5 Bold Predictions: Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions – Week 17
By Chris Schad
The Vikings will not hold out any healthy starters
One of the biggest questions heading into Sunday is if the Vikings will have an eye on the 2021 season by resting some of their starters against the Lions. When asked about this possibility in his weekly press conference, head coach Mike Zimmer responded by saying “No.”
Zimmer has never been known for his willingness to throw the media a quote, but it shows what his mindset is heading into the game. As an old-school, Bill Parcells disciple, it’s probably killing him inside that Sunday’s game doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. Throw in last week’s demolition of his defense and Zimmer likely wants to go into the offseason with some positive tape before retreating to his Kentucky ranch and making adjustments for 2021.
This means that we’ll probably see many of the usual suspects on offense including Kirk Cousins, Adam Thielen, and Justin Jefferson. This trio should come in handy trying to handle a Detroit defense that has been decimated by injuries and was last seen coughing up 348 yards and four touchdowns to Tom Brady by halftime in their 47-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.