Do the Detroit Lions need Alex Anzalone to play on Sunday night vs. the Vikings?
The Detroit Lions have mostly hid their intentions about the status for linebacker Alex Anzalone this week. The veteran linebacker returned to practice this week after suffering a broken forearm in Week 11, but it’s unclear if the Lions would play him in such a short period of time. He is officially listed as questionable to play.
As coach Dan Campbell said on Friday, they typically like to get players a week of practice to prepare for the following week.
“What we really like to do is get these guys worked in before you throw them into the fire,” Campbell said. “We try to do that with as many of our guys as we can. Get them comfortable with a week of practice, then they’re ready for the following week.”
But the Lions may not have that luxury. Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings is a critical one: win and not only do the Lions get a bye week in the playoffs, but every playoff game they play on the road to the Super Bowl will be at home. Lose, and that may be their final home game of the season.
Detroit’s defense has been one of the worst in the league over the past five weeks, and the linebacker play has been one of the bigger culprits of their struggles. Obviously, the Lions could wait a week, and if they win on Sunday without Anzalone, it gives him two extra weeks of rest. But if they sit him and they lose, he’ll only get one extra week before the playoffs, and it will cost them home field advantage for the playoffs.
So today’s Question of the Day is:
Do the Lions need Alex Anzalone for the Vikings game?
My answer: I do think Anzalone could be the difference between winning and losing on Sunday night. It’s going to be a very tight game regardless, and I think Anzalone could help settle down the defense in a way that could give them that final edge.
But do the Lions need him? No, they don’t. Ultimately, this team will be defined by what they do in the postseason, and while a loss would make it a tougher road, we’re talking about a team that hasn’t lost away from Ford Field this season.
Part of the reason the Lions are likely considering giving Anzalone an extra week is so he feels a little more comfortable and has his “sea legs” as Campbell likes to say. If he plays on Sunday, there’s likely to be a significant amount of rust, as we’ve seen from Jalen Reeves-Maybin. So give him an extra week of practice and let him hit the ground running when the playoffs start.
The Lions can still beat the Vikings without Anzalone, too. It’s an incredibly tight matchup, and it’s not the end of the world if they lose. So while I really, really would like to see Anzalone play on Sunday night, I don’t think he has to.
Your turn.
