4. OPPORTUNITIES FOR TAKEAWAYS
Minnesota has named Nick Mullens their starting quarterback for today’s contest. He was 22-of-36 passing for 411 yards and two touchdowns in the Vikings’ Week 16 matchup with Detroit. Mullens also threw four interceptions, the last to safety Ifeatu Melifonwu at the Detroit 5-yard line to end a comeback bid. Kerby Joseph had two picks in the game and rookie Brian Branch added another.
Mullens has five touchdowns and six interceptions this season. He’s a gunslinging type of quarterback who isn’t afraid to push the ball down the field and make tough throws. That’s how big plays happen, but it’s also going to give Detroit’s secondary some opportunities for takeaways.
Mullens is the fourth quarterback to start for the Vikings this season. Can the Lions take advantage of those opportunities and force a few turnovers today at home?
5. OFFENSIVE OPPORTUNITIES
Since the fourth quarter of Week 15 against the Bengals, the Vikings’ defense has allowed 11 offensive touchdowns, per Vikings.com. Packers quarterback Jordan Love accounted for a career-high four total touchdowns last week as Green Bay beat Minnesota 33-10.
Detroit put four touchdowns on the board in Week 16 — three between Montgomery and Gibbs, and one Jared Goff passing touchdown – on way to scoring 30 points.
“I know that they probably haven’t been as good the last couple three weeks maybe, than they have been the entire year, so they’ll continue to tweak and evolve and look to execute their defense, so that’s what we’ve got to combat here this week,” Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said.
Minnesota’s defense enters today’s contest 12th in points allowed per game (20.8) and 16th in total defense (330.2).