Week Nine: Minnesota Vikings (3-4) @ Detroit Lions (5-2)

[MichiganCardinal]

 

 

[NYLion]

On 10/28/2025 at 2:43 PM, Motor City Sonics said:

I think Tackle will be the first round pick in 2026 - because even if Decker does come back, he's not going to play much longer.  

It has to be a huge priority this offseason. I wouldn't be shocked if Decker had a surprise retirement announcement like Ragnow last offseason, injuries are really starting to pile up with him and he's starting to decline in quality. It's very tough to find quality tackles in free agency so it has to be addressed at the draft.

[Motown Bombers]

After 2026 the Lions can cut Decker to save cap space. He may only have one more year left regardless. 

[MichiganCardinal]

1 hour ago, NYLion said:

It has to be a huge priority this offseason. I wouldn't be shocked if Decker had a surprise retirement announcement like Ragnow last offseason, injuries are really starting to pile up with him and he's starting to decline in quality. It's very tough to find quality tackles in free agency so it has to be addressed at the draft.

I can’t imagine it would even qualify as a surprise retirement now.

Ragnow was 28, missed one game, and was second team All Pro. Decker is 32, has missed two games already this season, and doesn’t look like his old self when he is out there.

[Sports_Freak]

On 10/27/2025 at 5:58 PM, MichiganCardinal said:

 Seahawks @ Commanders (SNF),

Are we at the point of having to root for Washington in this game? 😆

[MichiganCardinal]

6 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

Are we at the point of having to root for Washington in this game? 😆

No, but we are overdue for someone to announce that we control our own destiny.™

[Sports_Freak]

5 minutes ago, MichiganCardinal said:

No, but we are overdue for someone to announce that we control our own destiny.™

This Minnesota game scares me. With Washington and Philly road games up next, a typical trap game. Hopefully, MCDC doesn't let the team look ahead. On paper, this game should be a blowout. But with division games, you just never know.

[Hongbit]

Just now, Sports_Freak said:

This Minnesota game scares me. With Washington and Philly road games up next, a typical trap game. Hopefully, MCDC doesn't let the team look ahead. On paper, this game should be a blowout. But with division games, you just never know.

Their OL has been atrocious.  I’m not sure what can happen to fix this especially on the road at Ford Field.  

[MichiganCardinal]

The Vikings are well coached and will always give the Lions fits. But the talent disparity is clear.

I think for the Vikings to make this close it would take JJ McCarthy, in his third start as a pro, coming out and looking like a stud worthy of the 10th overall pick. Then, it would also take the Lions offense having a dud game where they get sloppy with the ball.

It's not impossible, but the Lions should be able to take care of business.

[Motor City Sonics]

13 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said:

I can’t imagine it would even qualify as a surprise retirement now.

Ragnow was 28, missed one game, and was second team All Pro. Decker is 32, has missed two games already this season, and doesn’t look like his old self when he is out there.

Yeah, it wouldn't be a surprise and I wouldn't be surprised if he's already told Brad and Dan that he's done after this year.     If they win the Super Bowl, he's absolutely done. 

Edited October 31 by Motor City Sonics

[Sports_Freak]

54 minutes ago, Hongbit said:

Their OL has been atrocious.  I’m not sure what can happen to fix this especially on the road at Ford Field.  

Hutchinson...4 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. That new contract will make him....energized!!

[Motown Bombers]

 

[Motown Bombers]

 

[Hongbit]

1 hour ago, MichiganCardinal said:

The Vikings are well coached and will always give the Lions fits. But the talent disparity is clear.

I think for the Vikings to make this close it would take JJ McCarthy, in his third start as a pro, coming out and looking like a stud worthy of the 10th overall pick. Then, it would also take the Lions offense having a dud game where they get sloppy with the ball.

It's not impossible, but the Lions should be able to take care of business.

I agree on JJ.  Doing that will involve him improvising many plays with his feet.  He will also have to make veteran decisions when to hold the ball and take a sack versus hero balling it into coverage.   I don’t think he’s capable at this stage of his career.  

[Mr.TaterSalad]

2 hours ago, Sports_Freak said:

Hutchinson...4 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. That new contract will make him....energized!!

Unless Hutch is a Suh type of player, then he gets fat and lazy, stops caring about football, and is happy just to get paid. I kid, I kid.

I think Hutch is going to be more motivated now that he has gotten his big pay day and is financially secure for the prime of his career. I also look for him to have a big day against a terrible Minnesota offensive line and essentially a rookie QB who will be running for his life out there.

[Motown Bombers]

 

[Motown Bombers]

 

[Mr.TaterSalad]

 

I get the sense we won't see Paschal at all this year. His start time window seems to be getting pushed further and further back.

[Sports_Freak]

3 hours ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

Unless Hutch is a Suh type of player, then he gets fat and lazy, stops caring about football, and is happy just to get paid. I kid, I kid.

I think Hutch is going to be more motivated now that he has gotten his big pay day and is financially secure for the prime of his career. I also look for him to have a big day against a terrible Minnesota offensive line and essentially a rookie QB who will be running for his life out there.

I agree. Between his new contract and a weak Vikings offensive line, he should dominate.

[NYLion]

On 10/30/2025 at 9:25 PM, MichiganCardinal said:

I can’t imagine it would even qualify as a surprise retirement now.

Ragnow was 28, missed one game, and was second team All Pro. Decker is 32, has missed two games already this season, and doesn’t look like his old self when he is out there.

Well, a surprise in the sense that he signed a 3 year extension just last offseason. Hopefully he lets management know early in the offseason so they can plan accordingly if he does indeed decide to call it quits. I think drafting a tackle high should be a priority regardless of Decker's intentions like when they took Ratledge before knowing, to our knowledge, that Ragnow was retiring.

[Jason_R]

He had a shoulder cleanup in the offseason. I wonder if there was some unexpected complication, or if they just did the best they could and what you see is what you get. 

[sagnam]

Decided to get a ticket to this one.

[IdahoBert]

Once again, I can’t watch this game on FOX.

Like the sad little boy who lives on the wrong side of the tracks in The Polar Express who never gets any presents, I got my hopes up when the national FOX feed of game 7 last night in Toronto pitched the opportunity to watch this Lions Vikings game on TV at home, but to no avail.

When I checked my local YouTube TV listings I of course get my “local” or “regional“ broadcast of the Denver Broncos which is a whopping 12 hr. drive away and only accomplished if I never stop for food, drink or gas and am catheterized the whole way.

I have never met anybody in the 38 years I’ve lived in Boise Idaho, who is an avid Denver Broncos fan among my extended family group, or friends, at work, or school, or anywhere for that matter. 

[Motor City Sonics]

Everybody seems to be feeling that this one is going to be an easy blowout. 

I'm not sure.    

 

I mean, it should be,  but the script writers find a way to keep these one interesting.  

[Motown Bombers]

The league needs to investigate the Vikings. How was Wentz allowed to play multiple games with a dislocated shoulder, torn labrum, and broken socket? Coaches have to protect players from themselves.