The Detroit Lions have had a rough couple of weeks. After losing at home on Thanksgiving and having Ndamukong Suh ejected and later suspended for stomping an opponent, the Lions went to New Orleans this past Sunday and were again embarrassed on national TV. The score wasn't that lopsided, but the Lions' lack of discipline resulted in more stupid penalties. To say the least, the Lions haven't come off looking very good in the wake of these two performances.
The Lions will have a chance to put the previous two games behind them on Sunday at home against the Minnesota Vikings. Detroit beat Minnesota the first time these two teams played to snap its lengthy losing streak at the Metrodome. The Lions trailed by a few possessions in the first half, but they stormed back and won in overtime by a field goal.
Beyond ending their two-game losing streak, Sunday's game is important for positioning in the race for a wild card spot. The Lions are currently tied with both the Bears and Falcons, but based on the tiebreaker, Detroit is currently the odd team out. That can change with a win on Sunday, as the Lions would have a better divisional record than Chicago. That is one of the criteria in the tiebreaker for teams in the same division, so it's vital that the Lions pick up a win.
Sunday's game is set for a 1 p.m. kickoff on FOX. The game is already sold out, meaning the Lions' streak of sellouts is now up to 12.