Minnesota offense vs. Detroit defense

	VIKINGS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	18
	Pass	7
	Tot. Yds.	7
	Scoring	19
	Int's allowed	8
	Sacks allowed	12
	LIONS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	19
	vs. Pass	20
	Total yds. allowed	18
	# of Ints.	2
	# of Sacks	10
	Turnover differential	-6

The Vikings' offense is reeling after last week's self-destruction against the Bears. Minnesota's players and coaching staff are not panicking because they realize their problems are due to lack of execution and not poor schemes or lack of effort.

The Bears were very successful targeting QB Randall Cunningham with the blitz on nearly half of the Vikings' passing downs. Whether it was RB Robert Smith missing a block, WR Jake Reed dropping a touchdown pass, or Cunningham making a misread that resulted in an interception, the Vikings were simply their own worst enemy.

The Vikings rolled up 445 yards total offense last week but scored only 22 points because of their failure to convert in the red-zone. Instead of coming away with touchdowns, coach Dennis Green's team settled for five Gary Anderson field goals. In fact, Minnesota leads the NFL in first downs but their inability to run the ball inside the 20 has dropped their red-zone efficiency to a disappointing 31 percent -- down from last year's average of 59 percent. They will look to turn things around this week against a Lions team that could line up without its top four defensive players.

DT Luther Ellis and MLB Stephen Boyd will almost surely be out and LDE Robert Porcher and LDC Bryant Westbrook will likely play at less than full strength. The Lions struggled to put pressure on San Diego's Erik Kramer last week, which forced its marginal secondary to hold coverage too long. The Lions will likely start Terry Fair on the right side, along with journeymen Robert Bailey and J.B. Brown against the Vikings' dreaded three-receiver base set.

Two key injuries could greatly impact the Vikings' passing game. Cunningham was slowed all week with a hip problem but should play and WR Cris Carter is less likely to go with a hip problem of his own. In any case, look for the Vikings to air it out and force the Lions' safeties to make plays on the long ball.

Minnesota ran the ball much better last week but they will be going up against a very physical Lions defense. The Vikings were surprised how physical the Bears played last week and they will get another dose this week.

Again, playing without two of the best run-stuffers in the league -- Ellis and Boyd -- the Lions will have a difficult time stopping the Vikings' running game. RB Smith, who helped the team rush for 160 yards on 22 carries last week, has typically enjoyed big games against Detroit. Of Smith's 16 career 100-yard rushing games, five have been against the Lions, including a 134-yard effort the last time the two teams met last October.

One positive sign last week for the Lions was the play of rookie OLB Chris Claiborne. After three subpar performances, Claiborne was much more active last week, registering four tackles and a fumble recovery.

The Vikings' run defense has been decent in the first five games, allowing an average of slightly less than 100 yards per game, and they will surely look to get inside penetration with ex-Lion DT Jerry Ball and UT Tony Williams. This duo did not play up to par last week against the Bears, letting Curtis Enis run out the clock late in the game. Although they combined for nine tackles, not enough plays were made behind the line of scrimmage.

All-Pro WR Herman Moore returns to the lineup on Sunday for the Lions and his presence should ease some of the Lions' offensive problems. Since he went down in the opener, the Lions have lacked a receiver that can beat press coverage and make tough catches underneath -- the kind that sustain scoring drives. Moore's biggest contributions will be made on third-down, where his veteran savvy will be too much for either Ramos McDonald or rookie Kenny Wright to handle. Vikings secondary coach Richie Solomon has a huge dilemma on his hands at the left corner spot, where neither McDonald nor Wright can sufficiently handle a starting assignment.

The key for Detroit, once again, will be their ability to protect QB Charlie Batch, who was sacked six times last week by the Chargers -- a total that would been closer to 12 if the Lions had an immobile player like Scott Mitchell in the pocket. Look for Minnesota to blitz plenty with their front seven but their struggles at cornerback will limit what they can do with SS Robert Griffith. If Batch doesn't want to spend another afternoon on his back, it will be imperative that he beats the blitz in the first quarter.

Lions' KR Terry Fair was held in check last week but after reviewing the film, he was one block away from breaking a couple of long returns. Miscues, such as Jimmy Kleinsasser's decision to pick up kickoff that was clearly on its way out of bounds (which cost the team 16 yards), are killing Minnesota's field position.