Facts, figures and other info in helping you get ready for the Lions game

 

The time is getting nearer to kickoff and I am struggling in waiting for noon on Sunday. I have read up as much as I can and will continue. I would like to share some more numbers with you regarding the game in Detroit.

The game against Detroit will be Minnesota’s first opening day on the road vs. a divisional opponent since 2008. The Vikings playing in Detroit in Week 1 is only the 2^nd time in franchise history that this has happened with 1971 being the other year.

The Vikes have played Detroit four times total in Week 1 in history with Minnesota have a 3-1 lead.

Minnesota leads the all-time series 68 wins 33 losses and 2 ties. Minnesota is 37-13-1 at home and in Detroit they are also on the winning side 31-20-1

Coach Frazier is 2-2 vs. Detroit. The Vikes ended last season on a 4 game winning streak to end the regular season so a win in Detroit would make it 5 in a row. The Vikings are also looking for their 30^th opening day victory in team history. Minnesota swept the Lions in 2012 so a win Sunday would make 3 in a row.

Lions-Vikings connections:

Lions Wide Receiver Nate Burleson was a Vikings from 2003-2005

Lions Quarterback, Shaun Hill played for Minnesota from 2002-2006

Lions Offensive Coordinator, Scott Linehan was Minnesota’s O.C. from 2002-2004

Vikings player’s big totals vs Lions

Jared Allen in 11 games vs. Detroit has 39 tackles and 13.5 sacks. In 2011 Jared had 6 sacks in 2 games alone.

Chad Greenway in 12 games has 73 tackles

Adrian Peterson has 1165 yards rushing in his career vs. Detroit including the last time these teams met AP had 171 yards and a touchdown.

Looking at the roster

Oldest member: Kevin Williams (32 years old)

Youngest: Sharrif Floyd (22 years old)

Most Seasons with Minnesota: Kevin Williams (11)

College with the most Vikings- Notre Dame (5) (H.Smith, Rudolph, Carlson, Sullivan and Blanton)

Conference with most Vikings: Pac 12 (9)

Largest Vikings: Phil Loadholt (6’8” and 343 pounds)

Smallest Vikings: Marcus Sherels (5’10” and 175 pounds)

Vikings have 9 former 1^st round picks on team:

Sharrif Floyd, Cordarrelle Patterson, Xavier Rhodes, Matt Kalil, Chad Greenway, Adrian Peterson, Christian Ponder, Harrison Smith and Kevin Williams

Minnesota also has some very impressive stats from 2007-2012 and hope we can keep these up:

Rush yds per game in the NFL

1-Minnesota  13784 rush yds good for 143.6 per game

2-Carolina    13,101 rush yds good for 136.5 per game

3- NY Jets  12,423 rush yds good for 129.4

Highest Avg per carry

1-Minnesota 2855 carries 13784 yds good for a 4.8 per carry

2-Philadelphia 2523 caries 11782 yds good for a 4.7 per carry

3- Carolina 2815 caries 13101 yds good for a 4. 7 per carry

These numbers are very impressive and with AP shooting for the record if the Offensive line can block the way they did last year the sky is the limit for 28.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick