Key Matchups
Sheldon Richardson vs. Frank Ragnow
The Lions’ 2018 first round pick has fared quite well in his first NFL action. Though primarily a center at Arkansas, Ragnow has transitioned seamlessly to left guard, doing wonders to both open holes for Kerryon Johnson and keep Matthew Stafford upright. He will likely get his fair share of one-on-one matchups with Richardson on Sunday. Richardson’s numbers are not eye-popping, just one sack to his name this year. However, his ability to control the line has been undeniable, as has the pressure he has gotten on the interior. The Lions owe their periods of success to their controlling of the line of scrimmage, so this veteran-on-rookie matchup will be a major focus of both team’s gameplans.
Eric Kendricks vs. Kerryon Johnson
The matchup of Kendricks against opposing running backs will be a key matchup until he proves he can stop them consistently. While Johnson is not quite as explosive as Todd Gurley or Alvin Kamara, he has accounted for 624 scrimmage yards this season with 6.4 yards per touch. Kendricks will once again be without Anthony Barr, so coverage on Johnson, as well as tackling in the box, is going to fall primarily on his shoulders.
Adam Thielen vs. Darius Slay
Marshon Lattimore and the Saints almost kept Thielen from his 100 yards, but he was able to just nick that mark in the fourth quarter. Still, the Saints did something no team has really been able to do this year: made Thielen look human. Thielen gets Darius Slay this week, who remains one of the best cover corners in the game. As has been the case in most Vikings games, the Lions’ top corner will probably get his shots at Stefon Diggs, as well (assuming Diggs plays). But Thielen is the chain-mover, the primary engine that runs the Vikings ship. If Slay can dampen Thielen’s production just a hair, we saw last week that it can be enough to tip the scales away from Minnesota.
-
Ep 114: Aaron Rodgers, OBJ, and The New York Jets
by Full Press Coverage on March 25, 2023 at 12:09 am
Injury Report
While Detroit comes in completely healthy, the Vikings are dealing with a considerable amount of uncertainty with regards to the injury report. Barr, Tom Compton and Roc Thomas have been ruled out, meaning Eric Wilson and Danny Isidora will likely start for the second week in a row. Additionally, five players are listed as questionable: Dalvin Cook, Stefon Diggs, Riley Reiff, Xavier Rhodes and Andrew Sendejo. Cook, Reiff, Rhodes and Sendejo missed last week, while Diggs’ rib injury is a more recent development. He did not practice Wednesday or Thurday, but returned on a limited basis Friday. Diggs has asserted that he plans to play Sunday. No word on what direction the other questionables are leaning.
Predictions
Madison Parkhill: Sitting at 4-3-1 at the midway point of the season, the Vikings have a critical game this week at home vs the Lions. A win going into the bye week would reestablish them as contenders, while a loss would potentially derail hopes of another NFC North title. The Lions have been an inconsistent team throughout the season, including their team management. They traded for elite run-stopping defensive tackle Damon Harrison but sent away stalwart slot wide receiver Golden Tate. Despite those transactions, the Lions team identity remains the same. Matthew Stafford, Marvin Jones, Kenny Golladay, and rookie running back Kerryon Johnson combine for an explosive offense, while holes at all levels of the defense make it inconsistent at best. Offensively, I expect A. The Vikings should pull out the win.
Final Score: Minnesota 30, Detroit 23
Sam Smith: The Lions are an awfully week-to-week team that can look elite or bottom of the barrel at any time. With Sunday’s game taking place in Minnesota and the Lions just trading away their top receiver, I am leaning heavily towards the Vikings to hold serve. That said, no team has had the Vikings’ number the last few years like Detroit. They handed Minnesota a loss at U.S. Bank Stadium last year in an ugly defensive battle. I expect a bit more scoring and a Vikings win, but the final score will be a little close for Minnesota fans’ comforts.
Final Score: Minnesota 27, Detroit 24
–Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage Vikings and Deputy Editor for Full Press NFL. Like and Follow @samc_smith.
Follow @fpc_vikingsFollow @fpc_nfl
Latest Vikings News
- PODCAST: Eye Test For Two – Ep 149: Remembering Bud Grant With Former Vikings RB Chuck Foreman
- NFL 2022: Football Food For Thought (Wild Card Weekend)
- Giants at Vikings: Playoff Preview and Prediction
- NFL 2022: Five Key Statistics for Wild Card Weekend
- Listing The Best Possible Super Bowl LVII Matchups
-
Ep 149: Remembering Bud Grant With Former Vikings RB Chuck Foremanby Full Press Coverage on March 23, 2023 at 10:41 pm
Former Vikings running back Chuck Foreman joins Clark and Ira to discuss […]
-
Ep 148: Hall of Fame Voter John McClain Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on March 15, 2023 at 10:15 pm
Hall of Fame voter John McClain of Gallery Sports returns to the show to […]
-
Inside Bryce Young's Pro Day & his meetings with the Carolina Panthersby LandryFootball.com on March 24, 2023 at 11:00 pm
Chris takes you inside Bryce Young's Pro Day at Ohio State as well as his […]
-
Inside CJ Stroud's Pro Day & his meeting with the Panthersby LandryFootball.com on March 24, 2023 at 1:05 pm
Chris takes you inside CJ Stroud's Pro Day at Ohio State as well as his […]
-
Ep 278: The Trade Marchby Full Press Coverage on March 23, 2023 at 8:02 pm
-
Ep 277: Free Agency March Madnessby Full Press Coverage on March 17, 2023 at 2:39 am
-
Ep 276: Franchise Tag 2023by Full Press Coverage on March 8, 2023 at 8:28 pm
-
Ep 275: Dynasty Dispersal Draftby Full Press Coverage on March 4, 2023 at 2:06 pm
-
Episode 3.5: "Free Agent Frenzy" w/ Pete Hailey from NBC Sports Washington and "Big Doug" McCrayby Full Press Coverage on March 15, 2023 at 8:40 pm
George Carmi hosts NBC Sports Washington's Pete Hailey and Doug McCray on […]
-
Season 3.4: "Winds of Change" with Rick Snider of 106.7 The Fan and "Big Doug" McCrayby Full Press Coverage on March 2, 2023 at 10:33 pm
George Carmi hosts Rick Snider from 106.7 The Fan to discuss the latest […]
-
Full Press Islanders - Friday, March 24thby Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2023 at 5:05 pm
The Isles got help yesterday in a massive way with the Pens and Panthers […]
-
Full Press Kraken - Friday, March 24thby Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2023 at 3:15 pm
Recap the loss to Nashville and look at the playoff picture. Learn more […]
-
3/24 - Bruins Approaching Record; OBJ To the New York Jets?by Full Press Coverage on March 25, 2023 at 12:07 am
Ian and John discuss the Boston Bruins dominance and discuss whether or […]
-
3/22 - World Baseball Classic Was A Classic; Connor McDavid on Hockey Tournamentby Full Press Coverage on March 23, 2023 at 10:29 pm
Ian and John discuss the success of the World Baseball Classic and debate […]
-
3/21 - Aaron Rodgers Latest, World Baseball Classic Talkby Full Press Coverage on March 21, 2023 at 6:59 pm
Ian and John talk more Aaron Rodgers and the excitement around the World […]
-
3/20 - Aaron Rodgers, Brandin Cooks, Boston Bruinsby Full Press Coverage on March 20, 2023 at 2:25 pm
Ian and John discuss the latest with Aaron Rodgers, the Brandin Cooks […]
-
Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Ian Glendon and John Sapochetti give their Top 5 Super Bowls of all time. […]
-
Ep 1: The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm
On the first episode of 'According To Who?', host Ian Glendon and John […]
-
Ep 114: Aaron Rodgers, OBJ, and The New York Jetsby Full Press Coverage on March 25, 2023 at 12:09 am
-
3/24 - Bruins Approaching Record; OBJ To the New York Jets?by Full Press Coverage on March 25, 2023 at 12:07 am
-
Full Press MMA - Friday, March 24thby Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2023 at 11:00 pm
-
Thunder at Lakersby Broken Controller Media on March 24, 2023 at 10:00 pm
-
Ep. 230 - NBA Playoff Race Could Come Down To Injuriesby Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2023 at 9:42 pm
-
Suns at Kingsby Broken Controller Media on March 24, 2023 at 9:00 pm
-
Bulls at Blazersby Broken Controller Media on March 24, 2023 at 8:15 pm
-
Sixers at Warriorsby Broken Controller Media on March 24, 2023 at 7:30 pm
-
Bucks at Jazzby Broken Controller Media on March 24, 2023 at 6:45 pm
-
Ep. 161: Emporia State University Head Football Coach Garin Higginsby Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2023 at 6:43 pm
-
1/6 - Damar Hamlin Update, Bills/Bengals, AFC Playoffs, Week 18 Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 6, 2023 at 3:11 pm
-
Winter Classic: Bruins Rally To Beat Penguins At Fenwayby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:09 am
-
1/3 - Bills/Bengals Postponed; Bruins Topple Penguins In Winter Classicby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:05 am
-
1/2 - Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Week 17, Bills/Bengalsby Full Press Coverage on January 3, 2023 at 3:22 am
-
12/30 - New Year's Eve, Luka Doncic, NBA Talk, Week 17 Preview and Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 1, 2023 at 2:29 am
-
Aaron Rodgers, Packers Win Third Straight; Playoffs In Sightby Full Press Coverage on December 27, 2022 at 7:36 pm
-
Talkamania Episode 230by Talkamania on September 6, 2022 at 11:43 pm
-
Talkamania Episode 229by Talkamania on August 5, 2022 at 3:37 am
-
Boot 2 The Face Revolution Reviewby Boot 2 The Face on March 10, 2023 at 12:42 am
AEW Revolution Review, Power Rankings, B2TF of the Week, and […]
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 215by Boot 2 The Face on March 2, 2023 at 12:50 am
We are back talking Kenny Omega's importance to AEW. Also, we break down […]