EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — For the first time in a month, the Vikings are expected to start the same five offensive linemen as the week before.

The combination of left tackle T.J. Clemmings, left guard Alex Boone, center Joe Berger, right guard Brandon Fusco and right tackle Jeremiah Sirles each played all 58 offensive snaps in Sunday's win against Arizona.

The group is readying itself for Thursday's visit by Minnesota (6-4) to Detroit (6-4) with first place in the NFC North on the line.

The last time Minnesota used the same starting group as the previous game was when the same five linemen played against Houston and then again against Philadelphia.

"This is two weeks in a row," Boone said with a smile. "Finally, it's the same offensive line."

The Vikings have used five different starting combinations this season, a year after being the only team in the NFL to use the same five starters all season.

The most recent group has three starts together, the most of any of the five groups Minnesota has trotted out there.

"Barring injury, let's hope that we can all just kind of settle in and ride this group that we have right now for the rest of the season," Sirles said. "We all have continuity in the room, but it does help the offensive line in general to have five guys out there and just be able to go out and play."

Sirles made his third start at right tackle Sunday and has also started a game at left guard in place of Boone.

"I played decent, got to play better," Sirles said. "Just settling back in at right tackle … go out there and try and improve every week.

"It'll help to continue to improve and fix bad habits," he added.

Berger is the only Vikings offensive lineman to play all of Minnesota's 629 offensive snaps this season.

A pair of his teammates said the 12-year veteran has been instrumental and underappreciated with his steadiness so far in 2016.

"Berger's been great. Obviously, it's nice, knock on wood, we've had consistency with him at center," said Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford said. "But, he's a really smart guy. He's really helped me with protections. I think that's one of the first things when you learn a new offense is as a quarterback you want to know, 'How am I being protected? What are the calls?'

"He's been awesome. Just some of the meetings that we've have going over the third down packages," Bradford added. "I really can't say enough about him and what he's been able to do as far as just helping me understand what we're doing protection-wise."

Berger is one of four Vikings from Michigan (Newaygo). He attended tiny Michigan Tech, located in the Upper Peninsula and just played in his 125th NFL game, including 87 total and 44 starts with the Vikings, but remains low-key. 

"I think he's one of those guys where you don't hear his name a lot and that's a good thing," Boone said. "Centers are low-key guys but he's strong and physical and can get everyone pointed in the right direction. Joe does a fantastic job for us and I think he's very underappreciated."

A record day

There were a total of 12 extra point tried on Sunday that were blocked or off the mark for another reason, setting a Super Bowl-era record in the NFL.

The Vikings suffered one, thanks to a block off the edge by the Cardinals, but new kicker Kai Forbath hit his other three PATs and a 27-yard field goal.

This is the second season in which PAT tries have been 33-yard attempts instead of 20-yarders, and what used to be an almost automatic point has become a little less certain.

"That's kind of hard to explain," Forbath said. "You look at the percentage of kicks made that are field goals inside of that range, and it's a lot better, so I don't know if it's mental or what is going on with them around the league, but that was pretty surprising to see.

"You're supposed to make it every single time, and it really does change the game when you don't," he added.

Forbath, who was signed by the Vikings last week, is 127 of 131 in his career on extra points and 37 of 39 since the new spot of kicks was implemented. He said he's always told himself to approach every kick like it's an extra point. 

"Whether it's 50 yards or anywhere in between, it's the same swing every time," Forbath said.

Locke 'n roll

After the blocked PAT, Jeff Locke gave Forbath, his former college teammate at UCLA, a brief word of encouragement.

"Kind of the nature of the business," Locke said. "Bad plays are going to happen, and you've got to be able to drop it and move on or you're not going to get anywhere. 

"I've definitely done a much better job of doing that than I have in the past," Locke added. "In the past, I might have kind of been sitting on a bad punt and letting it affect the next punts. I've learned you just have to clear it."

Locke unleased a career-long 72-yard punt to flip field position on Arizona late Sunday and cage the Cardinals deep in their own territory. Locke acknowledged the benefit of a nice roll after the ball hit the turf.

"We got a nice little 20-yard bounce, so I view it as a 53-yard punt with very good hang time, so that's how I felt I did my job there," Locke said. "That's kind of why you play the game."

Injuries

The Vikings practiced on Tuesday for their only session of the week and were without several key players.

Marcus Sherels (rib/ankle), Terence Newman (neck), Harrison Smith (ankle), Andrew Sendejo (illness), Sharrif Floyd (knee) and Stefon Diggs (knee) did not participate. Tom Johnson (illness), Eric Kendricks (hip) and Captain Munnerlyn (ankle) were limited. Mackensie Alexander (shoulder) fully participated.

For the Lions: DE Ezekiel Ansah (ankle), S Don Carey (hamstring), C/G Graham Glasgow (ankle), LB DeAndre Levy (knee), RB Theo Riddick (ankle) and DT Khyri Thornton (foot) were limited.