"Dabo chews tomato soup."
It's been a couple days and that still kills me.
***
The Minnesota Vikings missed their chance to stay tied with the Green Bay Packers on top of the NFC North. They handed that honor to the Detroit Lions. The Lions left Minnesota with a 14-7 win.
What is it with the Lions? The Vikings have lost their last three games against this particular division foe. All three games felt as if some other force didn't want the Vikings to win. The Lions stole both games last year just when the Vikings appeared to have won both games. The Lions had a ludicrous number of late game heroics last year. The Vikings games were two of them. Then we had yesterday.
The good for the Vikings in yesterday's game was the defense. Actually, the defense was closer to great. Only three of the Lions 14 points were really on the defense. The other 11 points were made easier by Vikings offensive miscues on consecutive plays in the third quarter. Two plays. Two fumbles. That led to 11 Lions points. Other than that the Lions offense wasn't able to do much. About the only thing that the Vikings defense didn't do was take the ball from the Lions. They had some opportunities. Four Vikings defenders had interceptions in their hands. The Lions won the turnover battle 3-0 and won the game.
The Vikings have to blast through this current little problem with the Lions. The first step in doing so would be to end, often self-inflicted, miscues and to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves.
Late in the third quarter, instead of throwing to receiver Adam Thielen, wide open for a 21-yard touchdown, Case Keenum threw short and incomplete to running back Jerick McKinnon. Kai Forbath missed a 38-yard field goal on the next play.
That missed opportunity was minor compared to a miserable sequence that came a little earlier.
The most costly mistakes came on consecutive plays to start the second half. On 2nd-and-6 from the Lions 49 with some momentum the Vikings decided to get a little tricky. From a "wildcat" formation with Jerick McKinnon taking the snap they ran a read option. McKinnon looked to be keeping the ball after putting it in the belly of Dalvin Cook. It wasn't a clean fake and the ball was on the ground. The Lions recovered at the Vikings 47. That led to a field goal which cut the Vikings lead to 7-6.
The Vikings followed that miscue with their most costly miscue of the game. On 1st-and-10 from the Lions 18, Cook burst up the middle for 10. He might've taken it much further if it weren't for the knee injury that he suffered. Without any contact his knee gave way. He also lost the football. The Lions found it and gave their offense a very short field. A stunned Vikings defense was back on the field. The Lions soon had a touchdown and two-point conversion. That gave them a 14-7 lead without having to do a whole lot.
The loss of Cook for the game and perhaps for the season is a huge loss. It only took the rookie 3.5 games to show that he's a brilliant football talent. His diverse running, receiving, blocking talent fit perfectly with what the Vikings want to do. The offense works through and revolves around him. He will have an MRI done today to confirm the extent of the injury but the feeling around the Vikings doesn't seem positive.
Cook's injury boosts Latavius Murray to the front of the Vikings running game. He's talented. He's gained over 1,000 yards in the league, he's earned a Pro Bowl nod, and he was considered the Vikings top running option until they lucked into Cook in the draft.
It's easy to have problems with a game that your team doesn't win. In that regard getting blown out is sometimes better. It sucks but it's easier to put it behind you and move on. A game like this sticks with you more. The Vikings defense played great. The explosive Lions offense didn't do much at all. Although it must be pointed out that running back Ameer Abdullah was a handful. He was the Lions offense. 20 carries 94 yards. It was the best I've seen him play in the NFL. The Vikings offense didn't play well but they had opportunities to win. The Vikings have to stop making it easier for the Lions and harder for themselves. That's true for all opponents but Lions games have been a real problem of late. Three consecutive games have been right there for the Vikings to grab and control and they let it slip away. It cost them the playoffs last year. Hopefully it doesn't this year.
On the possession after the Lions grabbed their 14-7 lead, the Vikings offense tried to strike back immediately. Keenum threw deep to Laquon Treadwell. Lions corner Darius Slay clearly grabbed/prevented Treadwell from going up for the ball effectively. It was obvious pass interference. No call. Two plays later, on 3rd-and-8, Keenum threw to Stefon Diggs for the first down. There was clear pass interference by the Lion defender. This officiating crew is known to be especially stingy with penalty flags. I actually prefer that sort of game. I'd prefer a game in which flags are few and fairly aggressive pass defense is allowed. The problem is that this is not the NFL that is allowed or played. The rules call for defense like that played on Treadwell and Diggs to be flagged for pass interference. If every other officiating crew makes those calls this crew should as well. Consistency is important.
This loss stings. The potential loss of Cook for the season makes it sting even more. Football and injuries will always go together. The Vikings just have to deal with it.
I'd have some thoughts on the other games if I'd seen any of them. I had to get away for a bit.
After rehashing most of the Vikings missed opportunities I forgot all about the missed opportunity that was perhaps their biggest. With about four minutes to play in the game the Vikings had a first-and-goal on the Lions 8. Four plays and the Vikings didn't score. A score there and the game probably goes to overtime. With the way that the defense was playing I like their chances with two minutes to play. Even with Matthew Stafford and the Lions penchant for late game heroics. How could I forget about this missed opportunity?
Next week the Vikings travel to Chicago for a Monday division clash with the Bears.
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