The Detroit Lions were hoping to come out of their bye week refreshed and improved, but they looked like neither in the team’s 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
The offense, which already had some concerns about getting Jameson Williams involved and some run game efficiency, struggled until it was far too late. Special teams also had some critical breakdowns, including a big kick return allowed and a disastrous blocked field goal.
The Lions almost made a furious comeback, but it came up short, and Detroit will fall to 5-3 on the season.
Here’s how it played out:
First quarter
The Vikings won the coin toss and deferred, giving the Lions offense the opportunity to get the ball first, and it was all about Sam LaPorta on the opening drive. He kicked things off with 15 and 11-yard gains to move to midfield. Then, after the Lions failed to convert on another third-and-manageable, Detroit went for it, and Jared Goff hit LaPorta on a seam route for a 40-yard touchdown. 7-0 Lions.
The Vikings answered with a big kickoff return to Detroit’s 36-yard line. They quickly took advantage, too. They picked up a key third-and-10 conversion with a screen to running back Aaron Jones, and on the next play, J.J. McCarthy laid a fade to Justin Jefferson, who made nifty catch for a 10-yard touchdown. 7-7.
Detroit’s next drive went nowhere. After a failed screen to Jahmyr Gibbs lost them 2 yards and a false start pushed them further back, a third-and-15 screen to Jameson Williams lost another 2 yards.
McCarthy took over with good field position, starting on the Vikings’ 36-yard line.
Aaron Jones picked up a quick 25 yards on three consecutive plays. However, the key play on the next drive was on third-and-9, when McCarthy found Jordan Addison for 32 yards down into the red zone. It only took one play for the Vikings to punch it in, with McCarthy finding tight end T.J. Hockenson for a 7-yard gain and a 14-7 Vikings lead.
The Lions offense couldn’t handle Minnesota’s aggressive pass rush on the next drive. Goff took two sacks and had to throw another ball away because of Vikings blitzes. Ultimately, Detroit punted, but was able to pin Minnesota inside their own 10-yard line.
Second quarter
Detroit defense answered with a three-and-out stop thanks to a Derrick Barnes sack that forced a third-and-long. Hockenson dropped a third-down dump-off, forcing a punt. A short punt, and a decent return, set the Lions offense up at the Vikings’ 35-yard line.
Detroit capitalized on the good field position. One particularly impressive play was Goff avoiding an easy sack from Jonathan Greenard and finding David Montgomery, who shook a tackle attempt and took it 13 yards downfield. Later, the Lions were facing a fourth-and-2 near the goal line, and Montgomery plunged in for the 2-yard score and a 14-14 tie.
The Vikings would re-take the lead thanks to one explosive play and one questionable play call. McCarthy was able to find running back Aaron Jones on a 30-yard screen play where several Lions lost contain to the outside. Then, Aidan Hutchinson was called for a tripping penalty. However, the Lions defense stood tall in the red zone, with Jack Campbell notching an impressive sack on third down.
The Vikings would convert on a 50-yard field goal to take a 17-14 Vikings lead with 4:42 left in the half. But the Lions couldn’t do anything with it. After a -2 yard run to open the drive, Goff’s third-down pass was batted at the line by Harrison Smith for a three-and-out.
That gave Minnesota a chance to add to their lead—while also getting the ball to start the second half. It was a wild possession with a very suspect roughing the passer call on Jack Campbell and a third-down conversion by illegal contact. However, the Lions would get the last laugh after a McCarthy pass was picked off by Terrion Arnold.
Detroit’s offense failed to take advantage, though. Under duress, Goff threw a third-and-11 at LaPorta’s feet, and it was yet another three-and-out for Detroit.
After a kneel down from McCarthy, that would end the first half.
Third quarter
The Vikings weren’t able to add to their lead to start out the second half. While they picked up a single first down, their next third down was stopped when McCarthy’s pass was behind Jalen Nailor for an incomplete pass. Minnesota was able to pin Detroit at their own 8-yard line.
Detroit quickly went three-and-out (again) after a third-down screen failed to pick up the necessary yards. On the play, Penei Sewell suffered an upper-body injury, went to the locker room, and quickly re-emerged. He did not end up missing a snap.
Minnesota immediately got into Lions territory with a 21-yard pass to Jefferson. Then Jefferson converted a third-and-7 with an 11-yard grab, but Detroit challenged it, and it was overturned to incomplete. Officials ruled it hit the ground, and the Vikings punted.
Starting at their own 9-yard line, the Lions offense had another disastrous drive. Facing a third-and-12, the Lions actually got enough yards for the pickup on a toss play to Montgomery, but the Lions running back fumbled the ball, and the Vikings recovered at Detroit’s 35-yard line.
The Vikings moved it to a two-score game when McCarthy scrambled on a third-and-8 for an 9-yard touchdown, outrunning Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone, who took a poor angle on the play. 24-14 Vikings.
The Lions ensuing drive got off to a terrible start. Goff was sacked, and left tackle Taylor Decker suffered a knee injury that caused him to go straight to the locker room. He was initially listed as questionable with a knee injury, but he would return on the next drive. Detroit was able to pull their way out of it, thanks to gains of 15 and 11 yards from St. Brown and Brock Wright, respectively. Then they finally got Jameson Williams involved with a 15-yard gain, and a third-and-14 conversion with another 18 yards. But when a Williams drop started the next drive, the Lions fell behind the sticks and on third-and-6, Goff was sacked for the fourth time on the day. Jake Bates booted a 41-yard field goal to make it a one-score game again. 24-17 Vikings.
Fourth quarter
To start the fourth quarter Terrion Arnold was deemed questionable to return with a back injury, forcing Rock Ya-Sin into the lineup. The good news for Detroit is they got a three-and-out, thanks to Aidan Hutchinson sacking McCarthy on third-and-3.
What followed was a long, methodical drive for absolutely nothing. Detroit converted two fourth downs to get into the red zone, but after a false start forced a third-and-14, Goff was sacked. To make matters worse, Jake Bates’ 45-yard field goal was blocked and returned to Detroit’s 26-yard line.
During that drive, the Lions suffered several injuries—Tate Ratledge missed a couple plays with a shoulder injury, but he returned. Christian Mahogany, however, suffered a leg injury that appeared far more serious. He was carted off and listed as questionable to return with a knee injury. He was later downgraded to out.
Minnesota was able to drive into the red zone, but the Lions did get a stop, forcing Minnesota to kick a field goal. The Vikings’ 20-yard boot was good, giving Minnesota a two-score lead with just 3:31 left. 27-17 Vikings.
The Lions got the quick strike they needed. Goff hit St. Brown for 19 yards, and then found Jameson Williams for a 37-yard touchdown to make it 27-24 Vikings with 1:55 left.
Detroit opted not to onside kick it, giving the Vikings a chance to put it away with a first down. That’s exactly what they did. On a third-and-5, McCarthy hit Nailor on a wheel route for 16 yard to end the game.
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