Vikings fall short in classic battle with Lions

Minnesota took its first loss in a crazy and compelling game versus Detroit

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By Matthew Coller

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings lost their first game of the season in a barn burner against the Detroit Lions at US Bank Stadium. The 31-29 loss featured a ton of big plays, crazy twists and turns and ultimately the Vikings came out on the wrong side.

However, this game shouldn’t deter anyone from calling them a top NFC team as they battled back and forth with the favorites for the 2024 Super Bowl.

Here’s how it went down…..

When we were all doing our “keys to the game” in the leadup to the game, they started with whether Detroit’s remarkable run game could get rolling early and provide some easy first downs for the offense. On the opening drive that was certainly not the case as Detroit’s first run was stuffed and then the Lions were called for holding on their second attempt. That allowed Brian Flores’s defense to start cooking. On second-and-17, Andrew Van Ginkel came free off the edge for a sack to set up third-and-26.

The Lions gained 19 yards on third down, which apparently was an invitation for Dan Campbell to do something goofy. Detroit faked the punt and Bo Richter easily stopped the backup linebacker who took the direct snap short of the sticks. Vikings 1, Campbell’s wackiness 0.

The Vikings instantly made the Lions pay for their foolish decision. On the second offensive play, Detroit’s defense collapsed on the middle of the field and Aaron Jones bounced outside for a 34-yard touchdown run. I guess the hamstring is OK.

At this point, we should just expect the Vikings to get up by a touchdown from the start of every single game.

The crowd made their presence known as soon as the Lions got the ball back. Before even taking a snap on their second possession, Detroit had to call a timeout. I can’t recall ever seeing a team need to take a timeout right after the kickoff. The noise meter on the big board somewhere around 117 decibels. It was at 120 in the game against Houston.

After a short pass and a handoff, the Lions were set up for third-and-4. Goff had time to throw but couldn’t find anyone and he was stopped for a short gain. The Lions actually punted this time. And the punt went into the end zone. Another win for the Vikings.

Rarely during Kevin O’Connell’s time have the Vikings been able to set up their offense by running the ball. Jones makes it possible though. To start their second drive, Jones ran twice for nine yards. On third-and-1, Darnold fired a pass across the middle and Justin Jefferson made a diving 18-yard catch. Maybe the Lions should have tried another fake because after a holding penalty the Vikings were on Detroit’s side of the field again.

On third down, Darnold was forced to check down after the Lions created some pressure. He did a good job to avoid making any mistakes and allowing the Vikings to remain in field goal position. By field goal position, I mean anywhere in the stadium. Will Reichard casually walked onto the field and chipped in a routine 57-yarder. No kicker has ever made the game look easier than Reichard.

Detroit got the ball back down 10 points looking to respond. The Lions have gotten used to smashing everybody in the face with their offensive line but the Vikings’ D-line has been stout this year against the run. On third-and-1, Detroit attempted to slam up the middle with RB David Montgomery — normally a Viking killer. He was stopped for no gain by Harrison Phillips and injured on the play. Montgomery has been part of a two-headed monster with Jahmyr Gibbs. As the Lions lined up to go for the fourth down, their lineman jumped offside. Phillips’s late shift and the crowd combined to cause it. Total dominance by the Vikings’ D early.

Once again, Detroit punted.

The Vikings got a little sloppy on their third attempt with the ball. A holding penalty on struggling RG Ed Ingram pushed the Vikings back to the shadow of their own goal line (Ingram also still allowed a QB hit on the same play). After a Darnold completion, they committed a false start. Ryan Wright took the field for the first time and booted it away.

If you thought the Lions were going to roll over and croak, you were wrong. After picking up two first downs, Detroit made its way to the Vikings’ 45-yard line. Apparently that’s scoring position for Gibbs. He broke to his right, juked Cam Bynum and scampered into the end zone. Despite near total dominance by the Vikings, they were only looking at a 3-point lead.

The Vikings didn’t wait long to get back into Detroit territory. Darnold showed his scrambling ability with a 19-yard run on a play where several receivers were running deep and the seas parted. O’Connell’s team has had an issue with procedural penalties this year and they committed another one to push the drive back. Star safety Brian Branch then broke up a third-down pass and the Vikings had to punt.

It’s now been a while since the offense was humming. The first half of the Green Bay game was the last time they looked cohesive.

The Lions started out their next drive comfortably. Goff stood in the pocket despite a Viking blitz and hit St. Brown for a 17-yard gain. The tenner in the building started to change a bit as everyone could sense the Lions gaining steam.

From the 35-yard line, the Lions picked up another rush from the Vikings, which allowed St. Brown to get 1-on-1 with Byron Murphy Jr. The star receiver won that matchup and Goff delivered a pretty pass right into his hands for a touchdown. Explosive TDs only, apparently. And just like that, the Lions had a 14-10 lead.

The Vikings got the ball back needing a long drive. Darnold started out by hitting Jefferson for a first down off a play-action pass. Then Jones showed his presence again with a screen pass for a first down as he danced down the sideline. But disaster struck right after that. Darnold tried to throw into double coverage toward Jordan Addison and Branch made a remarkable diving interception.

Gibbs got back to crushing the Vikings with an 18-yard reception to start the drive and then ran the ball for 8-yards to get into field goal territory. Then Goff hit another pass for 25 yards across the middle to tight end Sam LaPorta. On third-and-7, Lions OC Ben Johnson got in his bag, running a clever inside delay handoff to Gibbs, who scampered into the end zone. 21-10. Chants from a few Lions fans yelling, “Jar-ed Goff, Jar-ed Goff” could be heard throughout the building.

Speaking of which, if any NFL analyst tells you Jared Goff isn’t a great quarterback, unfollow them or turn off the TV. Over and over, he finds the right place with the football. He belongs in the Akiem Hicks Hall of Players Who Destroy The Vikings.

To start the second half, O’Connell got Darnold an easy completion or three. Jefferson gained a first down on a bubble screen and then caught an 8-yard pass over the middle. On third down, Darnold converted with a short pass to Jalen Nailor. The ball came loose and appeared for a moment to be a fumble returned for TD but Nailor was clearly out of bounds. Jones got back to work, blasting for two runs to gain another first down.

From the 27-yard line, Jefferson did exactly what he always does to the Lions: Go into legend mode. On a deep route to the end zone, Darnold put the ball up for grabs and Jefferson was doing the Griddy seconds later. He did a superman dive catch over corner Amik Robertson and landed in the purple paint of the end zone. 21-17.

We’ve got ourselves a game, folks.

Detroit got right back to work though. Montgomery, who was banged up earlier, looked fine catching a one-handed pass and then running for 14 yards to open the drive.

On third-and-9 at mid-field, the decibel meter hit 121, the loudest of the day and maybe the loudest in a long time. Goff, however, was unfazed. He threw a fadeaway pass to another Viking killer Kalif Raymond for a huge first down. But the stadium did bother the Lions after that. They were forced to call a timeout and then had a classic US Bank Stadium false start.

Goff, again, navigated through trouble though. On third-and-15, he stepped away from pressure and completed a 22-yard pass down the pipe to Tim Patrick. With a huge third-and-6 facing the Lions offense, Goff did it again. He spotted an underneath route open and threw the pass on the money for a 21-yard crushing touchdown for the Lions. 28-17.

The Vikings looked like they jumped right back on Detroit with a 30-yard completion from Darnold to Johnny Mundt but RB Ty Chandler was called for a holding penalty negating the huge play. And that’s why they haven’t trusted him in pass protection. But Darnold didn’t get thrown off and fired a bullet down the sideline to Nailor for a 33-yard gain.