The Associated Press
Noah Trister
DETROIT–In many ways, the Thanksgiving games mark the beginning of the NFL’s stretch drive.
For the Detroit Lions, this may be the final chance to stay in the race for a division title.
The Lions hosted the Minnesota Vikings earlier today in a game that drastically should alter the NFC North race.
If Minnesota wins, the Vikings would have a three-game lead atop the division.
But if Detroit prevails, the Lions would be within one game and would have a head-to-head tiebreaker over Minnesota.
Plus, Detroit has a favourable schedule after this week.
“November football and December football–everything turns up a notch,” said Lions’ receiver Golden Tate.
“And right around Thanksgiving, it really turns up.
“It’s no secret that the Vikings are playing tremendous football right now,” he added.
“They’re making it happen.”
Minnesota (8-2) has won six-straight games since a 14-7 loss to Detroit back on Oct. 1.
The Vikings enter a stretch of three-straight road games against Detroit, Atlanta, and Carolina, so there’s some pressure on Minnesota to open up a comfortable division lead and earn some margin for error.
“For me, teams are judged after you finish the season,” said Vikings’ cornerback Terence Newman.
“A lot of guys want to talk about how we have strung a couple wins together,” he noted. “We got eight.
“For me, I have been doing this way too long,” Newman added.
“I know things can go south just as quick as they can go the other way.”
Last season, Minnesota started 5-0 before plummeting to an 8-8 finish.
Detroit (6-4) is coming off victories over Chicago and Cleveland that were underwhelming at times while the Vikings handled the NFC West-leading Rams 24-7 last weekend .
“They do everything well,” Lions’ coach Jim Caldwell said of the Vikings.
“They’re moving the ball up and down the field. They’re making big plays,” he noted.
“They’ve always played great defence, and their special teams are very good.”
Vikings’ quarterback Case Keenum made his ninth start today, having taken over after Sam Bradford’s knee trouble.
Keenum has started seven and finished eight of the team’s eight victories, but coach Mike Zimmer so far has gone week to week in confirming Keenum’s status as the starter–with Teddy Bridgewater recovered from his knee injury and looming in the background.
Keenum has taken only one sack in the past five-and-a-half games since Lions’ defensive end Anthony Zettel took him down behind the line of scrimmage twice in the game at Minnesota.
He clearly has grown more comfortable with his receivers and their tendencies. And vice-versa.
“Him being able to create plays with his legs and move around, we understand he can do that, too,” said wide receiver Jarius Wright.
“So you know we’re trying to get open even longer for him.”
The Lions, meanwhile, are 18-8 under Caldwell in the second half of the regular season, and their current three-game winning streak has given them a chance to chase down Minnesota for the division.
However, if Detroit falls out of the division race, a wild-card looks dicey.
The Lions already lost head-to-head against New Orleans (8-2), Carolina (7-3), and Atlanta (6-4).
The Lions and Vikings are playing on Thanksgiving for a second-straight year after Detroit won last season’s matchup 16-13.
The Lions have won four Thanksgiving games in a row after dropping nine-straight from 2004-12.
Other Thanksgiving action sees Dallas (5-5) hosting the L.A. Chargers (4-6) while the N.Y. Giants (2-8) visit Washington (4-6).
