Lions vs Vikings Pregame Week-17

The Lions have a chance to continue their winning streak and end the season with four straight victories. With the misfortunes of the Vikings in the last few weeks, it would seem the stage is set for that fourth victory. Don't be too sure of it.

The Minnesota Vikings are a team in disarray as they have had the roof on their dome collapse one week, a snow blizzard delay the next weeks game for two days and Brett Favre, Sidney Rice as well as others go down with injuries. Yet they beat the powerhouse Philadelphia Eagles earlier this week on Tuesday night. Yet that also means the Vikings are on a short week while the Lions have had a full week to prepare.

Quarterback Brett Favre is listed as doubtful for the game against the Lions and that is a bad thing for Ndamukong Suh. Suh once said that Favre was the top quarterback on his list that he wanted to sack the most. In their first meeting, Favre was sacked only once and it was not from Suh. This would be his last chance to sack him. Especially since it is believed that Favre truly will retire after this last game of the season.

If Favre really does not play Sunday, Joe Webb will once again be the Vikings starter. Webb had a decent game beating the Eagles last week but he did not face the pressure he will against the Lions defensive line.

Then again, this week the Vikings will be going after Shaun Hill and not Michael Vick. That is a bad thing for the Lions too. Hill is not a quarterback who plays to win. Instead, he plays not to lose and hopes someone else will make the big plays to win it for him. Last week he was lucky the Lions defense stepped up and did just that. We fans need to hope they can do it again.

When it all comes down to it, the Lions are the better team this weekend. If Hill can toss his fears away and play to win, the Lions can beat up the Vikings. If Hill can learn to take some chances going down field, the Lions will win by a good margin. If Hill plays like Hill? The Lions very well could lose. As much as it grinds me to say it, I think Hill will play like Hill. He always does.