NFC NORTH BATTLE

By Mark Halpern

Division games are the most critical games in a season. The Lions will face the Minnesota Vikings. With a Viking win and a Lion loss, the North becomes closer over just one game.

          With a healthy Justin Jefferson, this Viking offense makes the way the whole defense has to play. Rookie Jordan Addison and Jefferson are slowly becoming a dynamic duo. Tight end T.J. Hockenson sees much of himself in La Porta and should be considered a threat to any defense.

            If there was a game for Jared Goff to go off, it’s this week. It will be hard to replicate last week’s performance, but it needs to be of the same intensity and game plan if the Lions want to succeed. 

        The Lion’s secondary needs to play at its highest level with the offensive threats in the air and Mattison on the ground. Stopping the pass is more important than the run, so I expect an extra defender to come in on 2nd and 3rd down. The Lions’ defense will be very intricate for this game on the field. 

As for some of my friends who will disagree with me, I have the Lions winning, not by a blowout, but by at least ten points on Sunday.