Vikings

The Vikings Are Preparing For A “Slobber Knocker” In Detroit

Photo Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Justin Jefferson is ready for this one.

“I love these games,” Jefferson said, marveling at the thought of playing the 14-2 Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football. “Just to be in that moment, to be in that building, and the whole world is watching.”

The Minnesota Vikings are preparing for a heavyweight fight, and what better setting than a city with a Joe Louis monument in the middle of it?

“They do a great job of bringing a physical mentality to the football game,” said special teams coordinator Matt Daniels, adding that the Vikings will match Detroit’s physicality. “I mean, you know this one’s gonna be a slobber knocker.”

A slobber knocker, as in a hard-fought contest between two teams with 28 combined wins hoping to establish home-field advantage in the playoffs. It’s a fitting description from Daniels, whose players call him Hat because he used tolay the hat” as a special-teamer with the St. Louis Rams and San Diego Chargers.

“We’re looking forward to it,” said Daniels. “Bringing our big-boy pads and really kind of strap it up. At the end of the day, it’s gonna come down to who wants to strain and fight the most for that inch.”

The Lions have adopted Dan Campbell’s venti-fueled, smashmouth football; Jared Goff still gets jittery against the blitz, and most of Detroit’s defense is injured, but they win. Campbell’s crude methods have awakened the Lions from their doldrums. However, it’s also left them wounded entering a pivotal Week 18 matchup.

Minnesota should pounce on this opportunity. They must attack Goff like a pack of hyenas and use their entire offensive arsenal against Detroit’s depleted defense. The Lions might be punch-drunk after 17 weeks of football, but they’re hard to lay to rest. They go for it on fourth down and have a high-powered offense that can overcome their defensive shortcomings.

Give the Lions an inch, and they’ll take a mile.

“We spend a lot of time on fourth down,” Flores said. “And with this particular group (the Lions), it’s more likely than not that we’re going to see four, five, six, you know, 10 fourth-down attempts. So we just got to be ready.”

A win in Detroit means the Lions must start on the road, making a third matchup less likely. The Vikings shouldn’t fear playing Detroit a third time, but why play the playoffs on hard mode? Land a haymaker and make them start the playoffs on the road.

“This week is the biggest week of the season,” said Flores. “Big, big test against Detroit.”

A coach or player rarely acknowledges that one game is more than the other. The Vikings try to treat every game the same and avoid bulletin board material. They talk about going 1-0 so often that random people come up to Sam Darnold and yell “1-0” at him.

That’s unhinged behavior, but it’s a testament to the environment Kevin O’Connell has fostered. He has his players focused on the task at hand, and it would be foolish to think that this game has the same stakes as the Week 10 contest in Jacksonville. People worldwide didn’t tune into that game; those who did probably got bored with the 12-7 tilt.

Campbell has changed the Lions through force of will; O’Connell has created a culture that fosters camaraderie and selfless play, easing the tension built up at the end of Mike Zimmer’s tenure. He has done so despite the NFL’s inevitable roster turnover, getting buy-in from the start of training camp.

“Everybody is joking, laughing around, enjoying the process, enjoying the moment that we’re in,” said Jefferson, unsure why the team connected so rapidly. “Having 14 wins is not an easy thing to do. So we got to enjoy the moment while it’s here.”

Jefferson has been waiting for a game like this. He’s at his best when the world is watching. He’s always looking for a good slobber knocker.

Vikings
Minnesota’s Failures In the Trenches Aren’t From A Lack Of Investment
By Cole Smith - Feb 13, 2025
Vikings
The Vikings Can Use the Draft To Adapt To the Modern Running Game
By Joshua Badroos - Feb 13, 2025
Vikings

Why Do Quarterbacks Want To Play For the 2024 Coach of the Year?

Photo Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

The 2024 Coach of the Year is…..Kevin O’Connell! He won the award in his third season as a head coach, beating out Andy Reid, Nick Sirianni, Mike […]

Continue Reading