Game Day Thoughts

"For us to get to where we have to get to, we have to beat teams in our division," Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. "We have to get to their level at some point in time."

The Vikings have yet to win a division game. 0-4 so far this season. They have two more chances to get rid of that 0. Today they visit the Detroit Lions. It was originally scheduled as a morning game (PST). It was switched to an afternoon game (PST). I'm so used to watching the Vikings in the morning (PST) that it's tough waiting half of the day.

Vikings rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater's second start was against the Lions in week 6. It didn't go well in a 17-3 Vikings loss. The Vikings couldn't run the ball and sacked Bridgewater about a 100 (actually, 8) times.  In 37 pass attempts, Bridgewater threw for 188 yards. He was on the ground after nearly every one of those pass attempts.

The Lions defensive front is fierce. One of the best in the league. Ziggy Ansah and Jason Jones at ends. Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairly at tackles. Former Vikings George Johnson and C.J. Mosley provide some of the depth. Ansah had his breakout game in that week 6 game against the Vikings. 2.5 sacks that day and he's been rolling ever since.

Suh might be playing his last game in front of a Detroit crowd. It's difficult to imagine Suh on any other team but he's set to become a free agent in March. It also sounds like it's all about the money for Suh. He'll go to the team that offers the most without any sentimentality.

Lions outside linebacker DeAndre Levy is one of the most underrated players in the league. He can do everything and do everything well. And, he has a fantastic beard.

The Lions are solid at every level of their defense. Line, linebacker, secondary. The Lions are 9-4 because of that defense. For the past few years, the Lions, under defensive-minded head coach Jim Schwartz, have been an offensive-driven team. Quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Calvin Johnson are one of the best pitch-and-catch combinations in the league. Under first-year, offensive-minded, head coach Jim Caldwell the Lions have been a defensive force. It's actually the offense that has struggled some this season. The evolution of the Lions defense has been remarkable.

First-year defensive coordinator Teryl Austin has been a huge reason for the defensive improvement. The Lions defensive improvement has been the sort of improvement that can get a defensive coordinator a head coaching job. Austin has paid his dues. He's been coaching since 1991 and an NFL defensive backs coach for more than a decade. It's actually surprising that this his first coordinator gig. Maybe he can take the Mike Tomlin route to a head coaching job. Several years as a secondary coach. One year as a defensive coordinator. Then, head coach.

The Lions haven't given up much in the run game this season. The Vikings have to make a running dent in that defensive front. Plodding Matt Asiata got the bulk of the carries last week against the New York Jets. He averaged about three yards on each carry. Fairly mediocre. There will probably be more of a mix this week. Asiata, Ben Tate, Joe Banyard should all get significant carries. It would be nice to see more of Tate before the season is done.

Making running against the Lions even more of a chore, the Vikings are down to two opening-day starters on the offensive line. Center John Sullivan and left tackle Matt Kalil. The Vikings lost the right side of the line to pectoral muscle injuries earlier in the season. Tackle Mike Harris and guard Joe Berger have stepped in for Phil Loadholt and Brandon Fusco. Last week, left guard Charlie Johnson was lost to an ankle injury. Vladimir Ducasse replaces him today. Not only does this makeshift line have to open holes for the running game they have to keep Bridgewater on his feet.

As Zimmer said last week, this is "Bridgewater's team." It's only been a fistful of games since that week 6 meeting, but the Lions will be facing a different quarterback this time.

Vikings win this game!

Three weeks left in the 2014 NFL season. Playoff possibilities are coming to a boil. Here are today's games.

Morning games (PST):

Houston at Indianapolis
Green Bay at Buffalo
Tampa Bay at Carolina
Cincinnati at Cleveland
Pittsburgh at Atlanta
Jacksonville at Baltimore
Washington at New York Giants
Miami at New England
Oakland at Kansas City

There are some very intriguing games here. The Texans have never beaten the Colts. Aaron Rodgers against the Bills defense-oh my. Based on records, the Buccaneers-Panthers game doesn't seem like much but this is a big game in the very sad NFC South. Bengals-Browns, Battle of Ohio, Manziel's debut. Steelers-Falcons could end up 50-48. Jaguars-Ravens is a big game for the Ravens. Redskins-Giants might have seen better days but this is a terrific rivalry game. The Patriots are pulling away in the AFC East but the Dolphins beat them in week 1. The Patriots don't like getting swept by a division opponent. No one does. The Raiders got their first win of the season against the Chiefs on National TV a few weeks ago. That's got to fire up the Chiefs in an always intense rivalry.

Afternoon games (PST):

Minnesota at Detroit
Denver at San Diego
New York Jets at Tennessee
San Francisco at Seattle

Vikings-Lions, best game of the day. Nuff said. It'd be quite a feat but the Chargers can still catch the Broncos. The 49ers have slid quite a bit but their rivalry with the Seahawks is one of the league's best. Then there's Jets-Titans. This game is more about draft position.

Tonight:

Dallas at Philadelphia

This game is huge. Both are 9-4. The Cowboys have to play better than they played against the Eagles on Thanksgiving.

Week 15 could only be better if the Vikings still had a shot at the playoffs.

Congratulations to Marcus Mariota on winning the 2014 Heisman. Much deserved.

Congratulations to Navy for another win against Army.