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Traditionally the divisional matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions has been a lopsided one with the Minnesota Vikings holding a .650 win percentage all-time. But the winds of change seem to be blowing through Detroit these days and Dan Cambell is not just Detroit’s darling, but thanks to Hard Knock’s he’s become one of America’s favorite new coaches to get behind.
Since taking over as the Lions head coach in 2021, Campbell has only tallied four total wins but the tone has changed already in 2022. Through two games this year the Lions are 2nd in the league with 35.5 points per game, they’re 3rd in the league averaging 186 rushing yards per game and the connection between QB Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown has become one of the most lethal in the league already accounting for three touchdowns on the young season.
But the Vikings are no formidable foe either, at least we think. To be honest the polarizing play for the Vikings from one week to the next hasn’t left anybody super confident with where they stand heading into today’s game. Justin Jefferson still sits at 5th in the league with 232 receiving yards and 2 TDs, Kirk Cousins has shown that he can be a dynamic player leading the team’s new offensive scheme, but it’s running back Dalvin Cook who is still waiting for a breakout game. With only 107 yards on the season and still waiting to find the endzone, Cook will look to take advantage of a Lions defense that had yielded 152 yards per game this season and has allowed 5 rushing touchdowns already.
Both teams were hit with the injury bug this weekend as the Lions will be without starting left guard Jonah Jackson and have D’Andre Swift, T.J. Hockenson, Aiden Hutchinson and Frank Ragnow all playing through injuries today. For the Vikings they’re without star safety Harrison Smith and rookie CB Andrew Booth while starting middle linebacker Eric Kendricks will be playing despite a toe injury.
It’s an NFC North division collision today at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis!