Detroit vs. Minnesota pregame

Detroit and Minnesota square off Sunday at the Dome

The Minnesota Vikings will host the Detroit Lions on Sunday at noon. This is a game the Vikings need to win to get back to 500 and this is a game the Vikings should win because their opponent is not playing good football right now - That was the biggest understatement I could possibly make. Detroit is dead last in total defense. They rank 29^th in pass defense and 30^th in rush defense. The Lions are also 31^st in average points given up per game. This is coupled with the Lions offense being 28^th in total yards per game, 19^th in passing yards per game (one spot ahead of the Vikings pass offense, which is a lot like winning the smartest idiot award), and 31^st in yards-per-game rushing.

All of this adds up to the Vikings should win the game. The only statistic that matters which the Vikings trail the Lions is in offensive passing yards which as I mentioned earlier, the Vikings are only one spot behind the behind the Lions.

One of the big differences for this game will be if Jon Kitna can play. Dan Orlovsky will most likely get the start if Kitna can’t play. I was watching a “highlight” real of Dan Orlovsky against the Bears. I wish I was joking but it consisted of one play. Here’s the link: http://www.nfl.com/players/danorlovsky/profile?id=ORL645634. It’s amusing to me that Mike Martz took the fall for that team last season. Jon Kitna was doing a lot better last year with Martz running the offense. Their rushing this year is dreadful even though that is why Martz was run out of town last year – for not running the ball enough. At least they had offensive production last year! The defense is the real liability in Detroit. Even last year the defense was shaky. That unit will need to perform better if this team wants to get out of the proverbial cellar of the NFL. Firing Matt Milen was the right move and everyone knows it. The problem is that it’s going to take years for this team to turn it around. I don’t believe this team is so bad that they won’t win a game this season. At some point the defense will come around enough to give the offense a chance to win and with Jon Kitna, at some point their going to pull through with a victory. I don’t think it’ll be against the Vikes.

If the Vikings are to beat Lions, they just need to play smart football. Don’t turn the ball over, don’t commit penalties, and run the football. If they can do those three things, this game should be well in hand come the fourth quarter. The Vikings simply have more talent on the roster than the Lions do. The Lions will score some points. My guess is between 10-20 points if Kitna plays, but possibly under 10 if Kitna sits.

Well, that’s all for this post. Enjoy the game. I’ll be back early next week.