EAGAN, Minn. — The final four quarters of the 2024 NFL season could be greatly impacted by results on fourth downs between the 14-2 Vikings and Lions.
Minnesota's defense leads the NFL in stinginess on fourth downs with an allowance rate of 35.5 percent (opponents are 11-for-31 when going for it on fourth down against the Vikings). That rate is consistent with Minnesota's allowance rate of 35.3 percent on third downs (73 of 207).
Detroit's offense has converted 20 of 29 attempts on fourth downs, a success rate of 69.0 percent that ranks fifth in the NFL.
In Week 7, the Lions clipped a 4-of-10 rate on third down and only went for it on fourth down once, a fake punt that was snuffed to end Detroit's first possession of the game at its 33-yard line and set up an Aaron Jones, Sr., touchdown two plays later.
Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores, linebacker Blake Cashman and outside linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard are mindful of being on alert as the sideline down marker changes from a 3 to a 4.
"I think that's kind of a leaguewide 'trend' — I guess that's the word. There's a lot more fourth down attempts than there were probably 5-10 years ago, so I think defensively, both offensively and defensively, you've got to be ready for that down," Flores said. "It's a big momentum down, I would say, both ways. Obviously, we get the stop, we get the ball back. If they get it, they've got a new set of downs and they're rolling.
"So defensively, you've got to have more calls. … It's not just, 'Hey, third down and it's over,' which historically, that's what it's been. It's not that way in today's game of football," Flores added. "We spend a lot of time on fourth down, just like we spent time on all of it. But this particular group, it's more likely than not that we're going to see four, five, six, 10 fourth-down attempts, so we've just gotta be ready. But if you get to fourth down, it means you're doing some other good things, and all of it counts."
Flores said Detroit has "more than anyone, as far as a depth of plays and personnel they can go to in those situations, so it's definitely going to be a tough down for us."
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Cashman, who missed the first meeting between these teams in Week 7, said the Vikings will be aware anytime it's a "manageable fourth-down situation."
"We have to be ready for them to get on the ball and be ready to get a call out because the last thing you want to do is not be prepared to play a snap, especially on a weighty down like fourth down," Cashman said. "Obviously, at this point in the year, you can expect some tendencies where Detroit loves to go for it when they get in the plus side of the field, so I'm sure coaches will be reminding us of that."
Van Ginkel and Greenard sound as if they're in lockstep.
"It's one of those things where if it's fourth-and-1 or 2, they're probably going to go for it, so it's keeping your composure," Van Ginkel said. "Obviously you've got to celebrate big plays but be ready to go."
Greenard added the best approach may be making sure "that it's not fourth-and-short, continue to not get into those situations because we know they're a team that excels in those types of situations."
Look back at photos over the course of time featuring games between the Vikings and the Lions.
An image from the Nov. 23, 2017 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 30-23.
An image from the Nov. 23, 2017 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 30-23.
An image from the Nov. 23, 2017 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 30-23.
An image from the Nov. 23, 2017 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 30-23.
An image from the Nov. 23, 2017 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 30-23.
An image from the Nov. 23, 2017 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 30-23.
An image from the Nov. 23, 2017 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 30-23.
An image from the Nov. 23, 2017 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 30-23.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
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Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions January 07, 2023 Ford Field, Detroit, MI
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Week 7 - 2024 season
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Here are all the ways to catch the action.
NATIONAL TELEVISION
NBC (KARE-11 in the Twin Cities)
Kickoff: 7:20 p.m. (CT)
Play-by-Play: Mike Tirico
Analyst: Cris Collinsworth
Sideline reporter: Melissa Stark
Note: The broadcast will be streamed live on Peacock.
LOCAL/REGIONAL RADIO
KFAN (100.3-FM), KTLK 1130-AM and the five-state Vikings Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Paul Allen
Analyst: Pete Bercich
Sideline reporter: Ben Leber
Note: The pregame radio show on the Vikings Radio Network will begin at 5 p.m. (CT).
Audio Streaming Option: Catch the audio broadcast on your smart devices through the KFAN channel on the iHeart app.
View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster as of January 14, 2024.
3 WR Jordan Addison
3 WR Jordan Addison
RB Cam Akers
RB Cam Akers
6 LB Brian Asamoah II
6 LB Brian Asamoah II
56 C Garrett Bradbury
56 C Garrett Bradbury
64 G Blake Brandel
64 G Blake Brandel
90 DL Jonathan Bullard
90 DL Jonathan Bullard
24 S Camryn Bynum
24 S Camryn Bynum
51 LB Blake Cashman
51 LB Blake Cashman
32 RB Ty Chandler
32 RB Ty Chandler
14 QB Sam Darnold
QB Sam Darnold
42 LS Andrew DePaola
42 LS Andrew DePaola
69 C/G Dan Feeney
69 C Dan Feeney
2 CB Stephon Gilmore
2 CB Stephon Gilmore
58 OLB Jonathan Greenard
58 OLB Jonathan Greenard
1 CB Shaq Griffin
1 CB Shaq Griffin
54 LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
54 LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
30 FB C.J. Ham
30 FB C.J. Ham
87 TE TJ Hockenson
87 TE T.J. Hockenson
67 G Ed Ingram
67 G Ed Ingram
26 S Theo Jackson
26 S Theo Jackson
18 WR Justin Jefferson
18 WR Justin Jefferson
33 RB Aaron Jones Sr.
33 RB Aaron Jones
13 QB Daniel Jones
13 QB Daniel Jones
91 OLB Pat Jones II
91 OLB Pat Jones II
65 OL Michael Jurgens
65 G Michael Jurgens
29 CB Dwight McGlothern
29 CB Dwight McGlothern
44 S Josh Metellus
44 S Joshua Metellus
23 CB Fabian Moreau
23 CB Fabian Moreau
12 QB Nick Mullens
12 QB Nick Mullens
86 TE Johnny Mundt
86 TE Johnny Mundt
7 CB Byron Murphy
7 CB Byron Murphy Jr.
83 WR Jalen Nailor
83 WR Jalen Nailor
75 T Brian O'Neill
75 T Brian O'Neill
84 TE Josh Oliver
84 TE Josh Oliver
0 LB Ivan Pace Jr.
0 LB Ivan Pace Jr.
57 DL Harrison Phillips
97 DL Harrison Phillips
4 WR Brandon Powell
4 WR Brandon Powell
76 T David Quessenberry
76 T David Quessenberry
61 DL Jalen Redmond
61 DL Jalen Redmond
16 K Will Reichard
16 K Will Reichard
98 OLB Bo Richter
98 OLB Bo Richter
66 G Dalton Risner
66 G Dalton Risner
74 T Cam Robinson
74 T Cam Robinson
50 DL Levi Drake Rodriguez
DL Levi Drake Rodriguez
78 T Walter Rouse
78 T Walter Rouse
11 WR Trent Sherfield Sr.
11 WR Trent Sherfield Sr.
22 S Harrison Smith
22 S Harrison Smith
99 DL Jerry Tillery
99 DL Jerry Tillery
15 OLB Dallas Turner
15 OLB Dallas Turner
43 OLB Andrew Van Ginkel
43 OLB Andrew Van Ginkel
20 S Jay Ward
20 S Jay Ward
52 OLB Jihad Ward
52 OLB Jihad Ward
17 P Ryan Wright
17 P Ryan Wright
NATIONAL RADIO
Westwood One (station finder)
Play-by-Play: Ryan Radtke
Analyst: Mike Golic
SPANISH RADIO
Catch the Vikings on Tico Sports at WREY "El Rey" 94.9 FM and 630 AM in the Twin Cities and on Tico-Sports.com, elrey949fm.com and Vikings.com.
Play-by-Play: Gabriel Rios
Analyst: Isaias Zendejas
SATELLITE RADIO
Minnesota: SiriusXM 81 or 226/Vikings Team Page
Detroit: SiriusXM 85 or 225/Lions Team Page
National: SiriusXM 88
Spanish: Sirius 162 or 227
ADDITIONAL OPTIONS
Click here for the full bevy of options that include over-the-air, cable, satellite, over-the-top and streaming methods.
NFL+ AND NFL+ PREMIUM
Watch out-of-market Vikings preseason games live or on-demand with NFL+ or NFL+ Premium. It is available in the NFL app and at NFL.com/plus.
NFL+ is available for $6.99/month or $49.99/year and offers the following:
- Live out-of-market preseason games across devices
- Live local and prime-time regular-season and postseason games on your phone or tablet
- Live game audio (home, away & national calls) for every game of the season
- NFL Films on-demand content, ad-free
- Ad-free highlights from every NFL game
- Fantasy+
- NFL Network
NFL+ Premium is available for $14.99/month or $99.99/year and offers all NFL+ features and the following:
- Full-game replays across devices
- Condensed game replays across devices
- Coaches film
- RedZone from NFL Network
