After the Green Bay Packers took down the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night, the Detroit Lions' game against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8 became all the more important.
The NFC North is shaping up to be one of very few actually competitive divisions in the conference, so much so that the entire division may end up reaching the postseason if no one else can really get it together. At 4-2, the Lions find themselves in third place, as the Packers have three losses on the year. But, they do have five wins.
So, Week 8 against the Vikings can be what pushes the Lions up to keeping pace with the 2nd-place Chicago Bears and knocking Minnesota into the loss column, or what keeps the Lions towards the bottom of the standings.
These 4 key matchups will be worth monitoring headed into this game.
4 key matchups ahead of Week 8 between Lions and Vikings
Sam LaPorta vs. Vikings linebackers
LaPorta had a quiet outing against the Packers in Week 7, although the Lions didn't need his help on offense much. Between the production of Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, the team didn't have to lean on LaPorta all that much as a strong pass-catcher.
Against Minnesota this week, though, LaPorta's strength as a pass-blocker and receiver will be sorely needed. Minnesota will likely be trying to take him, and other weapons for Detroit, out of the equation with their blitzing, and LaPorta will have to be on his A-game as a blocker and receiver for this reason. The Vikings' linebacker unit is one of the best in the league, so you'd hope that iron sharpens iron in this situation.
Jared Goff vs. Vikings blitz
A lot has been made of the Vikings' proficiency as a blitzing defense, but also how Jared Goff has been one of the best quarterbacks in the league against the blitz. Per Sumer Sports, he's posting a league-best 0.32 EPA/play against the blitz, and a total EPA of 21.71 against the blitz - both league highs. Per FTN, Goff 's passing DVOA against the blitz is second-best in the league (43 percent).
His ability to remain cerebral against Minnesota could help the Lions break things open just enough to get a win over the undefeated Vikings. They've smothered opposing offenses all season long, and have managed to win games despite only averaging just 20.8 points per game and 1.7 touchdowns per game.
Compare that to the Lions' 3.7 touchdowns per game, and their average of 30.7 points per game, and we could be looking at a very uncharacteristic outcome for the Vikings.
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Sione Vaki vs. Vikings' pass rush
As mentioned regarding LaPorta, the Vikings are likely to force the Lions into placing extra blockers around Goff to protect him against their blitz. That includes their running backs, which Jahmyr Gibbs told reporters this week was something he was prepared to have to take on a bit of again (h/t 97.1 FM's Will Burchfield):
"That sh*t was crazy. I don’t remember most of it. My head was rocking, I ain’t gonna lie. But I’m up for the challenge, whatever that is...Vaki’s really good at it ... and he takes it off of me."
Vaki has proven to be a much better pass-blocking option than Gibbs for two reasons: one, he's a bigger body to throw at Vikings pass rushers, and two, he takes a major load off of Gibbs' body when he's already in charge of being the teams' bell-cow on offense.
His ability to add some extra protection around Goff consistently could be key to getting other receivers involved.
Aidan Hutchinson vs. Brian O'Neill
Hutchinson, and the rest of the Lions' pass rush, will have to work at getting to Kyler Murray early and often. The Vikings quarterback hasn't had the best season with Minnesota, but he has 132 rushing yards on the season. Last week, he went off for 35 yards on the ground. So, he's a similar threat to what the Lions faced in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills, in that containing the run will be crucial to keeping the Vikings grounded.
Part of that will be, as I said, getting to Murray early. This means that Hutchinson will need to continue his great work putting quarterbacks under pressure against a stellar tackle in Brian O'Neill.
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