VIKINGS (6-4) VS. LIONS (6-4)
THURSDAY, 12:30 P.M. ET, FORD FIELD, DETROIT uTV: CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson
About the Vikings: The ferocious pass rush and game-changing special-teams plays that largely were absent in their four-game skid re-emerged as they defeated the Arizona Cardinals 30-24. After getting three sacks during the slide, Minnesota sacked QB Carson Palmer four times, led DE Danielle Hunter
with two. CB Xavier Rhodes and KR Cordarrelle Patterson scored on defense and special teams, respectively, and QB Sam
Bradford minimized his mistakes behind a susceptible offensive line. In his first game replacing K Blair Walsh, who was released last week, K Kai Forbath had a blocked extra point but converted his only field goal attempt. Their 217 net yards on offense were their fewest since Week 3, and Minnesota yielded at least 20 points for the fifth consecutive game after avoiding doing so in its previous nine dating to last year, playoffs included.
About the Lions: They’ve trailed in the fourth quarter of all six of their victories, each coming by one possession, but the Lions retained their share of first place in the NFC North by outlasting the mistake-prone Jacksonville Jaguars 26-19. Detroit’s defense and special teams bailed out an offense that was bogged down for three-plus quarters — the Lions’ only touchdowns to that point were a punt return by Andre Roberts and an interception return by S Rafael Bush. Tight end Eric Ebron continued the best stretch of his young career by catching a 61-yarder and scoring the game-winning touchdown on a jet sweep on Detroit’s biggest drive. Ezekiel
Ansah again was held without a sack but
supplied plenty of pressure. Matchup to watch: Vikings LT T.J.
Clemmings vs. Ansah. Clemmings, who gave up a late strip-sack to Arizona’s Chandler Jones on Sunday, faces another quick edge rusher in Ansah, coming off his best performance of the season.
Player to watch: Patterson. His kickreturn score Sunday was the fifth of his career, but his contributions on offense are more surprising. Patterson also supplied Minnesota’s longest gain from scrimmage, a 30-yard catch-and-run and increasingly has become involved in the Vikings’ retooled offense.
Number crunching: 6. Lions QB Matthew Stafford has six game-winning drives this season — a franchise record — and 26 in his career, the second most through eight seasons in NFL history.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Ebron and Riddick. With the Lions’ wideouts struggling, the offense runs through Ebron and RB Theo Riddick. It’ll be up to Vikings LBs Anthony Barr and Eric Ken
dricks to cover the flats and middle of the field, where Ebron gathered most of his career-high 92 receiving yards in the first meeting and Riddick broke off a 42-yard run.
2. Running on empty. They are two of the NFL’s worst running teams. They combined for 86 yards on 45 carries Sunday — Detroit’s total of 14 yards was its lowest in a win in nine seasons. Yet both must continue trying to run to limit their quarterbacks’ exposure behind shaky lines. Minnesota has allowed a 100-yard rusher twice in the last four games.
3. New Diggs. Vikings WR Stefon Diggs had 13 catches for 80 yards three weeks ago, which preceded 13 catches for 164 yards in Week 10. After missing the first meeting, can Lions CB Darius Slay slow Minnesota’s best playmaker? And can Detroit, which has had trouble stopping tight ends, also limit Kyle
Rudolph, whose five touchdowns are tied for the league lead among tight ends?