The Minnesota Vikings will enter the second phase of their schedule when they host the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Coach Kevin O’Connell’s squad has surprised many by achieving a 5-0 record in the first phase, defeating three teams with genuine Super Bowl ambitions: the San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans, and Green Bay Packers.

The Lions, who will arrive at U.S. Bank Stadium in Week 7, are a stronger team than any the Vikings have faced so far.

The 49ers were hampered by injuries, the Texans were off their game, and Green Bay’s quarterback Jordan Love was recovering from a sprained MCL, which limited his mobility.

This allowed the Vikings to establish a 28-0 lead, although they had to hold on for a narrow 31-29 victory.

While the Lions also face key injuries, they see the Vikings as outsiders.

At the start of the season, the Lions were considered the main contenders to challenge the 49ers for dominance in the NFC and were favored to defend their NFC North title. The Vikings, conversely, were perceived as the weakest team in the division.

The absence of Aidan Hutchinson will significantly impact the Lions, as he is their top defensive player capable of disrupting opposing game plans. Before suffering a broken tibia and fibula against the Cowboys last week, Hutchinson had recorded 7.5 sacks.

His presence on the defensive line drew extra attention from offensive coordinators, making his loss particularly significant.

In the short term, however, the Lions are still highly motivated to win this game, just as they were eager to defeat the Cowboys last week, resulting in a dominant 47-9 blowout.

The Vikings present a tougher challenge than the Cowboys, with a strong offensive line led by tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill.

Detroit’s defensive coordinator, Aaron Glenn, will aim to exploit the offensive line’s weaknesses and pressure quarterback Sam Darnold.

Darnold played well in the first four games of the season but struggled in Week 5, despite the Vikings managing a victory over the turnover-prone New York Jets in London.

Historically, Darnold has lacked consistency throughout his career.

While O’Connell and quarterback coach Josh McCown have provided him with a solid framework for success, expecting Darnold to maintain high-level performance for an entire season is unrealistic.

The Lions will likely focus their defensive pressure on Darnold through players like Alex Anzalone, Alim McNeill, and Jack Campbell.

While neither Anzalone nor Campbell has registered a sack yet, Glenn has an aggressive front lined up to challenge Darnold for the entire game.

The Vikings’ best chance in this matchup hinges on running back Aaron Jones being fully fit and recovered from a hamstring injury sustained against the Jets.

However, Jones’ participation in practice has been limited, making it unlikely he will be at full strength.

O’Connell is unlikely to risk one of his key offensive players, which means the ground game may fall to Ty Chandler and recently acquired Cam Akers.

When Jones is out of the lineup, Darnold’s performance typically suffers.

His passer rating drops from 128.6 to 78.5, completion percentage falls from 72.1 to 55.1, and his touchdown-to-interception ratio declines from 8-2 to 3-2. These statistics are advantageous for Detroit.

The primary objective for the Lions’ defense will be to contain the passing attack and limit All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson.

Jefferson is considered one of the best receivers in the league and has consistently performed well against the Lions since entering the NFL in 2020.

After returning from a hamstring injury last season, Jefferson had two standout games against Detroit, catching 6 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown in their Christmas Eve matchup and 12 passes for 192 yards and another touchdown in their final game of the season.

If Jefferson can replicate such performances, the Vikings could remain competitive against a Lions team that is eager to play hard in honor of their injured star.

However, if the Lions successfully limit Jefferson’s impact, it’s likely that the Vikings’ unbeaten record will be at risk of ending.

With both teams highly motivated, this matchup promises to be an intense battle as the Lions seek to assert themselves and challenge the Vikings’ strong start to the season.

The game will not only affect the standings but will also serve as a crucial moment for both teams as they navigate their respective paths moving forward.