Minnesota Vikings: 4 steps to beating Detroit Lions

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Dec 14, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) drops back to pass during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

4) Keep the Detroit Lions’ passing offense in check

All due respect to rookie running back Ameer Abdullah and his 50 yards on seven carries last week, but the biggest threat from the Detroit Lions is the passing game.

Matt Stafford is a top-flight quarterback and Calvin Johnson is arguably the most dominant receiver since Jerry Rice. While Johnson gets most of the attention, Stafford can also toss it to a host of other players, chief among them being tight end Eric Ebron.

The Minnesota Vikings know all of this. They meet the Lions twice a year every year. But it is still worth considering.

Each time these two teams meet, it is a priority to shut down the Lions’ passing attack. Last year the Vikings held Stafford to just 368 yards passing in both games combined. That’s an impressive effort from the Vikes defense and we can expect them to do it again.

Unfortunately, both of those games were losses for the Vikings. Shutting down Stafford and the passing game won’t completely limit the opportunity for the Lions to win, but it will allow the Vikings to keep things closer and more competitive.

If the Vikings can convert on third downs, keep their game tight, establish an offensive rhythm, and limit the Lions’ passing attack then they will have played a near-complete game in Week 2. Last year, the games weren’t complete despite shutting Stafford and the passing attack down. The Vikings need to complete more than just one of these steps if they want to win.

Next: Week 2 predictions

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