I am hoping the Lions defense holds the vikes to 20 points or less. Offensive line needs to come up big. Lions 23 - Vikings -17
1 Like
I think that’s a fair guess. Of course I am always wrong. I will go with
Lions 26
Vikings 20
Goff with first interception. Sad.
I think it’s crazy that on yahoo pickems, 70% of people are picking the Lions win. On NFL.com, all of their analysts are picking the Lions.
I like the Lions since it’s a home division game, the team will be fired up to avoid a repeat of last year, and because the Lions offense can outscore the Vikings. The Vikings defense is sick though, and if the Vikings get a lead? Here comes the blitzes and everything gets 10x harder.
Here’s my crazy thought of this game. Most divisional games are close games that come down to one score. I do NOT think this will be an easy game. However, I also think there is a real chance the Lions could blow this game open bigtime and win by 20. Minnesota cannot score, and if the Lions get a lead, they get to dictate terms. Minnesota’s defense is scary good, but they haven’t faced our offense either. We can kill them with quick passes to Jamo and to Gibbs and let those guys run wild behind the blitz.
Jamo is a normally a streaky player, but I think Petzing has gotten some trust in him. Jamo had 2 TD’s against Arizona, and had 2 more against the Packers. It was a footstep away from being a hat trick game for Jamo. I think if they run Jamo on some short crossers, Minnesota is dead. There is no way Jamo is getting tackled by 2 deep safeties, it’s just a matter of getting the few seconds to throw the ball over the 8 man front.
This game to me dictates our season. If the OL can handle the Flores blitz, this team can really go on a run. If we lose, we are in deep trouble.
2 Likes
Why is that crazy? Despite current standings, we’re a better team. Certainly a more talented team at least.
4 Likes
I expect Goff to have a quick trigger for both the completions and throw aways. Maybe a mistake here or there but I do expect us to pop one or even two mega explosives this game. Is this the game Gibbs takes one to the house?
2 Likes
Most people, especially the NFL media, are superficial and see a 6-0 team vs a 4-2 team as a mismatch. Now combine that with the “Goff struggles against the blitz” narrative and no one blitzes more than Brian Flores, then narrative logic should mean Goff is about to have his worst game and the Lions will lose.
When I say crazy, maybe the better word is surprised. I don’t think it’s wrong to think the Lions will win, I am just surprised that so many outside NFL fans are seeing the same things.
Can’t have turnovers and give the Vikings easy scores. It will be ok to take FGs and punts in this game. Vikings special teams are good as well so have to limit return yardage. Hopefully the defense we’ve seen the last couple weeks shows up.
The Lions should have beaten GB by double digits. The two fumbles were self induced.
Can’t let Murray get us with a long scramble.
Not ready to predict a score yet.
3 Likes
False narrative. He was 4th in DVOA against the blitz last year and is even better this year. Goff really struggles when teams rush four and get pressure. If he there is an answer to the problem but that answer must be arrived upon quickly he’s typically fine. When teams drop seven AND get pressure there is no quick easy answer. The path to success in those events typically involves secondary action plays and that is where Goff struggles.
3 Likes
I’m not. I actually think this is a two score win if we mind our P’s and Q’s.
It’s 100% a false narrative, but it’s an easy and lazy one for people to fall back to.
One thing I’ve seen for Goff, during the Eagles game last year they said they noticed something on film with Goff’s release, and they batted down a ton of passes. During the Panthers game, this happened as well. I am curious if more teams pick up on this and try to exploit it.
Outside of that, Goff will have the odd bad game like every single QB has. Even the elite ones have their ugly games.
I predict:
-
message board meltdowns during the game chat at the Den
-
Jman losing bets
-
air fryer wings & thighs for game day.
-
Lions win
10 Likes
I didn’t know you were a “heightist”
I’m getting ahead of the curve here that’s the next cancel culture word
Short is beautiful !!!
1 Like
Vikings 24
Lions 28
Well put, but to be fair, most QBs struggle with that. If a defense can rush 4 and get pressure, that’s the ideal recipe for defensive success. If you have a QB who can extend plays with his legs, assuming the front 4 give you the lanes to do so, that’s a decent counter option.
Really hope this is a coming out party for the Run game and they finally get a few explosives bc of a hyper aggressive Vikings defense. Also, the bad loss to Minnesota late last year has to have left a bad taste in the Lions mouth and they want to prove a point… 31-7 LIONS!! 
1 Like
Lions 27 Vikes 17
1 Like
I think the Vikings can win of course. But they only can win by forcing into unsound football and multiple game changing mistakes. Personally I don’t expect them to be able to do that to us. The Lions have many more paths to victory IMO where as the Vikes need to execute on a narrow script.
Lions 27
Vikings 13
1 Like
I agree, the Vikings have to have a lot more go their way. One thing I am very interested to see is of course how the OL handles the A gap blitzes. I feel more confident in Gibbs ability to pass pro, he has made big strides here. However, that’s part of Flores game. He wants you using your RB as a 6th OL, and not as a skill position. That’s part of the beauty of his defense, he forces you to convert skill guys into blockers to try to stop the rush.
If the Lions have an answer, they win and convincingly. I still like the idea of Vaki and Gibbs on the field together, and you let Vaki pass pro while using Gibbs as a slot to eat up the hot routes. Once Gibbs, Saint or Jamo have the ball in space, it’s over. LaPorta will also serve as an excellent hot route guy, and I bet he is featured much more than he was in the Packer game.