-caller will need to be much better this weekend if he hopes to lead the Vikings to a Week 2 victory.
Targeting the weakest link of the group may be Bridgewater's best option, as he does have the luxury of two above-average wide receivers (Mike Wallace, Charles Johnson) at his disposal.
Seasoned cornerback Rashean Mathis was massacred in coverage against Keenan Allen and the Chargers in Week 1, allowing nine receptions on 11 targets for 85 yards, according to Pro Football Focus.
if Bridgewater truly is Minnesota's franchise quarterback, as many believe he is—he will need to play better against imposing secondaries, and this divisional rivalry matchup represents an ideal opportunity to rebound.
Vikings Defensive Front Seven vs. Detroit's Running Game
This matchup is an absolute no-brainer coming off a performance in which Minnesota's defensive front seven allowed Carlos Hyde and Co. to total 230 yards on the ground during Week 1.
Veteran rusher Joique Bell and rookies Ameer Abdullah and (Minnesota native) Zach Zenner are no slouches either, so the Vikings' group led by Everson Griffen and Anthony Barr will need to get it together in a hurry.
Detroit totaled just 69 yards on the ground against the Chargers, but it should be expected that Jim Caldwell and his staff will want to see this number increase in Week 2. After watching the film of Minnesota against San Francisco, it can be assured that jamming the ball down the Vikings' throats on the ground will be a big part of Detroit's offensive game plan.
Minnesota needs to figure out how to defend the run, as failing to do so has become a bit of a negative trend throughout Zimmer's tenure. This is certainly a good week to start, coming off an abysmal performance against the 49ers.
Matchup X-Factors
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Vikings X-Factor of the Week: RB Adrian Peterson
Coming off a performance in which very few players played well, a wide range of Vikings players could be the X-factor against the Lions. But this offense still runs through one player: Adrian Peterson.
Peterson, as noted earlier, totaled just 31 yards on the ground against the 49ers. Part of this is due to a subpar outing by the future Hall of Fame inductee, but the fault falls potentially even more so on oNorv Turner for not using his greatest weapon effectively—or often enough.
With that said, it can be assured that Peterson will see 15-20 carries in Week 2, and how he fares could dictate the outcome of this divisional matchup.
Peterson has been sensational against NFC North opponents throughout the duration of his prolific career—as shown in a blog post I did awhile back. Against the Lions specifically, he has amassed 1,258 yards and 11 touchdowns through 12 games and 235 carries, which amounts to 5.35 yards per carry and a 104.8 per-game average.
Detroit also lost defensive tackles Suh and Fairley to free agency, which should help clear some running lanes for the seemingly unstoppable rusher (when playing outside of San Francisco). Replacing the above pairing are Haloti Ngata (a potential Hall of Famer in his own right) and Tyrunn Walker.
While Peterson won't be facing as steep a challenge as he has in the past, Ngata and Walker aren't exactly a pushover interior combination, either. The Vikings need Peterson to step up big this weekend to get Bridgewater and the offense going, and the smart money says he will.
Lions X-Factor of the Week: RB Ameer Abdullah
Question: What should an offense facing a defense that was recently gouged for 230 yards on the ground and has shown almost no ability to stop the run over the past two years do?
Answer: run the football.
It's pretty obvious what the Lions' game plan should be heading into Week 2, and it remains very likely that this plan of attack will come to fruition.
Joique Bell may lead Detroit's running back depth chart, but the true threat is rookie Ameer Abdullah. The current situation is actually quite to similar that between Chester Taylor and Peterson in 2007.
Abdullah received seven carries in his regular-season debut, amassing 50 rushing yards while showcasing the type of burst and electricity that the city of Detroit hasn't seen since you know who. He doesn't have the same power that Hyde shredded the Vikings with this past week, but Abdullah can run between the tackles and make defenders miss with the best of them.
In addition, the rookie running back can make it happen as a receiver, as he totaled four receptions for 44 yards against the Chargers as well, which marks just another element the Vikings must be prepared to defend.
It remains to be seen if Abdullah will ultimately prove to be Detroit's best running back since the legendary Barry Sanders, but Minnesota better be prepared to stop him, or this could get ugly—again.
Prediction Vikings 17, Lions 16
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It's difficult to predict the outcome of a game featuring a pair of teams that both suffered very disappointing losses in Week 1.
The Lions certainly showed an ability to put points on the board against the Chargers, but their defense didn't look nearly as dangerous as it was in 2014, allowing 33 unanswered points to swallow up any chance of beginning the season 1-0.
Minnesota, on the other hand, didn't show an ability to do anything. The Vikings couldn't run, pass or defend in Week 1 against the 49ers. But sometimes, getting the stuffing beaten out of you is the perfect way to wake you up.
I'm expecting this to be a very ugly game, with the Vikings pulling out a home victory by the slimmest of margins.
Bridgewater and Peterson can't possibly play as poorly as they did against the 49ers, and Zimmer will have a heart attack if his defense is dismantled so easily once again.
On paper, the Vikings are the superior defensive team with Suh now playing his football in Miami, and their offense is certainly capable of playing with the Matthew Stafford-Calvin Johnson-led Detroit aerial attack.
If the Vikings can protect Bridgewater (big "if") and keep Detroit from dominating on the ground, their secondary has more than enough talent to contain Johnson, Golden Tate and Eric Ebron when the Lions are forced to make it happen through the air.
Look for Rhodes, Smith, Barr and Griffen to lead a strong rebound effort for the Vikings defense, helping Bridgewater, Peterson and Co. do just enough to pull out a 17-16 Week 2 victory for Minnesota.
All statistics courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.
Robert Reidell is the Minnesota Vikings Game-Day Correspondent for Bleacher Report and can be found on Twitter @RobertReidellBT.
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