Volume 5, Rob Barton, Week 14 2022: Minnesota Vikings vs. The Detroit Lions

In the lead up to this game, I read many posts about how it was disrespectful to the Vikings for us to be 10-2 underdogs against a 5-7 team in Detroit. A game where the Vikings could clinch the division!

It wasn’t a sentiment I shared however, as the Lions have been on a hot streak of late and have been high scorers in most games this season. Meanwhile the Vikings defence has been giving up the amount of yards and points that very few teams with a winning record will ever do. If we were going to win this game, we’d need to simply outscore the opposition. Easier said than done but we’ve done it before.

 

The First Half

Small margins win or lose games. The first inkling that perhaps it wasn’t going to be our day was when we punted on fourth and six but the flag was thrown on Detroit, therefore giving us a chance to go for it on fourth and one. We didn’t make it. This left Detroit with good field position in the midfield.  We’ve been fairly decent at defending in the red zone for the last few games so Detroit didn’t bother visiting it, scoring from 41 yards out, with Williams given the freedom of Ford Field with the reception. 

A good Vikings drive would get us into the red zone and some clever footwork from Cook would tie the game. Into the second quarter and there would be just one more score. After a good punt return to the midfield, the Lions would hit us from deep again, Goff connecting with DJ Chark from 48. We were 24-7 down and the Lions hadn’t been in the red zone yet. 

We would have one more chance to score, getting to the 3 yard line with a minute of the half left. Inexplicably, Cook would fumble and the Lions recovered, only to miss a field goal. Still, 14-7 down at the half and we get the ball first, so it’s not a bad position to be in.

 

The Second Half

After a fake punt caught us out, the Lions would eventually visit the red zone and add another TD with a Reynolds reception. Vikings hit back, two scores down and went for it on fourth and four, Cousins finding Thielan in front 23 yards. The two point conversion wasn’t made though. Whatever the rights or wrongs were of going for two at this point, we’d have still needed two scores to take the lead without getting the two anyway. 

Jackson would get a TD for Detroit by the very smallest of margins, being adjudged to have touched the pylon to increase the lead for the Lions to 15. The teams would exchange field goals before KJ Osborn reduced the deficit to eight. A Lions field goal would close the game out and condemn the Vikings to a third defeat of the season.

 

Conclusion

So, the bookies were right. They often are. But there were so many little things that didn’t go our way, such as Kevin O’Connell’s challenge, Justin Jefferson being ruled out of bounds or Jackson touching the pylon. That is football. 

It’s just one loss in a season where we have more wins than most of us would have expected at the start of the season. When we look at where we are now compared to this time last year, it’s been a revelation. Sure there is still work to do, especially with the defence. Will we win the Super Bowl? Probably not. But the future’s looking good. Keep the faith.

 

Author: Rob Barton

Editors: Tommy Beauchene, Rich Dawson, Jacqui Melrose, Ella Burt