Vikings vs. Lions Week 8 Preview: Unbeaten Minnesota's Blitz Meets Jared Goff's Interception-Free Start

Jared Goff has thrown 223 passes this season, and not one of them has ended up in the wrong hands. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has spent the season sending everybody but the team chef after quarterbacks. Somebody's streak is about to get tested, and Flores admitted this week that preparing for Goff has "certainly kept me up the last couple nights."

The Minnesota Vikings (6-0), the NFL's last unbeaten team, visit the Detroit Lions (4-2) at Ford Field on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Minnesota allows a league-low 12.3 points per game. Detroit scores 30.7, second only to Buffalo. The last time a defense that stingy met an offense that loud this late in a season was 2019, per the AP.

First Place, a Perfect Record and a Grudge

The Vikings lead the NFC North, with Chicago (5-2), Detroit and Green Bay (5-3) chasing. Minnesota is off to its best start since 2009 and can reach 7-0 for the first time since 2000, per the AP. It has won 11 straight games dating to last season, per the Vikings' site, plus four straight division games.

Detroit is 3-0 at home and has just won consecutive games for the first time this season. A win would pull the Lions within one game of Minnesota in the loss column, and they know it. "This is as good as it gets," Lions coach Dan Campbell said this week.

The grudge part is fresh. Flores' defense swept Detroit last season, sacking Goff 10 times across the two games, per the Vikings' site, and the Lions turned it over six times in a 23-10 loss in Minneapolis on Christmas. Before that, Detroit had gone 4-0 against Flores and averaged 30.5 points, per the AP. Both sides have receipts.

The Matchup That Decides It: Goff vs. the Blitz That Never Stops

Minnesota blitzes about 70 percent of the time, the most in the league by a mile, according to the Lions' website. Washington is next at 40 percent. It works: the Vikings recently became the third team in two decades to allow 13 or fewer points and 224 or fewer yards in three straight games, per the AP.

Goff is the best possible stress test. He is 150 of 223 for 1,788 yards with 14 touchdowns and zero interceptions, matching Russell Wilson's 2019 run for the most touchdown passes without a pick through six games. Next Gen Stats has him first in passer rating (112.5) and third against the blitz (123.3), per the Vikings' site. Flores was full of praise this week. "He's seen all the blitzes, you know, he's seen them all," Flores said.

The real chess match might be in the backfield. When Minnesota sends extra rushers, Jahmyr Gibbs has to pick them up, and Dallas Turner gets one-on-ones on the edge. Turner leads the Vikings with six sacks and 36 pressures, per the Lions' site. Detroit's first-year right tackle, Blake Miller, has not allowed a sack, but his 12 pressures allowed lead the team. Win that battle and Goff picks this defense apart. Lose it and we are back to Christmas.

Players to Watch

Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Lions. Gibbs has 620 rushing yards and seven touchdowns and ran 29 times for 116 yards against Green Bay. Against Minnesota he has 552 yards and nine touchdowns in six career games, per the Vikings' site.

Kyler Murray, QB, Vikings. Murray is 83 of 125 for 812 yards with three touchdowns and two picks, and Minnesota has scored just four offensive touchdowns over its last five games, per the AP. He knows the fix. "We've just got to end the drive with touchdowns instead of kicking field goals," Murray said this week.

Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings. The numbers are modest (23 catches, 302 yards, three touchdowns), but Ford Field is his playground. In six career games there, Jefferson has 52 catches for 831 yards and three scores, the most receiving yards by a visiting player in the stadium's history, per the Vikings' site.

Blake Cashman, LB, Vikings. The Vikings' leading tackler (54) had 12 tackles, two sacks and four pass breakups against Indianapolis last week. He is the communicator who makes the blitz machine run.

Injury Report

Detroit ruled out safety Kerby Joseph (knee), who returned to practice this week. Cornerback Roger McCreary (foot) is questionable, per the team injury report. Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) and Gibbs (shoulder) practiced fully Thursday and Friday and carry no designation. Running back Isiah Pacheco (back), guard Ben Bartch (foot) and linebacker Devin White (forearm) are on injured reserve.

Minnesota listed safety Jay Ward (knee) as questionable. Running back Aaron Jones Sr., tackle Brian O'Neill and guard Joe Huber have been working through knee issues but did not receive a game status and are expected to be available, per the Vikings. Guard Donovan Jackson, tight end Josh Oliver, center Nick Samac and linebacker Tyler Batty are on injured reserve.

By the Numbers

• DraftKings lists Detroit as a 3-point favorite with a total of 46.5, via ESPN, as of Saturday.
• ESPN's matchup predictor gives the Lions a 55.8% chance to win.
• Minnesota leads the NFL at plus-7 in turnover margin, per the AP.
• Goff is 5-0 in his career against Murray, per the Vikings' site.
• Goff has never faced a top-ranked scoring defense and is 2-7 against units ranked second or third, per the Vikings' site.

Our Pick: The Blitz Wins Ugly

Detroit is the better offense by a country mile, and Gibbs is a nightmare matchup for linebackers who are busy rushing the passer. But Minnesota has made a living on turnovers and field position, and Flores has already solved this offense twice. Murray only has to avoid giving it away.

Our pick: Vikings 20, Lions 17. Somewhere, a punter gets a game ball, and the Vikings leave Detroit at 7-0.

Odds from DraftKings via ESPN as of Oct. 31. Injury statuses from team reports via ESPN, detroitlions.com and vikings.com. Quotes as reported by the Associated Press and vikings.com.