5 Detroit Lions who must play well in Week 3 against the Vikings

If the Detroit Lions are going to beat the Vikings on Sunday, these five players will have to play well.

After splitting back-to-back home games against NFC East opponents to start the season, the Detroit Lions will hit the road for the first time this season in Week 3. It will also be the opener of their NFC North schedule, against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Lions are of course underdogs to the Vikings, even with some upset prediction vibe out there. The teams split the season series last year, with both games decided by two points on a final play, and there’s a solid case that the Lions should have won both games.

The Vikings are reeling after a dismal Week 2 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Lions have to be ready to take advantage of any hangover effect with them on a short week.

If the Lions are going to leave US Bank Stadium with a win and a 2-1 record on Sunday, these five players will have to have played well.

5 Detroit Lions who have to play well in Week 3 against the Vikings

5. LT Taylor Decker

Amid injuries to the Lions’ interior offensive line, Decker and Penei Sewell have been pillars of stability thus far. In Week 3, they’ll face a good edge rusher duo in Minnesota’s Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith.

In 10 career games against the Lions, Hunter has 12 sacks, 13 tackles for loss and 19 quarterback hits. Smith, coming off three seasons with the Green Bay Packers, is also no stranger to the Lions.

Given his history of struggles against Hunter, even as the Vikings swap sides with their edge rushers on Sunday, Decker gets the nod here over Sewell. Keeping Jared Goff well-protected  starts on the blind side.