Minnesota Vikings: Previewing Vikings vs. Lions with Detroit Jock City

It’s the second Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions match of the season, so that means we once again check in with our friends at Detroit Jock City. I have answered some Vikings questioned that they asked for them and you can check that out right here and below you see the answers Braden Shackelford gave us.

Without further ado, let’s chat with the enemy and see what Detroit thinks about this weekend’s match up.

1) Is the 1-5 record a good indication of where the Lions are this season or are they better than what their record shows?

"They are better than their record indicates. You could make the argument that the Lions–because of their anemic offense–deserve to be where they are, but this team would probably be 3-3 right now at the least had the ball would have bounced the right way.I still think this team is playoff caliber. Now they might not have a chance to make the playoffs because of the whole they’ve dug themselves in, but they are talented."

2) What’s the situation with Calvin Johnson? From an outsider prospective, it seems like he’s had somewhat of a down year until last week against the Chicago Bears.

"You’re not the only one who feels that way. The perception is that Johnson has been delegated to a possession receiver, because his speed and leaping ability has diminished. In reality, there has just been terrible offensive line play and the play calling hasn’t been much better. The Lions’ offensive line finally held up last week and the play calling was a little more aggressive. The result? A mega-performance from Megatron.Calvin still looks like Megatron. In fact, he might be better than he has been the last two seasons because he’s finally 100%."

3) Any pleasant surprises for the Lions so far this season?

"A few. Eric Ebron, before he was injured in Seattle, looked spectacular. He was stretching the field, making difficult catches, and running well after the catch. It was a real disappointment to see him go down with injury, because during that losing streak, he was one of the loan bright spots.I’d also say that Matt Prater‘s kicking has been a bit surprising. We all know the talent he is, but he was a bit inconsistent last season. This year, he’s been money going 6-6 on the season. This was much needed after last season’s kicker debacle."

4) What’s the matchup to watch for on Sunday?

"The Lions’ offensive line vs the Vikings pass rush. Matthew Stafford was beaten up when these two teams met in week two and the Lions had zero plays over twenty yards. If the Lions want to win Sunday, they’ll need to give Stafford time to get to his weapons."

5) Who wins and why?

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"This isn’t going to be a popular pick but I actually like the Lions. Something was different about this team last week, and it wasn’t because they were playing the Bears. Matthew Stafford was fired up and out to prove that he’s the franchise quarterback, and the team as a whole did something they haven’t done all season–make big plays in big moments.I think the Lions players still think they have a shot to get to the post season and that motivation should bring the best out of this group. Lions win 27-21."

So there you have it. That’s the enemies perspective. Of course, we have our own preview and prediction and we’d love for you to check that out. Plus, we noted five things to watch. Simply, we got you covered!

Next: Five things to look for in Sunday's Vikings/Lions game!

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