As the Vikings prepare for Sunday's game with Detroit at Ford Field, we asked Dave Birkett, the Lions beat writer for the Detroit Free Press, to give us his up-close-and-personal scouting report. Here are three things you need to know ...
1 Quarterback Matthew Stafford will do everything within his power to play Sunday.
Stafford couldn't finish last week's wild 44-41 overtime loss in Tennessee, sidelined in the fourth quarter by a leg injury that bothered him in practices before the game and was aggravated late in the fourth quarter as he tried to chase Titans cornerback Alterraun Verner during his 72-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
The Lions are remaining mum on Stafford's status for Sunday and won't have to put an official label on him until Friday afternoon. The Vikings, of course, will prepare as if Stafford has the green light. And even if it's a yellow light, Birkett expects the Lions signal-caller to be ready -- even if the specifics of Stafford's injury remain quite mysterious.
"Just knowing who Matt is, I think he'll try to give it a go," Birkett said. "Last year, he played with a broken finger for three games. He played with a bad ankle sprain. ... And they have a bye in Week 5."
As far as Stafford's play through the first three weeks, the downfield fireworks haven't exploded as often as they did last year. But he's been making high-percentage throws pretty consistently.
If Stafford weren't able to play, Shaun Hill would get the nod. He went 10-for-13 for 172 yards in relief last weekend, throwing a 46-yard Hail Mary touchdown to force overtime. Hill isn't on the same level as Stafford. And while he is an above-average No. 2 quarterback, Stafford's absence would be big.
2 The Lions must rally after last weekend's overtime loss in Tennessee.