Thanksgiving is just around the corner and the NFL schedule provides us with a division crasher of the finest in European primetime. The Detroit Lions (6-4) face the Minnesota Vikings (8-2) in the fight for the NFC North qualifier. Lions have positioned themselves through a historic performance, while the Vikings arrive as one of the league’s hottest teams, with their actual backup quarterback. You can watch the game live on DAZN from 6.30 pm.
Not so long ago, Thanksgiving was kind of a tragedy in Detroit. The Lions crawled and meanwhile lost nine games in a row on Turkey Day.
But then the year 2013 arrived, the Green Bay Packers were guests and the Lions served a 40-burger to their NFC North rival. That was the turnaround, because since then five Thanksgiving Games in a row have been won.
They are hoping to continue this series in Michigan, of course, because with the Minnesota Vikings, not only is there another divisional opponent who was defeated last year on this holiday – there are also things that point the way ahead.
The constellation at NFC North makes the encounter in Ford Field an anticipated division finale. The Vikings are currently two games ahead of the Lions, but with a win Matthew Stafford and Co. They would have won the head-to-head tiebreaker and would have an advantage at the end of the year with the same balance sheet.
The reason for this is Detroit’s stunning 3-0 away win in the North: Never before had the Lions won all away games within their own division – in 1961 they were unbeaten, but they played one draw at five victories.
“Every time you win away in this league, it’s a big bonus,”Stafford explained after the narrow success in Chicago on Sunday:”In contrast, we didn’t exactly play great at home either. We have a big chance Thursday against a division opponent at home, against a really good team, and we have to go out there and play well.”
It won’t be easy, however, if you consider how the Vikings appear at the moment. They won their last six consecutive games and their only defeats came in Pittsburgh and against the Lions. They showed an astonishing adaptability: Against the Rams the defense shone and held one of the most explosive offenses at seven points – and Running Back Todd Gurley at less than 40 yards. Against the Redskins, on the other hand, the offense was in demand in a shootout and scored 38 points.
The most remarkable aspect, however, seems to be the fact that Quarterback Case Keenum is having an outstanding season for him. Teddy Bridgewater has been back in action for two games and scraping with his hooves, but Keenum doesn’t give any reason to leave the wheel to the actual franchise QB.
“It would be hard to tear Keenum out of it now. He plays well. I still have high hopes for Teddy and you know that a lot of things happen during the course of a season. So we’ll see how this develops,”said Head Coach Mike Zimmer on the current situation at the quarterback position.
And why is that? Keenum plays a very good season! He reminds some of Sam Bradford’s performances from the previous season. In the last two games, his pass rate has been over 70 percent each, which he has achieved four times in his nine games this season. This, of course, without regularly putting in hard hits like Bradford last season.
What’s more, Keenum sometimes even played spectacularly, if you can believe the colleagues from ESPN Stats & Info, because they have calculated total QBRs of over 90 for him twice this year – against the Redskins in Week 10 even 98.9 – 100 would be the best value!
However, a notable trend on the part of the Lions, who have won their last three games, could make the role of Keenum less critical. The Lions have spent more than 200 yards on the ground in their last two games against the Browns and Bears. Once this happens, one speaks of an anomaly, but twice in series? There seems to be a problem that the Vikings could make worse with their offense.
What is remarkable about the running game of the Vikings is the complexity. Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon have almost fraternally shared the snaps since Rookie Dalvin Cook’s retirement and most recently proved to be effective. In addition, Keenum is also a good walker and can walk to First Downs in case of need.
Nevertheless, the focus will be on passing and Detroit has to pay special attention to Adam Thielen. The Wide Receiver already has 900 yards in its account after ten games. For the Vikings, a certain Randy Moss did it in 2000 and 2003! And this despite the fact that Thielen started the season rather slowly when the 157 yards are excluded from the Saints in Week 1. He remained seven games without a touchdown, but scored three in the last three games and is one of the hottest receivers in the NFL.
Facing him will be Darius Slay, who has become one of the best cornerbacks in the league. Any evidence of that? He leads all cornerbacks with four exceptions and held Odell Beckham Jr., Julio Jones and Antonio Brown this year without a touchdown. In addition, he’s a master of the pass breakup: in the last four years – since becoming a starter – he’s managed 38 of what the NFL’s fourth most are. This year alone there are already seven of them.
“I’m not going to pick up PBUs. I always think about the pick and try to be in the right position,”Slay explained his approach,”I use a good technique to position myself to be able to deliver such layouts. Actually, it is.”
On the other hand, Lions games are likely to focus on Stafford, as usual. It has once again confirmed its reputation as an escape artist this year. Lions were digging a deep hole early on against the Bears, but Stafford often finds a way to get his team out of it. In games where the Lions were double-digit in the first quarter, they are 3-1!
Thanksgiving is still something very special for Stafford. One reason for this is his long connection to cowboy legend Troy Aikman. Stafford grew up in Dallas, at a young age he sat in front of the TV with Aikman’s jersey and watched his idol in the traditional Thanksgiving game of the cowboys.
Stafford overtook Aikman on Sunday on the All-Time Passing List. Aikman threw in 32,942 yards and Stafford now stands at 33,063,”Aikman was the man in Dallas when I grew up and I cheered him on,”Stafford remembers.
The connection became more intense when Stafford was brought together with his idol in a story for ESPN in front of Draft 2009, when he was the first pick. Aikman was also impressed afterwards and said recently:”It’s rare that I was allowed to meet someone like him. And that I’ve been so interested in him ever since that he’s fine.”
As chance would have it, FOX and its A-Team around commentator Joe Buck and expert Troy Aikman will be broadcasting the early game. Stafford is allowed to go on Thanksgiving again before his idol. Even if he doesn’t want to hang it too high himself. Too important is the task ahead and the prospect of taking an important step towards a division crown in the north of the NFC.
The SPOX NFL betting game, Week 12:
Pascal
De Marco
101-59