Whooped on the big stage

Sam Darnold melted down and the Detroit offense wore down the Vikings in a blowout in the biggest game of the year

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By Matthew Coller

DETROIT — It’s not the fact that it happened, it’s how it happened.

The Minnesota Vikings lost to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday Night Football, which is an understandable result when you consider the amount of talent on Detroit’s side and the fact that they have been the NFC favorites to make the Super Bowl since Day 1. But the fact that the Vikings completely melted down offensively behind a shockingly abysmal performance from quarterback Sam Darnold was much more jarring and feels like an A-bomb to their chances to reach the Super Bowl.

Darnold was off from the start of the game, airmailing passes and collapsing in the red zone in ways that we have not seen from him this season. He overthrew TJ Hockenson twice early in the game on plays that could have been big first downs and that seemed to set the tone for the veteran quarterback.

When the Vikings caught breaks on Lions mistakes or the defense made key stops, Darnold and the offense totally fell on their faces, including when Goff threw an interception inside his own 10-yard line and the Vikings failed to make them pay for it. The Vikings strong red zone offense all season totally disappeared as Darnold whiffed on wide-open throws to Hockenson and Jefferson.

Had they made even a few plays offensively, it would have put the Vikings in the driver’s seat early in the game but instead they gave Detroit way too much room to get themselves on track and start playing like the No. 1 offense in the NFL. When that happened, they put the gas pedal down and the Vikings couldn’t stop them. Not even close.

There was several insult-to-injury kicking plays — a kickoff out of bounds that allowed Detroit to make a field goal at the end of the first half and a missed 52-yarder that would have made it a 17-12 game (Detroit turned the miss into a TD).

The Vikings’ play did not even remotely reflect a 14-2 team that deserved the No. 1 seed. All those folks who spent the entire season wondering when the wheels would fall off Darnold and this over-achieving team were nodding their heads on Sunday night.

Now in order to prove naysayers wrong, the Vikings have to travel a near impossible route to the Super Bowl. With a Seattle win, the Vikings end up paired with the Los Angeles Rams — one of two teams that they have lost games to this year.

Just as big as the concerns over trying to win multiple road games is the fact that Darnold was nowhere near the MVP candidate he looked like just last week vs. Green Bay. Certainly all quarterbacks have bad nights but this was something out of a disaster movie. It wasn’t your routine less-than-stellar showing.

Is that how it’s going to be on the big playoff stage next week? Or if they even earn a chance to return to Detroit and play the Lions again?

How could anyone even begin to think the Vikings could come here and beat them again after this, by the way? The atmosphere was too much. The talent on Detroit’s side was too much.

It’s not time to start having the conversation about Darnold’s 2025 season after a game like this because there is more to find out but you can’t say that Sunday night’s showing didn’t shake you to the core if you were a Darnold believer.

The only silver lining from the miserable evening in the Motor City was that the Vikings defense held on for dear life much longer than most teams do against Detroit. Had they been given any help from the offense, it might have been a memorable performance. But they were worn down by failure after failure from the offense and couldn’t hold in the fourth quarter when they needed one more stop.

Here’s how it went down….

Opening drive

There may have been some stadium somewhere this season that reached the same level of energy and noise as Ford Field prior to the kickoff of Vikings-Lions but there definitely wasn’t any place louder. The place exploded when Alex Anzalone was announced — a solid linebacker coming back from injury. The national anthem was drowned out by cheers about halfway through honoring our country. Never was it more true about waiting all day for Sunday night.

The Lions got the ball first, which felt like an advantage for the Vikings. If they could get an early stop, instantly they would have an edge. They could deflate the crowd a little bit and get the football to start he second half.

That’s exactly what happened.

The Vikings have had the best run defense in the NFL all season — except when they last played the Lions. They were the only team that was able to make them look average. But on the first drive of the game, it was Detroit’s run attack that looked mediocre. Jahmyr Gibbs gained just two yards on the first carry/.

Gibbs is always going to create havoc somehow though. On third-and-5, he slipped a Blake Cashman tackle and picked up a first down. That’s as far as the drive would go as Gibbs lost three yards on first down and then lost seven more yards on a surprise third-and-8 handoff.

Punt.

In a game that might not have many stops, every single one feels like an enormous win.

11:00, First Quarter. Minnesota ball, 14-yard line

The Vikings offense took over amidst noise that was close to the level of a jet engine. “Let’s go Lions!” cheers turned to crazed screaming when legend Calvin Johnson was shown on the big board.

Sam Darnold calmly picked up two first downs. What noise? An 8-yard completion to Hockenson, a screen to Jefferson, a swing pass to Jones for a third-down conversion. Already putting together some time of possession.

Then the noise got them. An “everyone but the center” false start pushed the drive back. On third down, Darnold got time to throw and delivered a ball just slightly off toward Hockenson. He dove but couldn’t bring the ball in.

Punt.

Maybe it won’t quite be the NASCAR race that we expected.

7:01, First Quarter. Detroit ball, 22-yard line

The Lions certainly won’t let a few negative runs change their plan. They opened their second drive with a run by Gibbs. Then Goff calmly converted a quick first down to get the drive started. The he did what he has done so many times over the years against the Vikings: Let a fastball rip for 23 yards to Amon-Ra St. Brown. With 4:26 left in the first, the ball crossed mid-field for the first time.

On third-and-2, lineman Dan Skipper reported as eligible. The crowd cheers loudly every time that happens and the offense has to tell them to be quiet. The Lions looked like they were going to get a first down on a handoff but committed a holding penalty to push them back. On third-and-12, Shaq Griffin pulled down Tim Patrick short of the yards to gain but, as you’d expect, the Lions elected to go for fourth down.

Goff got absolutely tagged on a Metellus blitz but it didn’t matter to the veteran quarterback. He flipped the ball over the middle to a flying Jameson Williams for a 14-yard pickup and a first down.

Remember when the Vikings stopped Gibbs? Me either. From the 25-yard line, Gibbs broke tackles and flew into the end zone, drawing first blood.

7-0 Lions.

1:43, First Quarter. Minnesota ball, 20-yard line

If the Vikings wanted to keep the Detroit crowd out of it, they weren’t doing a good job to start the next drive. Remember when Za’Darius Smith would always bring his best in big games, for and against the Vikings? Well, he plays for the Lions now and he sacked Darnold to start Drive No. 2.

Darnold had an opportunity to get rolling and missed it. On third-and-long, he had time to throw and let a pass go toward Hockenson over the middle of the field. The veteran tight end was wide open and the ball sailed six inches past his outstretched arms.

Punt.

Uh oh.

15:00, Second Quarter. Detroit ball, 31-yard line

Suddenly, the Lions took the field with the entire tenor of the game on the line. Points here could be an enormous problem for the Vikings considering Detroit had the No. 1 offense in the NFL.

The Vikings’ defense then stepped up to the plate with an enormous sequence. They stopped a run up the middle and then Andrew Van Ginkel displayed some old school NFL Films style punishment on the running back. The Lions tried a quick screen and AVG smashed him as he was catching the ball. On third-and-long, superstar edge rusher Jonathan Greenard tracked down Goff for a sack.

How many times you think the Lions have had fourth-and-31? Well, they did here.

Punt.

Oh hey, the game wasn’t over when Detroit scored!

13:10, Second Quarter. Minnesota ball, 50-yard line

Darnold was once a great basketball player. Sometimes those guys need to see the ball go in the hoop in order to get going. His first pass of the drive went over the middle to Josh Oliver for a 13-yard gain.

But Darnold again seemed too amped up on a deep shot when he overthrew Jordan Addison on a one-on-one pass from the 36-yard line into the end zone incomplete.

On third down, Darnold stood in against pressure and hit Jefferson for a huge conversion down inside the Detroit 5-yard line.

While Campbell is the guy known for his fourth down attempts, the Vikings were forced to go for it after Darnold missed Hockenson in the end zone.

Darnold continued to overthrow everything as he had Jefferson in the end zone and didn’t get the right touch on the ball. Turnover on downs.

10:10, Second Quarter. Detroit ball, 3-yard line

The Vikings went back to pressuring Goff in his own end zone. In fact, he was being taken to the ground by Ivan Pace Jr. and threw the ball directly into the ground, which would seem to be intentional grounding but it turned out that the referees disagreed. They felt that Gibbs was in the general area. A little confusing.

Anyway, the Vikings hit a game-changing play shortly after that.

On third-and-1 from the 26, Josh Metellus flew through on a screen pass and tipped the ball up in the air and Ivan Pace Jr. picked it off.

Ball don’t lie?

This was the type of turnover that we knew the Vikings would need in order to have a chance against the prolific Lions offense.

6:55, Second Quarter, Minnesota ball, 7-yard line

With a chance to tie the game, Darnold continued his streak of overthrowing receivers. He missed Hockenson in the back of the end zone and then a wide open Jefferson.

Yeeeesh.

Will Reichard came on for a 25-yard field goal.

Those opportunities can not be field goals if they are going to beat this Detroit team.

6:55, Second Quarter. Detroit ball, 20-yard line

Letting the Lions get away with a huge gaffe is not idea because they will make you pay. They got the ball from the Will Reichard kickoff and found themselves in Vikings territory within three plays.

On third-and-3, running back Craig Reynolds got two yards. Here comes the Campbell Fourth Down Parade’s second act.

Rather than just hand off and get the first down, Campbell had to prove his manliness with a throw downfield. The ball got tipped. Another huge play from the Vikings defense. They have shown up in spades.

The offense, however…

3:37, Second Quarter. Minnesota ball, 42-yard line

Darnold made a lock-in type of play to open the possession. On third-and-6, he accurately threw to Jalen Nailor over the middle for a big first down that put the Vikings in field-goal position.

Finally O’Connell decided to lean on his big-game running back a little. Jones squirmed out of a well-defended run for a positive gain and then caught Detroit napping on a pitch for an 8-yard gain.

On third down, guard Blake Brandel got beaten instantly and Darnold was hit as he was trying to throw the ball.

Field goal.

7-6.

0:20 Second Quarter. Detroit ball, 40-yard line

Somehow, Reichard kicked the ball out of bounds on the kickoff. Rather than just take it to halftime, the Lions got an opportunity to put more points on the board. They instantly completed a pass to St. Brown and then found Kalif Raymond to bring the ball to the 30-yard line. Easy field-goal position for their star kicker Jake Bates.

Bang. 10-6 at halftime.

The Vikings should walk outside and thank their lucky stars that they aren’t down by a lot more than four points at the halftime. Missed touchdown passes and a huge special teams mistake could have had them completely out of this game by now if not for the defense causing an interception and making a fourth-down stop.

Both teams looked shaken by the atmosphere. Will that continue into the second half?

15:00, Third Quarter. Minnesota ball, 30-yard line

You never know where heroes are going to come from with this Vikings team. When the Vikings got the ball to start the second half, Darnold continued to look shaky. He got a break on an incomplete pass where Detroit committed illegal contact, giving them a free first down. Then Cam Akers exploded for a 58-yard run to the shadow of the Detroit goal line. It’s exactly the type of big play that they desperately needed on offense.

But the Vikings continued to step on their own feet. O’Connell, desperate to get Darnold on track, called two passes on third and fourth down and the Vikings failed at the goal line again.

Had they just completed any passes in the red zone, the Vikings might be leading by two scores. Sam Darnold now 1-for-9 for 3 yards on passes inside the Detroit 10-yard line. Insane.

11:58, Third Quarter. Detroit ball, 2-yard line

Return the favor? Sure. Why not? That’s the type of game it has been.

On the first play of the Detroit possession, Goff threw an arm punt from his own end zone and the hot air balloon of a throw landed in the hands of safety Harrison Smith, who made a remarkable catch.

A ping-pong match of calamities. Is this the third preseason game?

11:50, Third Quarter. Minnesota ball, 46-yard line

What to do now? Screens? Runs? Panic?

All three!

Jones ran for seven yards and then caught a 10-yard screen but Darnold followed up with an intentional grounding that was nearly intercepted. They went from first-and-10 at the Detroit 37 to second-and-23 at midfield.

Darnold finally threw a sharp pass, hitting Jefferson for 17 yards but Jefferson somehow dropped a first-down pass that was on the money on the next play.

Reichard nailed a long field goal to bring the game to a 10-9 score.

Both teams throwing haymakers of mistakes.

9:55 Third Quarter. Detroit ball, 30-yard line

Would Detroit become the first team to calm down first?

Maybe but not before they freaked out some more. After a first down, the Vikings blew up a screen pass for a 5-yard loss and then the Lions committed a false start, to put them back at second-and-20.

Then Goff found the typical Goff that the Vikings usually face. He slid in the pocket and rocketed a 17-yard throw and then converted a third-and-2 with a 13-yard gain. Both in-breaking routes over the middle.

Inside the red zone for the first time in a long time, the Lions reached another Big Man Campbell Moment. Fourth-and-1 at the 10-yard line.

Boom. Touchdown. Ford Field explodes.

17-9 Lions.

2:30, Third Quarter. Minnesota ball, 25-yard line

Finally Darnold looked like himself, rolling out and finding Jalen Nailor for 27-yards. Maybe getting him on the move a little more is the answer?

Whatever the answer is, they didn’t find it. Darnold threw incomplete on third down and Reichard came on again for a long field goal.

From 52, he missed. In hindsight, the Vikings could have gone for fourth-and-4.

Now it felt like the game was about to get away from the Vikings.

0:23, Third Quarter. Detroit ball, 41-yard line

The Lions looked very Lions-y to start the drive. In past years that would have been an insult. Not now. They hit throws of 14 and 11 to start the drive and then Andrew Van Ginkel came so, so close to completely changing the game. A Goff quick throw bounced right off his hands. It would have been the easiest pick-six he’s had this year — and the one against the Giants was pretty easy.

Unshaken, Goff hit back-to-back throws and then the Lions were right back in scoring position. Gibbs then rolled into the end zone for a touchdown.

Now it’s bad. Very bad. Book your trips to Los Angeles, folks.

13:06, Fourth Quarter. Minnesota ball, 30-yard line

If the Vikings were going to make things interesting, they needed to do it now.

Spoiler: They did not make it interesting.

On third-and-9, Darnold got sacked, reaching full and complete meltdown mode.

Punt.

10:13, Fourth Quarter. Detroit ball, 26-yard line

With Barry Sanders in the house, Gibbs went into Barry mode with a completely back-breaking 47-yard run. The Vikings chased him around all day but quite possibly the NFL’s best running back was just too darn fast and relentless for them. He followed up with a 10-yard run after that.

With just over five minutes remaining, Gibbs dragged a bunch of Vikings into the end zone to make it 31-9.

Goodnight, Detroit.

Possibly goodnight 2024 season for the Vikings.

5:14, Fourth Quarter. Minnesota ball, 30-yard line

Why Darnold was still in the game, I can’t tell you, but he was and with 4:20 left, he got stepped on and was limping. He didn’t leave the game, so it didn’t appear serious, though it is something he’s dealt with throughout the year.

Anyway, he took another hit on an incompletion on fourth down and that was that.

18-for-41, 166 yards. Very Jets-y of him.

The rest from the Lions was just running the clock out.

14-3 season, yet doesn’t feel that way on this night.

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