The Detroit Lions get a second crack at the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday after the Vikings beat Detroit in Minnesota Week 5 on a 54-yard field goal as time expired.
The Lions are coming off another walk-off loss to the Bears on Thanksgiving, while the Vikings were defeated Sunday in San Francisco, 34-26.
The Viking are trying to keep their playoff hopes alive in Detroit, while the Lions are still looking for that elusive first win.
Here's what the Vikings are talking about ahead of this week's matchup:
1. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said running back Dalvin Cook is day-to-day with a shoulder injury suffered on Sunday, though ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Cook is expected to miss Sunday's game and potentially another game due to the injury.
Alexander Mattison is a very capable backup. He had 153 scrimmage yards vs. the Lions when Cook missed their Week 5 matchup with the Lions. Zimmer is very confident in Mattison's abilities if he's elevated into the No. 1 role.
View photos of the starters for the Minnesota Vikings.
![Head Coach Mike Zimmer
Offensive Coordinator: Klint Kubiak
Defensive Coordinator: Andre Patterson
Special Teams Coordinator: Ryan Ficken](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/ggmpky4dhu3fyjqzehln.jpg)
Head Coach Mike Zimmer
Offensive Coordinator: Klint Kubiak
Defensive Coordinator: Andre Patterson
Special Teams Coordinator: Ryan Ficken
![QB Kirk Cousins
Backed up by Sean Mannion and Kellen Mond](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/i0vikadsc2bscfqrx4v3.jpg)
QB Kirk Cousins
Backed up by Sean Mannion and Kellen Mond
![WR Justin Jefferson
Backed up by K.J. Osborn and Dede Westbrook](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/jvz7saa7pqnwmdtamrpk.jpg)
WR Justin Jefferson
Backed up by K.J. Osborn and Dede Westbrook
![LT Christian Darrisaw
Backed up by Rashod Hill](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/rlflj8dnvts9hh4drvy3.jpg)
LT Christian Darrisaw
Backed up by Rashod Hill
![LG Ezra Cleveland](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/ppfxlocse10xstngk3bq.jpg)
LG Ezra Cleveland
![C Garrett Bradbury
Backed up by Mason Cole](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/ioithgoplnenyhyr4tye.jpg)
C Garrett Bradbury
Backed up by Mason Cole
![RG Olisameka Udoh
Backed up by Wyatt Davis](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/cmfek5cfeasrqwplz0ja.jpg)
RG Olisameka Udoh
Backed up by Wyatt Davis
![RT Brian O'Neill
Backed up by Blake Brandel](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/qwzbbyvtacgxtixde5zr.jpg)
RT Brian O'Neill
Backed up by Blake Brandel
![TE Tyler Conklin
Backed up by Chris Herndon and Luke Stocker](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/vyggstk8g6keibldnuhr.jpg)
TE Tyler Conklin
Backed up by Chris Herndon and Luke Stocker
![RB Dalvin Cook
Backed up by Alexander Mattison and Kene Nwangwu](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/z7nc8gnuffcidl1s4ecy.jpg)
RB Dalvin Cook
Backed up by Alexander Mattison and Kene Nwangwu
![FB C.J. Ham](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/eixfglo8c78vhauezmsj.jpg)
FB C.J. Ham
![WR Adam Thielen
Backed up by Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Dan Chisena](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/ay45sonct9n0hgdofhhz.jpg)
WR Adam Thielen
Backed up by Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Dan Chisena
![LE D.J. Wonnum
Backed up by Patrick Jones II](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/mpvcioi2ypp6t4fm9mme.jpg)
LE D.J. Wonnum
Backed up by Patrick Jones II
![DT Sheldon Richardson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/igjvrfc4qiyusslw7fys.jpg)
DT Sheldon Richardson
![NT Armon Watts
Backed up by James Lynch](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/efvk199d0b5ojhtx31lr.jpg)
NT Armon Watts
Backed up by James Lynch
![RE Eddie Yarbrough
Backed up by Tashawn Bower](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/ibewjsp657eoprxglbwc.jpg)
RE Eddie Yarbrough
Backed up by Tashawn Bower
![WLB Nick Vigil
Backed up by Chazz Surratt](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/br8pqfos99yzwzxbr1ao.jpg)
WLB Nick Vigil
Backed up by Chazz Surratt
![MLB Eric Kendricks
Backed up by Troy Dye and Ryan Connelly](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/vudlwewuqdn4f6hsrsib.jpg)
MLB Eric Kendricks
Backed up by Troy Dye and Ryan Connelly
![SLB Anthony Barr
Backed up by Blake Lynch](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/x9sqdnc3rv0i65svwv2v.jpg)
SLB Anthony Barr
Backed up by Blake Lynch
![LCB Cameron Dantzler
Backed up by Mackensie Alexander](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/ut6dtzd0eq0dk7gufjne.jpg)
LCB Cameron Dantzler
Backed up by Mackensie Alexander
![RCB Bashaud Breeland
Backed up by Kris Boyd and Harrison Hand](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/zcedlj58dvpbjrulqqq4.jpg)
RCB Bashaud Breeland
Backed up by Kris Boyd and Harrison Hand
![SS Harrison Smith
Backed up by Josh Metellus](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/v6b9wex9tiloaq796lip.jpg)
SS Harrison Smith
Backed up by Josh Metellus
![FS Xavier Woods
Backed up by Camryn Bynum](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/wmauwe5he0wtpj7nypi5.jpg)
FS Xavier Woods
Backed up by Camryn Bynum
![P Jordan Berry](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/joiiva3mvtw6vbqqxhhj.jpg)
P Jordan Berry
![K Greg Joseph](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/doo0g6pde5mnv2mfiqiw.jpg)
K Greg Joseph
![LS Andrew DePaola](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/vrfkrsrlb1rcnhumhkgd.jpg)
LS Andrew DePaola
![KR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
Backed up by K.J. Osborn](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/sbccosqxtizx0lpvtjwu.jpg)
KR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
Backed up by K.J. Osborn
![PR Dede Westbrook
Backed up by K.J. Osborn and Ihmir Smith-Marsette](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/nzdivnmijgrrnpjonyon.jpg)
PR Dede Westbrook
Backed up by K.J. Osborn and Ihmir Smith-Marsette
2. Wide receiver Adam Thielen said the team is treating Sunday's game in Detroit like a playoff game.
Despite having the same record as Washington (5-6), Washington is currently the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs due to tie breakers. The Vikings are currently the No. 8 seed and on the outside looking in.
"We're excited to move to Detroit," Thielen said. "Now every game is a playoff game."
Thielen said they know Detroit is a good football team despite their record. He said they have a lot of respect for Lions head coach Dan Campbell and his willingness to do anything to get that first win.
3. Zimmer admitted that his defense is pretty decimated by injuries right now. They're without star defensive linemen Danielle Hunter (IR), Michael Pierce (IR) and Dalvin Tomlinson (Reserve/COVID-19). Linebacker Anthony Barr has been limited by a knee injury, and they just moved defensive end Everson Griffen to the Reserve/Non-Football Illness list. Minnesota comes into Sunday's contest ranked 30th in total defense and 30th against the run. That's unusual of a Zimmer-run defense.
4. Safety Xavier Woods says the focus moving forward for the Vikings is just to get to the playoffs. He said once in the playoffs, it's a whole new season and anything can happen. That certainly aligns with Thielen's comments above.
That's got to be the prevailing message in the Minnesota locker room right now, so don't expect the Vikings to come in and take the winless Lions for granted.
5. Even the major newspaper in the Minneapolis area, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, seems weary of Sunday's matchup. This was their top Vikings headline Wednesday: "Think these winless Detroit Lions will lie down Sunday? If so, you're wrong."
6. The Vikings are 5-6 after 11 games, which is exactly where they were after 11 games last year, when they finished 2-3 and 7-9 for the season and missed the playoffs.
"I feel a lot different about this team than at this time a year ago," Zimmer said. "They've shown that they have a lot of heart and fight ... we'll just play it out and see where it goes."