What to know when the Vikings travel to play the Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon:
Vikings at Lions
When: 12 p.m. Sunday
Where: Ford Field
TV: FOX
Radio: KFAN
Line: Lions -9.5
Over/Under: 48.5
Keys for the Vikings
— Success for the Vikings hinges on getting quarterback J.J. McCarthy confident. He’s making his return after missing the past month and a half with a high ankle sprain. Can Kevin O’Connell get McCarthy easy completions? That has to potential to unlock everything else the Vikings want to do on offense. It’s also important that the Vikings establish the run so McCarthy doesn’t feel as though he has to win the game with his right arm alone. That would be a recipe for disaster.
Keys for the Lions
— The Lions simply have to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. If they can get running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and/or David Montgomery going, they should be able to do whatever they want on offense. On the flip side, if they can stop the run with regularity, that will help them pressure the passer on defense. The only way the Lions are locked in a close game with the Vikings is if they turn the ball over. They must avoid doing that.
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