4 Bold Predictions: Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions – Week 9

Vikings defense will bring the pressure

Last week against the New Orleans Saints, the Vikings’ defense generated just five quarterback pressures. Easily a season low for Minnesota.

Part of the lack of pressures had to do with Minnesota knowing what they were going up against.

Minnesota Vikings

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer likely figured he wasn’t going to generate a ton of pressure against Saints All-Pro quarterback Drew Brees. So why waste some exotic blitz packages against a signal-caller that is too smart to be fooled?

This week should be a different story against the Lions though.

In two games against Detroit last season, the Vikings’ racked up a total of 40 quarterback pressures, including nine sacks. Minnesota pass rusher Everson Griffen led the defense with a total of 13 pressures against the Lions last year.

Griffen is expected to be on the field for Sunday’s matchup, which should make Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford extra excited about this week’s game.

The Lions’ offensive line is not really that much better than last season’s unit, so Griffen and the rest of the Vikings’ defense should have a number of opportunities to show off their dancing skills this week.

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