Minnesota Vikings: 4 steps to beating Detroit Lions

Dec 1, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) rushes for 21 yards as Chicago Bears safety Chris Conte (47) tackles him in overtime at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. Vikings win 23-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings square off against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, pitting the division rivals against each other as both hope to get back to .500.

Only one team will come out 1-1 while the other will fall to an early 0-2 deficit in one of the more competitive divisions in football.

The Minnesota Vikings are opening a window as a contender and cannot afford to enter the 2015 season 0-2 with one loss against a division opponent and another against a conference opponent. In the NFC North, that’s almost too big of a hole to climb out of.

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Fortunately, the Detroit Lions are mortal. They started the year off with a lackluster 28-33 loss to the San Diego Chargers. Despite leading 21-10 at halftime, the Lions found a way to lose. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers finally got his game together and managed to pick apart the Lions, finishing the day with over 400 yards and a ridiculous 83.3% completion percentage.

This is a winnable game for the Minnesota Vikings and what is most telling from the Lions’ Week 1 loss is their inability to play a full 60 minutes. The NFL is a league that requires two full halves of play to win, not just one good one. The Lions showed they were undisciplined in Week 1 and the Vikings should take advantage.

Over the next few pages, I’ll lay out four steps to beating the Detroit Lions.

Next: Get that offense in a rhythm