Minnesota Vikings: 4 Steps to Beating the Lions

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Nov 7, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jarius Wright (17) celebrates his first down against the Washington Redskins at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Vikings win 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

4) Convert third downs

This is a point that the Minnesota Vikings have struggled with for much of the season. The inability to convert third downs kills an offensive drive, gives the ball back to the opposing offense, and also kills momentum which shifts to the opposition’s defense.

Last week against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Vikings converted just 35 percent of third downs. That’s an abysmal rate and one of the only reasons they won the game was because the Chiefs were even worse (25 percent). The maddening thing is that the Vikings’ 35 percent vs. the Chiefs is also their season average (via TeamRankings.com) – putting them in the lower portion of the NFL, right next to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills.

It gets worse on the road, however. Team Rankings has the Vikings measured as converting just 28 percent of third downs on the road. That’s good for fourth worst in the NFL. Detroit is not going to be a friendly game and the Vikes better hope the Lions fans have already given up and won’t show up or this could turn into a tough game for making plays on third down.

The Vikings can’t rely on the Lions handing them offensive possession after offensive possession like the Chiefs did, as they are converting at over 40 percent so far this season (13th in the NFL)and over 45 percent at home.

Stalled drives are killer and the Minnesota Vikings have been lucky to get away with some so far this season. It will be important to convert this week.

Next: Matthew Stafford will be the x-factor in Vikings-Lions

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