The top spot in the NFC North will be on the line when the Minnesota Vikings tangle with the Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.
Minnesota (5-0) is off to its best start since 2016 and will be well rested coming off a bye last week. Detroit (4-1) has reeled off three straight wins, including a 47-9 thrashing of the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, on Oct. 13.
Everyone understands the stakes as two hot teams prepare to go head-to-head.
“If we want to go to the places that we want to go, it starts with our division,” Vikings safety Josh Metellus said. “If we can handle our division, which is playing so well, we’re setting ourselves up nicely for the rest (of the season).”
Both teams are dealing with injuries to key players, both for this weekend and beyond.
The Lions lost one of their defensive leaders, pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, late in the blowout over the Cowboys. Hutchinson broke his left leg and needed to be carted off the field as his teammates watched somberly.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said Hutchinson was expected to miss four to six months. That timeline leaves open the possibility of the 24-year-old returning for a postseason run, but nothing is guaranteed.
“It kind of brings it back to reality, like, âHey man, that’s part of this game,’ and that’s hard,” Campbell said. “But I think they also understand that we are a team, and everybody is here for a reason, and it takes every one of us.
“That’s why we play with 11 on defense, 11 on offense, 11 on special teams. And we play together. If we need help in one area, we’ll get it from one of the other groups. That’s how we complement each other. They believe it’s next man up.”
Lions cornerback Carlton Davis (quad) and left tackle Dan Skinner (ribs) did not practice Wednesday while safety Brian Branch (knee) was limited.
The Vikings likely will be without starting running back Aaron Jones, who is dealing with a hip injury and did not practice Wednesday. Ty Chandler could see more action in Jones’ absence, and the Vikings added depth in the backfield this week when they reacquired Cam Akers from the Houston Texans.
Akers appeared in six games with the Vikings last season and is familiar with the offensive playbook. He had 147 rushing yards and one touchdown in five games with the Texans this season.
Minnesota tight end T.J. Hockenson, who is trying to return from surgery after tearing both the ACL and MCL in his right knee last season, was limited in practice on Wednesday. Linebackers Blake Cashman (toe) and Patrick Jones II (shoulder), cornerback Akayleb Evans (hip) and defensdve tackle Harrison Phillips (shoulder) did not practice.
Sam Darnold aims to bounce back from his bumpiest performance of the season as Vikings quarterback. He has thrown for 1,111 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions on the season, but against the New York Jets in London on Oct. 6, he had a season-low 179 yards on 14 of 31 passing.
Darnold’s top target is Justin Jefferson, who has 26 catches for 450 yards and four touchdowns. Jalen Nailor ranks second on the team with three touchdown receptions.
The Lions are led by Jared Goff, who has passed for 1,330 yards and eight touchdowns with four interceptions. He has benefited from a pair of talented receivers in Amon-Ra St. Brown (31 catches, 289 yards, three TDs) and Jameson Williams (16 catches, 365 yards, three TDs).
Detroit also features a one-two punch at running back. David Montgomery leads the team with 351 rushing yards and six touchdowns, and Jahmyr Gibbs has rushed for 348 yards and three scores.
This is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams. The second encounter in Detroit will close out the regular season.
Detroit won both matchups last season, 30-24 in Minneapolis on Dec. 24 and 30-20 on its home field on Jan. 7.
