Quarterback Battle: Lions' Matthew Stafford vs Vikings' Teddy Bridgewater (Photo : Reuters)
Division rivals Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings will try to bounce back from their week 1 defeats as they face each other at the TCF Bank Stadium on Sunday, September 20.
The Lions gave away a 21-10 first half advantage to eventually lose on the road to the San Diego Chargers, 33-28, in their season opener, as per SB Nation.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford and rookie running back Ameer Abdullah led Detroit's strong start and they were also the ones who faded away in the second half of the contest.
Head coach Jim Caldwell is set to check the consistency of his two key players in this game against the Vikings, who kicked off the new season with a disappointing 20-3 thrashing in the hands of the San Francisco 49ers, via Bleacher Report.
The return of former league MVP Adrian Peterson was a flop as he was held to 31 yards in 10 carries by the Niners' middling defense.
Detroit, on the other hand, would be able to exploit Minnesota's flimsy defense on the running backs as the Vikings allowed San Francisco to rush for 230 yards in 39 carries.
The Lions could also take advantage of sophomore quarterback Teddy Bridgewater's error-prone game that could be alluded to inexperience and jitters.
Peterson and Bridgewater will be out to redeem themselves against the Lions, but Detroit will still prevail behind Stafford and Abdullah who also have some redeeming to do on their own.
Prediction: Lions win, 21-17
Detroit Lions starting lineup
Offense: Stafford (QB), Bell (RB), Burton (FB), Johnson (WR1), Tate (WR2), Wright (TE), Reiff (LT), Tomlinson (LG), Swanson (C), Warford (RG), Lucas (RT)
Defense: Tapp (DE), Ngata (DT), Walker (DT), Ansah (DE), Whitehead (OLB), Tulloch (MLB), Bynes (OLB), Lawson (CB1), Mathis (CB2), Ihedigbo (SS), Quin (FS)
Minnesota Vikings starting lineup
Offense: Bridgewater (QB), Peterson (RB), Line (FB), Johnson (WR1), Wallace (WR2), Rudolph (TE), Kalil (LT), Fusco (LG), Sullivan (C)¸ Harris (RG), Clemmings (RT)
Defense: Robison (DE), Joseph (DT), Floyd (DT), Griffen (DE), Barr (OLB), Cole (MLB), Greenway (OLB), Rhodes (CB1), Newman (CB2), Blanton (SS), Smith (FS)
