Minnesota Vikings Week 18 Superlatives

The Minnesota Vikings closed the 2024 season against division rival Detroit Lions. With both teams entering the game with sparkling 14-2 records, it was billed as one of the best matchups in regular season history. The winner of the game would win the NFC North and earn the NFC’s #1 seed. It was a big game. For three quarters it was a one-score game. Then it wasn’t. The Lions rose in the fourth quarter. The Vikings wilted. If it wasn’t for the Vikings defense, the score would’ve much worse than the one-sided 31-9 score that it was. The disappointing game didn’t yield many superlatives. Here’s an attempt at picking some. 

Offensive Players of the Game

Aaron Jones, RB

Cam Akers, RB

After 16 games of solid to spectacular play, Sam Darnold saved his worst game for the biggest game. He was high on most of this passes. He missed open receivers all over the field. He looked rattled in the pocket. He looked unsure at the snap. The Vikings had four opportunities in the red zone. Three of those were first-and-goal. They scored zero touchdowns. One thing missing in those opportunities were rushing attempts. Seeing as Aaron Jones and Cam Akers had some success running against the Lions defense, that was surprising. Akers’ 58-yard run on the first possession of the second half put the ball on the Lions five-yard line. The Vikings only ran once on the four plays that followed the big run. Two of those plays were from the two-yard line. 

Jones’ numbers:

10 carries 

45 yards

Akers’ numbers:

6 carries 

65 yards

With Darnold’s struggles, the entire offense was out of sync. If there were any positives on that side of the ball, it came from the run game.

Defensive Players of the Game

Jonathan Greenard, OLB

Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB

For the first three quarters, the Vikings defense was the game’s best group. Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel were the game’s best players. Both players made splash plays. Both players made plays all over the field. 

Greenard’s numbers:

5 tackles

1 sack

2 tackles for loss

Van Ginkel’s numbers:

7 tackles 

1 tackle for loss

Van Ginkel nearly pulled off what could’ve/should’ve been the play that flipped the game for the Vikings. 

Early in the fourth quarter, he perfectly read a Lions screen pass attempt. He got a hand on the ball and had it in his hands with about 70 yards of open field in front of him. The ball slipped through his hands. At the time, the Lions led 17-9. The Vikings could’ve tied the score and gained the momentum edge. Van Ginkel has made this play before. I was certain that he’d done it again. Nope. This game didn’t play that way.