5 Bold Predictions: Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions – Week 5
By Chris Schad
Barr’s return will make an immediate impact
Anthony Barr is an enigma for Vikings fans. Watching the game from home, it’s hard to see Barr’s impact due to his lack of splash plays. But with his expected return from a knee injury coming soon, Barr could make an impact in a big way on Sunday.
The Vikings are struggling with stopping the run, ranking third with 4.8 yards per carry allowed this season. One of the most significant issues has been tackling as Bashaud Breeland (9) and Eric Kendricks (7) lead their positions in missed tackles this season.
Barr’s replacement hasn’t been much better. According to Pro Football Focus, Nick Vigil has a missed tackle rate of 16.7 percent through the first month of the season, ranking eighth among qualifying linebackers.
By comparison, Barr ranked fourth in the NFL with a 4.9 percent missed tackle rate in 2019, which ranked seventh among qualifiers.
The Vikings will have some issues as Michael Pierce is expected to be out with an elbow injury, but Barr’s return should help the Vikings on the ground.