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Post by D6 on Nov 5, 2020 20:32:12 GMT -5
NFL Week 9 2020 picks
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Lions (+4) at Vikings
MDS’s take: It may be too late for the Vikings to get into playoff contention, but they were impressive against the Packers and they’re going to be a better team over the second half of the season.
MDS’s pick: Vikings 30, Lions 20.
Florio’s take: The winner keeps slim playoff hopes alive. The loser starts looking toward 2021.
Florio’s pick: Vikings 31, Lions 21.
Based on injuries and COVID-19 situations, I believe these predictions ( or close to them ) are a very realistic possibility.
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Post by frenchylions on Nov 6, 2020 6:55:34 GMT -5
This Vikings'victory over the Packers was a bit surprising but it's was very windy in Green Bay and it may have hampered Rodgers'passing game ?
In any case, this gives new perspectives in the division and some hopes for the Lions to play for a remote playoff spot providing they win this sunday.
According to a predictions site, the Lions only have 10% chances to make it to the playoff ... still better than zero 
projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-nfl-predictions/
Against the Packers, the Vikings ran their traditional "outside zone - play action scheme" with a lot of 2 WR sets.
They played clean outside zone (without those tricky Kyle Shanahan'tricky schemes), some misdirections / traps here and there but nothing the Lions'defence could not handle.
Dalvin Cook's stats are impressive so far :
- second with 108.7 rushing yards per game (just behind Derrick Henry (TEN) - 110.7)
- first with 5.3 yards/attempt (players with 100+ attempts)
- first with 10 rushing TDs
- first with 40 rushing 1st downs
He is on pace for another 1k+ season.
I'm thrilled to see what Matt Patricia has prepared to stymie the Vikings'offence, the defence will have to be physical and disciplined, not overcommitting / not opening cutback lanes !
Next Gen Stats says that Kirk Cousins is one of the slowest to throw the ball (2.92 sec - Stafford 2.65) but he has the longest completion air average 7.9 yards (Stafford 7.1) but no crazy deep throws, his average yards to stick is only -0.1 (Stafford 0.2)
His completion percentage is 65.6 % (Stafford 61.4%)
nextgenstats.nfl.com/stats/passing#yards
An "amusing" fact is that Kirk Cousins is paid as a top 10 QB !?
overthecap.com/position/quarterback/
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Post by D6 on Nov 6, 2020 14:02:59 GMT -5
Frenchy, I would feel at least somewhat better about the Lions chances of containing Dalvin Cook if Trey Flowers was available and if Tracy Walker ( despite him not meeting my expectations in the first 7 combined games of the season ) was healthy. Though Everson Griffen has had many similarities to Flowers as a run Defender in his NFL career, Griffen is new to the Lions system.
Trey Flowers' ability to set the edge and overall run Defense skills are amongst the best in the NFL.
I'm more comfortable with Jayron Kearse than Will Harris as a tackler. But against Cook, Kearse could easily be overmatched.
Unless the Lions are able to contain Cook, Kirk Cousins and Vikings WRs / TE's should have a field day off of play action passes, if Cousins breaks pocket contain off the bootleg.
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Post by D6 on Nov 6, 2020 14:47:48 GMT -5
Detroit News predictions: Lions vs. Vikings
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Like Frenchy mentioned regarding the Vikings upset win in Green Bay, very wind conditions made it more difficult than usual for Aaron Rodgers and the overall Packers passing game. Hence, their overall Offense and team.
Whether the Lions have enough firepower and chemistry to take advantage of a Vikings depleted CB core, is definitely one of the key question marks of this game.
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Post by frenchylions on Nov 6, 2020 16:00:17 GMT -5
Packers'win over the 49ers this Thursday is no good news. 
The Vikings'secondary is in the 5 worst all stats considered. Bevell may be using the passing game to open up our running game for a change ?
On a different note, the Vikings'organization is turning into a family business with Mike Zimmer as HC and his son Adam Zimmer as co-defensive coordinator/LB on one hand and Gary Kubiak as OC and his son Klint Kubiak as QB coach on the other hand. 
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Post by frenchylions on Nov 7, 2020 7:42:39 GMT -5
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Post by D6 on Nov 7, 2020 18:39:17 GMT -5
My take on Kirk Cousins is for the most part, his level of effectiveness depends on the effectiveness level of the Vikings running game, and the score of the game. If the Vikings are forced to become one dimensional, with Cousins having to drop back from the pocket in expected passing situations, that's when he usually struggles. With the Vikings Offensive Line often being overmatched. The Lions must make the Vikings throw the ball much more than they did in their win over the Packers.
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Post by D6 on Nov 7, 2020 19:27:38 GMT -5
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Post by D6 on Nov 7, 2020 19:48:17 GMT -5
Detroit News scouting report: Lions at Vikings
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Justin Jefferson looks like he's going to be a big time NFL WR. The Vikings have playmakers at RB, WR, and TE. If their running game is clicking, their Offense will be difficult to stop. The Lions need to get them into 3rd and 8 ( or longer ) situations to magnify the weaknesses of Kirk Cousins and the Vikings Offensive Line pass blocking.
I think Everson Griffen is going to be matched up against Vikings LT Riley Reiff more than against RT Brian O'Neill. Griffen has versatility. But most of his snaps over the years have been at RDE. IMHO, O'Neill is the better pass blocker of their starting Tackles. |
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Post by D6 on Nov 7, 2020 21:44:36 GMT -5
Can Lions take advantage of young, struggling Vikings defense?
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As long as Mike Zimmer is overseeing the Vikings Defense and that Eric Kendricks, Harrison Smith, and Anthony Harris remain on the field, their Defense is more than capable of contributing to a Vikings win.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Vikings call many blitzes in this game. Some being Zone-Blitzes. The Lions need to make the Vikings pay for blitzing. Not only regarding the Vikings Defense but the Lions Defense can't let the Vikings Offense scoring TDs repeatedly. If Zimmer and co. believe the Vikings Offense has a good chance of compensating for the Vikings Defense giving up big plays, it's easy to envision the blitzes coming frequently.
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Post by frenchylions on Nov 8, 2020 6:36:29 GMT -5
Sure, tough game ahead, these Vikings only lost to one point against the Seattle Seahawks and the Tennessee Titans !
The young TEs Irv Smith is good receiver and more generally Vikings TEs are doing a heck of a job on blocks.
For this game, all the hype is on Griffen and Peterson ... but nobody's talking about Riley Reiff, the former Lions !?
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Post by D6 on Nov 8, 2020 9:39:13 GMT -5
Riley Reiff is having a much better season pass blocking than he had last season. But he's especially vulnerable if Kirk Cousins has to drop back passing with the Vikings in come from behind mode as the game moves on.
Vikings long time veteran TE Kyle Rudolph is statistically not having having the receiving production that's the norm with him. Despite that, his history against the Lions as an all around TE suggests the Lions defenders need to pay close attention to him, in addition to Irv Smith.
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Post by D6 on Nov 8, 2020 12:46:11 GMT -5
Matthew Stafford officially active for Lions, Everson Griffen too
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The one thing that jumps out is that C-G Marcus Martin, a more experienced Lions Practice Squad player who was elevated to the Active Roster for this game, is ahead of Logan Sternberg in game pecking order. Sternberg clearly needs a normal off-season and summer.
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Post by D6 on Nov 8, 2020 12:59:08 GMT -5
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