Case Keenum had a big game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, posting the second best passer rating of his career.
Now the Vikings turn their attention to the Detroit Lions, which is also a team Keenum has had success against.
Last year as a member of the Los Angeles Rams, Keenum tore apart the Lions defense, completing 27 of 32 passes for 321 yards, throwing three touchdowns while rushing in another.
His performance was the third best of his career in terms of passer rating and he even set a Rams team record with 19 straight completions.
Can he do it again?
The Lions defense is off to a better start from last year. Currently, their pass defense is the fifth best in the NFL.
However, their defensive starters are pretty much the same from a year ago. So although the unit off to a better start, Keenum is familiar with the team.
Keep airing it out
Keenum can throw the deep ball and with wide receivers Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs pacing the NFL with big plays all season, you can bet he’ll be slinging it to those two targets.
Thielen leads the NFL with six catches of 20+ yards and Diggs is tied for second with five such catches. Minnesota ranks third in the NFL in explosive play rate this season
Feed Dalvin
Rookie running back Dalvin Cook has made his presence known over the first three games. He ranks third in the NFL in rushing with 288 yards and he’s also caught 10 passes out of the backfield.
Whether the Vikings are handing it off or dishing it out, Cook has been an x-factor for the offense this season.
Lions are banged up
Detroit’s injury report this week is chalk full of players. Starting safeties Tavon Wilson and Glover Quinn are just a few of those members. Wilson has been limited in practice all week and Quinn was limited on Wednesday.
Starting defensive end Ezekiel Ansah – who is two years removed from a 14.5 sack season – didn’t practice on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday.
The Lions have had success this season against quarterbacks like Matt Ryan, Carson Palmer and Eli Manning, but if their starters can’t go they’re going to be in trouble.
