If ever there was a classic matchup between good defense and good offense it will be staged this week at Ford Field when the Detroit Lions host the Minnesota Vikings. Kevin O’Connell’s defense gives up points as easily as a hungry dog surrenders a T-bone steak. Through six games, the Vikings have allowed a league low 51 points. Their opponent on Sunday have given up 165, the most in their NFC North Division.
On offense, the Lions have scored the most in their division, 184, while the Vikings have tallied the fewest in the entire NFC Conference, 74.
Now, you can ask anyone at the bar and they will tell you a great defense will beat a strong offense “every time.”
Not this time.
The Vikings got by the Indianapolis Colts last week at home by six points, 16-10, to stretch their unbeaten string to six games. Minnesota is the lone team left in the league without a loss after both the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs lost road games on Sunday. There is a trend through the years that when a team is the last one standing in the undefeated ranks, they get beat in their next outing.
That would be the Vikings this weekend in Detroit.
The Lions also come into this game two back of the Vikings in the competitive NFC North Division. They are one win back and even in the loss column with the second place Chicago Bears and have suffered one less loss with an equal number of wins as the last place Green Bay Packers. This is a division with four teams that have winning records; anyone of them would be leading the NFC South Division where no team has a winning record.
Huge advantage for the Lions in the need to win while starting the game two back in the standings. When comparable teams meet, even if the second-place squad is a notch below the division leader, the team trailing in the standings has a huge advantage. That is because the motivation to stretch a lead to three games is not as powerful as the challenge to not fall three games back. The first-place team knows if they win or lose, they will still be in first place. The team that starts the game two back in the standings will have the motivational edge to avoid falling three back.
So here we are. The defense is the rule, and the unique factors governing who has the advantage in this one lies with the team with the suspect stop unit but prolific offense. It is unique circumstances in NFL matches that consistently outperform established trends.
Yes, take the better defense, usually, but not this week.
Qoxhi Picks: Detroit Lions (-3) over Minnesota Vikings