EAGAN, Minn. — In a frustrating defeat, the Minnesota Vikings saw their playoff hopes dim as they lost to the Detroit Lions with a final score of 31-9. The game served as a reminder of their struggles with the passing game, an area on which they have heavily relied throughout their successful 14-3 regular-season campaign.
Coach Kevin O’Connell acknowledged the team’s need to refine their offensive execution moving into the postseason, emphasizing the importance of all players contributing effectively regardless of the play call. He expressed regret over the missed opportunities that resulted in the Vikings’ wild-card team status rather than leading the division.
Quarterback Sam Darnold faced significant pressure during the game, as the Lions employed aggressive blitz tactics. This relentless pass rush affected Darnold’s performance, leading to an abysmal completion rate of 43.9 percent (18 of 41). Despite reaching the red zone four times during the game, he was unable to throw a touchdown pass, accumulating only nine points from six drives that resulted in visits inside the Detroit 35.
O’Connell noted that Darnold’s mindset and mechanics were intertwined throughout the game, indicating that previous plays might have impacted his decision-making in real-time. He pointed out that several plays possessed potential for positive outcomes that were ultimately not realized due to Darnold’s performance.
Inaccuracy plagued Darnold, leading to missed opportunities, including passes that went high or veered off-target. After the game, he recognized the need to improve his execution, stating he was in the right position but needed to make the necessary throws.
The Vikings’ offensive strategy under O’Connell has led to notable achievements in the passing department, primarily due to his effective play-calling and quarterback development. However, this sometimes worked against them, as available pages in the playbook featuring quicker throws were notably absent during crucial moments in the game. Furthermore, despite boasting a strong ground game, with an average of 6.3 yards per rush, they ran the ball only 19 times, marking their second-lowest total of the season.
Wide receiver Justin Jefferson emphasized the importance of capitalizing on scoring opportunities, pointing out the team’s failure to convert in the red zone. He recognized that putting the defense in difficult situations would not lead to wins, highlighting the need for better offensive productivity when it mattered most.
On a positive note, the Vikings’ defense showed improvement compared to their earlier encounter with the Lions in Week 7, despite surrendering the same number of points (31). During the game, they managed to allow only 10 points in the early stages until the Lions found their rhythm in the later quarters.
However, Darnold’s struggles in critical goal-to-go situations were a significant issue, as he only managed a one-for-nine performance in those situations, often missing open receivers under pressure.
Elsewhere, linebacker Ivan Pace made a notable return to form after recuperating from a hamstring injury. In his limited snaps against the Lions, he made a considerable impact with an interception and led the team with ten tackles.
Conversely, rookie kicker Will Reichard faced challenges, failing to regain his earlier momentum since being sidelined due to a quadriceps injury. His poor performance included a missed 51-yard field goal and a kickoff that went out of bounds, both of which resulted in points for the Lions and ultimately added to the Vikings’ woes in Detroit.
Heading into the playoffs, the Vikings are surprisingly healthy, with left tackle Cam Robinson filling in admirably for the injured Christian Darrisaw, the only player out for the season. The team hopes to see outside linebacker Patrick Jones return from his knee injury, though no updates on his status were provided on Monday.
The Vikings’ current five-game losing streak against the Lions now ties for the longest in the team’s history against this rival. Looking ahead, they are set to return to Los Angeles for a rematch against the Rams following a previous defeat in Week 8. This time, they have the benefit of extra preparation time before their wild-card matchup next Monday night.
