Detroit Lions: Week 4 game balls for win over Minnesota Vikings

The Detorit Lions downed their division rival Minnesota Vikings 14-7 today in a game where neither offense could really get going. Today I am giving out four game balls.

The Detroit Lions offense really only had one player driving it today. The fact that it was Ameer Abdullah is a good thing, assuming his leg injury is not a lingering concern. The Minnesota Vikings defense has been getting more credit than their results deserve in 2017, but they have been relatively stout against the run.

Unfortunately, his 94 yards rushing fell just short of breaking the streak of games without a 100 yard rusher. I am not sure if you’ve heard but there has not been one since Reggie Bush in 2013. Of course you have, it gets mentioned more than Matthew Stafford‘s high school chum Clayton Kershaw. Abdullah added 15 yards receiving to his total. He gained more than one third of the teams yards from scrimmage, and scored the team’s only touchdown.

For that reason, Ameer Abdullah gets this week’s offensive game ball.

Defensive game ball

The Defensive game ball goes to Anthony Zettel. He was rushing the passer, and when the team lost the ability to field a decent linebacker corp, he was also dropped in to coverage. He had two sacks on the day, which gives him the edge over his stout competition on the defensive side of the ball.

For his disruptive presence Anthony Zettel gets my defensive game ball for week four. Glover Quin and Miles Killebrew, and Tavon Austin made the case that they make up the best safety group in the NFL with four passes defended, ten tackles, and two forced fumbles between them.

Special teams game balls

On Special teams I have to give punter Jeff Locke the nod. He punted seven times today, and gave up only four total return yards. That is incredibly efficient. When The Lions lost Kasey Redfern to an ACL tear I did not like their chances of receiving good play from their punter. Locke has shown why he was a drafted player in 2013, surprising us all in a good way.

Linebacker Steve Longa gets a game ball as well. He made two of the tackles that limited the Vikings to virtually no return yardage. His play on defense was also acceptable, He limited Dalvin Cook to very little yardage after the catch. The Lions half time adjustments moved the team toward a three safety formation. Longa’s stop gap play, however, was invaluable to limiting the Vikings offense in the first half. Longa had his best game as a Lion today and is worthy of all our respect for playing just days after the tragic death of his father.