Detroit Lions Week 4 Preview

Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions

The Vikings come into Ford Field riding the momentum of a huge win over San Francisco. Jared Allen has been complaining of neck pains but will play thru it. Is Christian Ponder legitimate or is he just off to a hot start? Personally I think he is just off to a hot start. This week against the Lions I still expect him to play well but in the next couple of weeks people will figure him out. He doesn’t go deep very much and averages less than 6 yards per throw.

Most experts on all of the networks football programs are picking the Lions over the Vikings this week but I think it is harder to pick the Lions right now. They benched Wendling and brought Silva off the practice squad to play free safety. Coleman should be suiting up at the strong safety position again. Tulloch at linebacker is going to have to play out of his mind in order to stop Adrian Peterson who is probably the toughest, and hardest working player in the NFL.

The Lions offense needs to have a coming out party. Stafford and Johnson need to get some big plays even if they are short drag routes that go deep. I expect the Vikings to do a lot of what others teams have done with playing the safeties about 15 yards off the line of scrimmage. Mikell Leshoure played well for his first NFL game and I think he will do well again this week.

Special Teams has to play better for the Lions. It is going to be a long season if the Lions continue to give up big plays in the kicking game. Titans were able to return a couple plays for touchdown last week and the Vikings have the special teams weapons to do the same. Keep an eye on the return game this week.

The key for this game is the Lions safety play. If the safeties play ok then the defensive line should be able to get some pressure on Ponder. Peterson will probably break a couple of 20 yard runs but if the Lions can limit him to under 100 yards then they have a good shot to win big in this game.

The Vikings will be able to move the ball with Jerome Simpson returning and being their deep threat and the Lions struggle to stop deep threats. That purple defense is good up front and is only a couple years removed from being a top 5 defense. They have a lot of the same players too so they have the potential to play great.

Detroit Lions over Minnesota Vikings 28-16