–Another week, another chance at history for wide receiver Adam Thielen. Thielen had seven catches for 103 yards and a touchdown last week against the Saints. He set the record for the most consecutive games with 100 yards receiving to start a season and tied the mark for any point of the season with his eighth straight 100-yard game. Thielen can pull into sole possession on the list, surpassing Calvin Johnson’s eight straight in 2012. Thielen could become the second player in NFL history with 100 yards receiving and a touchdown in five straight games, joining Patrick Jeffers from Carolina in 1999.
–Tight end Kyle Rudolph had two touchdown catches in the last meeting against Detroit and has touchdowns in three of the past four home games against the Lions. He has started 57 straight games, which is the longest active streak among tight ends in the NFL and the longest streak for a tight end in team history. His 354 receptions are eighth all-time in Vikings history. Rudolph has 17 touchdown receptions since the start of the 2016 season, tied with Jimmy Graham and Cameron Brate for the most among tight ends.
–Safety Harrison Smith has three interceptions and three sacks in eight games this season, becoming the first player in the past two seasons to reach those totals in a single season. The last two players to do so were safety Landon Collins and linebacker Ryan Shazier in 2016. Since entering the NFL in 2012, Smith is the only player with at least 20 interceptions (20) and 10 sacks (12).
–Defensive end Danielle Hunter is tied for second in the NFL with eight sacks this season and he’s been a terror against Detroit. Hunter had a sack and fumble recovery in the last meeting against the Lions and is looking for his third in a row against Detroit with a sack and at least two tackles for loss.
–Wide receiver Stefon Diggs had 10 catches for 119 yards and a touchdown last week, surpassing 3,000 career receiving yards in 48 career games. Diggs tied Anthony Carter for the second quickest in team history to reach 3,000 yards in terms of games played. Randy Moss reached the mark in 36 games. Diggs is tied for fourth in the league with 58 catches this season. He and Adam Thielen – who leads with a record 74 in eight games – are the only duo in the NFL to both post top-10 receptions totals this season. Diggs has the most catches in team history through eight games to start a season trailing Thielen, Cris Carter (60 in 1994) and Percy Harvin (60 in 2012).
BY THE NUMBERS: 1 – One is a key number for the Vikings – and many around the NFL – as it relates to turnovers. When Minnesota is plus-1 in turnover differential, it is 3-0 this season. When the Vikings have turned the ball over more than taken it away, they are 0-3-1. Minnesota is plus-2 for the season. Detroit is minus-4, having 10 turnovers to six takeaways.
