10-16-2019, 01:33 PM
They handled them pretty easily both times last year, but one never knows. Remember the last game in December was the only monster 100 yard game Rudolph has had in about four years. I wouldn't expect that again from him... The Lions often play pretty decent early in the season like they have been so always hard to judge.
It seems like most of the time when they do lose to Detroit it's due to unusual plays, an overabundance of terrible plays or pure bad luck at some point in the game:
2017 (7-14) - three lost fumbles and a missed fg
2016 (16-22 OT) - blocked fg in regulation
2016 (13-16) - interception with just over a minute left led to Lions game winning fg
2014 (3-17) - three interceptions and eight sacks allowed
2014 (14-16) - two interceptions and three missed fgs
etc.
Even in games the Vikings played well enough and won there's often some goofy stuff. Remember, Thanksgiving two years ago the Lions blocked one fg and then at the end of the game they blocked another and ran it for what looked like a game winning td. Luckily they were offsides... but it was almost disastrous.
They need to just play mistake-free football and hope those uncommon incidents don't happen like return tds and blocked kicks. That AND the refs don't try to make up for the Lions "loss" on Monday. I'm expecting a pretty close game.
It seems like most of the time when they do lose to Detroit it's due to unusual plays, an overabundance of terrible plays or pure bad luck at some point in the game:
2017 (7-14) - three lost fumbles and a missed fg
2016 (16-22 OT) - blocked fg in regulation
2016 (13-16) - interception with just over a minute left led to Lions game winning fg
2014 (3-17) - three interceptions and eight sacks allowed
2014 (14-16) - two interceptions and three missed fgs
etc.
Even in games the Vikings played well enough and won there's often some goofy stuff. Remember, Thanksgiving two years ago the Lions blocked one fg and then at the end of the game they blocked another and ran it for what looked like a game winning td. Luckily they were offsides... but it was almost disastrous.
They need to just play mistake-free football and hope those uncommon incidents don't happen like return tds and blocked kicks. That AND the refs don't try to make up for the Lions "loss" on Monday. I'm expecting a pretty close game.