McKinnon, Stephen active as Vikings head into today's must-win (?) game

We are about 90 minutes away from kickoff here at TCF Bank Stadium, where the 0-1 Vikings will play the 0-1 Lions on this beautiful afternoon.

Is this a must-win game for the Vikings today? Our Jim Souhan thinks so.

For what it's worth, I think the Vikings will find a way to beat the Lions.

Of course, their season won't be over if I'm wrong — far from it actually. But the percentages going forward will not be in their favor if they lose to the Lions. Since 2007, only five of the 66 teams that started the regular season 0-2 went on to make the playoffs, according to Sports Illustrated.

One of them was the 2008 Vikings. Four players from that team are still here: Adrian Peterson, Chad Greenway, John Sullivan and Brian Robison.

The Lions should be equally as anxious today considering their standing. They will be shorthanded, though. TE Brandon Pettigrew, LB DeAndre Levy and DT Caraun Reid are among the Lions' inactives. However, DT Haloti Ngata, OG Larry Warford and WR Golden Tate are active for the visitors.

The Vikings, meanwhile, are relatively healthy, at least when it comes to the active roster. Only running back Jerick McKinnon and nose tackle Shamar Stephen were listed on the injury report this week. Both are active today.

The Vikings also say Andrew Sendejo will start at safety again. He started against the 49ers but got benched for Robert Blanton in the second half.

Here is some pregame reading to help you pass the time until kickoff:

— Middle linebacker Gerald Hodges, forever the class clown, had to show coach Mike Zimmer that he took football seriously to get a chance to start.

— The Wilfs tried to follow Zimmer's lead after the loss to the 49ers.