In their two games against the Minnesota Vikings last season, the Detroit Lions ran all over their division rival, which not only played a huge part in the Lions’ two wins over the Vikings, the showings also helped secure the NFC North and conference’s No. 1 seed.
In their first meeting of the 2024 campaign, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery played a pivotal role in the Lions’ victory over the Vikings after combining for 24 carries for 147 yards and two scores.
In the winner-take-all Week 18 game, the Lions trampled the Vikings even more to the tune of 178 rushing yards and three scores on 31 carries, with Gibbs being responsible for 139 of those yards.
The Vikings were otherwise elite against the run, with the team finishing with the second-lowest yards per game given up in that area. But it’s clear the Lions simply had Minnesota’s number on the ground, something that needs to change.
If the Vikings want to win the NFC North in 2025, they’re going to have to get past the Lions. However, two recent defensive line additions aren’t going to help the Vikings slow down Gibbs and Montgomery.
First, the Vikings agreed to a three-year, $60 million deal with former Washington Commanders defensive lineman and two-time Pro Bowler, Jonathan Allen. Now, Minnesota is expected to sign ex-San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Javon Hargrave, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
While both players are effective pass-rushers and will certainly make a dent in that area, they are below-average run defenders.
In eight games last season, Allen posted a Pro Football Focus run defense grade of 41.3, which is not good. In his last full season in which he played in 16 games in 2023, Allen was even worse, with a 37.9 mark.
Hargrave was limited to just three games due to injury in 2024 (he had a 44.7 grade in those contests), but in the year prior he posted a 49.0 PFF grade against the run.
The best hope for the Vikings to curtail the Lions’ elite running back duo is for Detroit’s offensive line to weaken.
That could happen with veteran guard Kevin Zeitler hitting the free-agent market. If he leaves, the Lions could sport a guard duo of second-year player Christian Mahogany and veteran Graham Glasgow, who is coming off a down season.
But if Zeitler returns, there’s no reason to believe things will be any different for the Vikings’ run defense against the Lions.
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