Week 3 Preview: Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions

In a divisional matchup between 1-1 teams, the Detroit Lions visit the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday in Week 3. The teams split their games in 2021, with the Lions taking the more recent of the two 29-27 in Week 13 with a game-winning touchdown pass as time expired. It was their first win of the season. Despite that miraculous victory, the Lions are 6-point underdogs for this week's game.

The Lions have at least been an exciting team this season following last year's underwhelming 3-13-1 campaign. Detroit leads the NFC in scoring through two weeks of the 2022 season, thanks in large part to the amazing efforts of running back D'Andre Swift and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. Swift has rushed for an absolutely ludicrous 10.0 yards per attempt on 20 carries, and St. Brown has tallied 248 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. Considering the two second-year players are only 23 and 22 years old, the Lions appear to have a pair of budding stars on their hands.

Meanwhile, the Vikings are looking to steady themselves after a whiplash-inducing first two weeks. The team achieved dizzying heights in their 23-7 victory over their division rival Green Bay Packers in Week 1, but they crashed down to earth in humiliating fashion against the Philadelphia Eagles this past week on Monday Night Football by losing 24-7. Quarterback Kirk Cousins will need to bounce back from a disastrous performance in which he hurled three interceptions and notched 4.21 net yards per passing attempt. Otherwise, the goodwill his team earned in Week 1 will quickly fade from memory, and the Vikings will find themselves an afterthought in the NFC.

The Minnesota Vikings host the Detroit Lions this Sunday in Week 3.