What are the Minnesota Vikings talking about ahead of Sunday's NFC North matchup in Minneapolis between the top two teams in the division? Let's find out:

1. After the Lions scored 89 points in their last two contests, both wins over Seattle and Dallas, Vikings safety Camryn Bynum knows Minnesota's defense will have a great test this week.

"They have weapons everywhere," he said of Detroit's offense. "Really good receivers. Really good running backs. Good quarterback. Really, across the board it's a complete team. This is one of those games you know is going to be a battle going into it but it's exactly what we're looking for. Two of the best teams in the league going at it.

2. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said running back Aaron Jones continues to be evaluated for a hip injury suffered two weeks ago in the Vikings' win over the Jets before the bye. He said Jones avoided a long-term injury but classified him as 'week-to-week' moving forward. Minnesota traded for Houston running back Cam Akers on Tuesday to help fill the void.

3. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores said when he watches tape of the Lions' offense, he sees a unit that doesn't have any weaknesses.

"Normally, you watch the tape, and you say, 'Hey, we're going to attack them here.' That's not really the case with this group," he said. "Really, from the backs to the tight ends to receivers to o-line to quarterback to the play caller, all of it is high level."

4. Offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw has had plenty of battles with Aidan Hutchinson the last couple years and he hated to see Hutchinson go down with a broken tibia and fibula last week in Dallas.

"It's tough seeing those types of things happen," he said. "For a player like himself, man, it's an elite guy, man. It sucks to see. So definitely prayers up for him, for his speedy recovery. Hopefully God allows him to come back the same player, man, because he's a dog and I got a lot of respect for him."

5. Flores was asked about Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and his aggressive play-calling prowess. Flores smiled and said he plans to fight fire with fire.

"That's just me," he said. "Some other people are different. That would be my answer to that one."

6. Minnesota's special teams coordinator Matt Daniels described the Lions as a tough, disciplined football team that plays the right brand of football he really likes to watch on tape. He thinks it aligns well with the brand of football the Vikings play, and predicts it will be a 'slugfest' in Minneapolis Sunday.

7. Daniels was asked about the fake punts the Lions have been so successful converting since head coach Dan Campbell and special teams coordinator Dave Fipp came to Detroit in 2021. He said the process for getting ready for that potential this week is just being good about self-scouting and knowing what you put on tape and using the bye week to come up with some different looks Fipp and the Lions haven't seen.

8. The bye week came at a perfect time for veteran guard Dalton Risner. He injured his back in training camp and was placed on IR to begin the year. Coming out of the bye week, Minnesota announced Risner is returning to practice. He told the Vikings media this week he's '100 percent ready to roll.'

9. Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said Detroit still has plenty of pass rush prowess upfront even without Hutchinson.

"Those interior guys are really good players, (Alim) McNeill and (DJ) Reader," he said. "(Josh) Paschal, who came in after Hutchinson, is a really good player. I was impressed with him last year when he was playing in the game.

"They have very extensive pressure packages, particularly on third downs. (Alex) Anzalone is a very good blitzer and they'll bring him on early downs and third down. They understand protections and what they are doing. When they blitz. They are not just throwing things against the wall and seeing if it sticks. It's going to be a good challenge for us."

10. The NFC North is the first division since realignment in 2002 to have all four teams with at least four wins through their first six games. Vikings cornerback Shaq Griffin proclaimed it the best division in the NFL this week and looks at it as a blessing having to battle Detroit, Green Bay and Chicago six times because it will force them to stay sharp and play good football all season. There are no gimmies in the North this year.