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All eyes are on the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday as the team meets its match in the Detroit Lions.

Both teams have the same record: 14 and 2. Sunday’s game determines who wins the NFC North Division Championship — and who gets the top seed in the NFC playoffs. 

Leo Lewis III was a wide receiver for the Vikings for 11 seasons from 1981 to 1991, and was the team’s director of player development from 1992 to 2005.

He spoke with MPR News guest host Emily Bright about the team’s chances on Sunday and its outstanding regular season.

Press play to hear their conversation, or read a transcript below. Their conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

We have a big game at the end of what’s been just a terrific regular season for the Vikings. Did you see this coming?

No, I did not. Especially when you have a different quarterback this year and the disappointment of our draft choice, no one expected this. No doubt we have to applaud the entire organization, including the players, for giving us something bright to talk about.

Well, let’s talk about Sam Darnold — clearly, a star quarterback. What elements do you see coming together this season to make this year’s Vikings a great team?

Well, I tell you what, starting with Darnold. You know, originally he was a really high draft choice, so there’s no doubt that the NFL scouts thought that he was a great quarterback and had potential. Fortunately, I think, for us, you know, we were able to steer him in the right direction. He took great coaching. 

We certainly have to give, you know, props to the general manager, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the head coach, Kevin O’Connell, and his coaching staff. But more importantly, we’ve had a team that has been relatively injury-free. A significant number of our stars, our good players, they’ve had the fortunate ability to stick in there and do well.

The Vikings lost to Detroit in Minneapolis in October. Can they beat the Lions in Detroit on Sunday?

Well, it is entirely possible, no doubt. Yes, we have our backs to the wall when we go into Detroit and have to confront not only the players on the field but the rabid Lions fans, but we are playing such at a high performance level, and we’ve shown that by winning nine games in a row that I really believe that we have that opportunity to grab that No. 1 seed away from the Lions. 

We’ve won in other people’s stadiums before, certainly winning a significant number of away games, and we have the possibility of doing that again.

You were on four Vikings playoff teams. What advice would you give the team as they head into the game?

Well, I tell you what, I contend that we started our playoff run last week when we beat the Packers, because in order for us to secure some type of home game, we had to beat the Packers. So the playoffs have already started in my mind. And consequently, you know, we have to win each game now going forward.

Certainly we’re in a better position than some of the other playoff teams. But I think our momentum of winning games, close games, keeping the Vikings fans in their seats until the end of the game, has been something that I think they will carry over next week or this weekend. Let’s put it that way.

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Leo Lewis III was a wide receiver for the Vikings for 11 seasons and was the team’s director of player development from 1992 to 2005.

eo Lewis III was a wide receiver for the Vikings for 11 seasons from 1981 to 1991, and was the team's director of player development from 1992 to 2005. He spoke with MPR News guest host Emily Bright about the team’s chances on Sunday and its outstanding regular season.

Former Viking Leo Lewis III: Vikings have strong momentum heading into playoffs

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