Detroit Lions Weblog

Week 2:Lions Vs. Vikings

After how badly I missed predicting last week’s game outcome, I am even less certain about what will take place in this game.   The Lions, playing before a rabid, and hopefully, sold-out crowd, should have an excellent opportunity to finally secure a victory from the Vikings, after the many near misses and meltdowns which have so ominously checkered their rivalry during it’s recent history.

The Lions offense was very prolific against a good Raiders defense on the road last week.   This week the Lions face another good-to-very good defense in the Vikings.   The Vikings, with DT’s Kevin and Pat Williams stuffing the middle, will provide the Lions with a serious challenge in their ability to run the ball.  Without RB’s Kevin Jones and T.J. Duckett, and the Lions natural inclination towards throwing the ball, the Vikings staunch rushing defense may factor little in the game’s eventual outcome, though.  

The most intriguing matchup will be Viking’s DE’s Ray Edwards, Darrion Scott, Kenichi Udeze, and Brian Robison against Jeff Backus and George Foster.   If Backus and Foster can slow an already inexperienced and unproductive group of defensive ends, then Vikings Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier may have to resort to calling for a myriad of blitzes in hopes of pressuring Kitna and forcing the Lions into costly turnovers. If the Vikings can consistently pressure Kitna from the edge, then Mike Martz will be handcuffed in his playcalling, because the Lions will be unable to utilize as many receivers in their passing attack by providing additional blockers in an attempt to slow the Vikings pass rush.

The Lions will run a lot of three- and four-wide receiver sets, hoping to exploit the Vikings nickel and dime defensive backs, or creating match-up issues where WLB Chad Greenway or Safeties Darren Sharper and Dwight Smith will be charged with the unenviable task of facing Calvin Johnson, Shaun McDonald, or Mike Furrey, all operating from the slot receiver position,  which generates match-ups they are unlikely to win very often.  

The Vikings will likely rotate a safety to double-team Roy Williams, forcing the Lions to throw to their other receivers.   In some ways, this is playing into Mike Martz’s hands.   Martz is one of the league’s best offensive coordinators at finding, and exploiting, his opponent’s weaknesses. 

I also believe that if the Vikes are forced to utilize blitzes to pressure Kitna, they will be in for a long day.  If the Vikings blitz, they will have to abandon their Tampa-2 zone defense, and rely upon on a lot of man-to-man coverage, a no-win situation for them in my eyes.

Defensively, the Lions will need their defensive line to play equal to, or better, than it did against Oakland.  The Vikings will run the ball often, hoping to take the game from out of QB Tavaris Jackson’s hands.   The Vikings would also like to take the Lions offense out of rhythm by stringing together a few plodding, ball control-type of drives which will keep the Lions offense off of the field for large stretches of time.  

If Shaun Rogers can blow up the middle of the Vikings O-line, and their linebackers and secondary exhibit some quality tackling, they may be able to slow RB Adrian Peterson, and avoid moving S Kenoy Kennedy into the “tackle box”, and effectively force the game into Jackson’s hands.  If the Lions have to load up the “box” to stop the run, they will be removed from their Tampa-2 scheme, and become increasingly vulnerable to some deep passes. 

This is a game where the Lions LB’s and secondary will have to exhibit a lot of discipline, and tackle consistently.   The Vikings run a West Coast offense, which if the Lions tackle well, should be unproductive against the Tampa-2 because the zone defense wants to keep plays in front of it’s safeties.   The West Coast, with all of it’s dinking and dunking, plays right into that strategy. 

If the Lions defensive backs can resist the urge to take chances by jumping routes, and adhere to their responsibilities, the unremarkable Vikings receiving corps will be kept in check.  If DeWayne White and Kalimba Edwards can provide some pressure on Jackson, against a much better O-Line than the Raiders have, the Lions secondary may be gifted with some hurried, poorly thrown balls which they can intercept.

The Lions will have to weather a few storms in Sunday’s game.   In the end though, I believe that they will exhibit a urge to overcome adversity, similar to the one they exhibited in last week’s road victory.  Without Culpepper-to-Moss to affect the game’s final outcome, the Lions will finally overcome their long string of losses against the Vikes.  

Lions 24 Vikes 17