The Minnesota Vikings needed a final-second, 54-yard field goal to beat the Detroit Lions, 19-17.
It shouldn’t have been that difficult.
It felt like the Vikings were toying with the Lions in the first half. The Vikings scored on three of their four first half possessions. Only the clock kept them from scoring on their final possession. The Lions couldn’t stop the Vikings from scoring. Unfortunately, those successful possessions resulted in only 13 points. It could’ve been more. It should’ve been more. 13-6 at the half. Something like 21-6 is more like what it coulda/shoulda been.
It felt like the game was over with just under four minutes to play. After back-to-back sacks of Jared Goff, the Vikings forced a turn over on downs at the Detroit 34-yard line. It’s 16-6 with 3:39 to play. Just run the clock and close out the damn game. Easy. The Vikings haven’t done anything easy this year. Instead of easy, they ran 22 seconds off the clock, gained three yards, and missed a field goal.
Over the next couple minutes of game time just about everything that the Lions needed to happen happened.
Lions field goal
Vikings fumble
Lions touchdown
Lions two-point conversion.
With 3:17 to play, the score was 16-6 Vikings.
With 0:37 to play, the score was 17-16 Lions
Incredible.
Fortunately, the Vikings still had 37 seconds and a couple timeouts.
Adam Thielen’s first two catches of the game came over those final 37 seconds. The first was 21 yards. The second was for 19 yards. The second catch put the ball at the Lions 36-yard line.
It was Greg Joseph time.
Joseph has been terrific from over 50 yards this season. He missed what should’ve been a 37-yard game-winner against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2. He missed a 49-yarder that could’ve iced this game. Over 50? Joseph’s been terrific. He’s yet to miss. His 54-yarder with zeroes on the clock won the game. It was a shocking turn for the Lions. They clearly thought that they’d secured their first win of the season with the bold two-point conversion. Unfortunately for the Lions, 37 seconds were still on the clock.
For the game, Joseph made four of five field goal attempts. He was far too busy.
It shouldn’t have been that difficult.
From my spot on a couch, I’m of the opinion that the Vikings toss the offensive game plan for this game. It felt and often looked conservative. Too conservative. Far too conservative. It looked like it was scripted to create a game like they got. It was a game of suppressed scoring and a running clock. Until the frantic final three minutes, the game was on schedule to finish in just over 2.5 hours. With Dalvin Cook ruled out, Alexander Mattison ended with a nice rushing game. 25 carries, 113 yards. A 48-yard third quarter burst helped those numbers. Play after play, Mattison banged into the middle of the line. He got through a few times. More often he was stopped for short gains or no gain. The offensive star of the game for the Vikings was Justin Jefferson. He was well on his way to a 200-yard game. He passed 100 yards with over four minutes to play in the first half. He gained about twenty yards over the final 34 minutes. He was taking apart every Lion in front of him. He had seven catches on eight targets. He should’ve had twice the number of targets. Thielen had three targets for the game. Two of those were on the final drive. Why? The Vikings had a passing game mismatch with the Lions. The most decided advantage in this game was the Vikings receivers against the Lions defensive backs. The Vikings never took advantage of this mismatch. If the plan was for a game with suppressed scoring, they sure got it. Thankfully, it still resulted in a win. That’s the objective. The only objective.
It didn’t have to be that way. It didn’t have to be so damaging to my general well-being.
Maybe this unnecessarily difficult game against the Lions will be a good thing. At critical moments in each of their three losses, the Vikings have had things not go their way. A ruled overtime fumble in Week 1. A missed final field goal in Week 2. A failed final drive in Week 4. Yesterday, everything went the Lions way over the final few moments. A missed field goal? A fumble? A failed final drive? Sound familiar? The Vikings were down to a final drive. 37 seconds. 82 yards. Two timeouts. Instead of falling, they fought. They did what needed to be done. They fought for this win. It wasn’t pretty but they won.
Other than Jefferson, the offensive highlight for me might’ve been the debut of Christian Darrisaw at left tackle. Rashod Hill got the start but the rookie got a few drives to get a taste of the NFL game. Mike Zimmer said during the postgame press that peppering Darrisaw into a few possessions was the pregame plan. Easing him into the lineup is more about preparation than conditioning. He’s only been a full participant in about 12 practices. It’s always astonishing to me how little players practice in today’s NFL. I’m guessing that this peppering plan for Darrisaw will continue in next week’s game against the Carolina Panthers. The Vikings have a Week 7 bye. Perhaps Darrisaw’s first NFL start will be Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys. The sooner the left tackle position is his the better.
Welcome back Anthony Barr.
It’s a win. The Vikings now have an eight-game winning streak against the Lions. If my memory is accurate, none of the eight was easy or normal. The Lions have had their struggles but they are rarely an easy out for the Vikings.
It’s a win. The Vikings are now 2-3. A road game against the Carolina Panthers is next.
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