The Minnesota Vikings are left with much to ponder as they prepare for their upcoming flight to Los Angeles later this week. Following a disappointing 31-9 defeat to the Detroit Lions, the Vikings not only lost the game but also their chance at claiming the NFC North title and securing the top seed in the NFC playoffs.
Despite the final score, the Vikings outperformed the Lions for significant stretches of the game but struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities. “We just didn’t do the things we consistently did all season,” said head coach Kevin O’Connell. “It came down to being able to finish in the red zone.”
Minnesota (14-3) entered the red zone four times but managed to score only six points, failing to convert any of their 11 plays inside the Lions’ 10-yard line into touchdowns. Quarterback Sam Darnold emphasized the need for improvement in critical situations, stating, “You can’t go out there and kick field goals in the red zone against a team like the Lions. Our defense played great and kept us in the game, but we didn’t finish when we had the chance.”
While running back Cam Akers had two attempts inside the 10-yard line, Darnold’s performance was a concern. He completed just 1 of 9 passes for 3 yards in the red zone, with a notable miss on four attempts to star receiver Justin Jefferson. “I’ve got to watch the tape and see what I was doing wrong,” Darnold acknowledged. “I think maybe I could have been a little more settled on some of those throws.”
Outside the red zone, Darnold’s connection with Jefferson also faltered, completing only three of nine passes to him, two of eight to T.J. Hockenson, and one of six to Jordan Addison. O’Connell noted, “It looked like Sam missed some throws high, and we’ll look at it this week. Sam has made those throws all season, and I’m always going to expect him to make the next one.”
Though Darnold was sacked only twice, the Lions’ makeshift pass rush pressured him significantly, hitting him 10 times and forcing him to rush several throws. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s defense initially contained Detroit’s potent offense, trailing just 10-9 after a field goal with 9:55 left in the third quarter. The Vikings had also intercepted Lions quarterback Jared Goff twice.
“At that point in the game, we’re thinking we can get a stop and another nice drive,” O’Connell said. “If we do that, we’ve got the lead in the second half and we could see how that went.” However, the defense faltered as Jahmyr Gibbs scored touchdowns on Detroit’s next three possessions, finishing the night with four scores.
“He’s as explosive as anyone in the National Football League,” O’Connell remarked. “I thought we did a pretty good job against him for the most part, but all it takes for a player like that is a little space.”
The Vikings’ defense finally halted the Lions with just 27 seconds left in the game. Darnold took a knee to end the contest, setting the stage for a matchup against former rival Matthew Stafford on Monday night. With the loss, the Vikings became the NFL’s first wild-card team with 14 wins.
“Losing sucks, but it is what it is,” Darnold reflected. “We did a lot of great things this season, and now we have an opportunity to go to the playoffs and play another really good team in Los Angeles. That’s the story now.”
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