Vikings - Lions

The Minnesota Vikings, the entire Minnesota Vikings team - offense, defense, and special teams - finally beat the Detroit Lions, 27-24. The Vikings hadn’t beaten the Lions since the 2022 season, five consecutive losses. They hadn’t won in Detroit since 2020. The much-needed win was made possible by the return of some much-needed, injured players. 

Welcome back:

J.J. McCarthy

Christian Darrisaw

Brian O’Neill

Andrew Van Ginkel

For the first time this season, the Vikings fielded the team that made me so optimistic about this season. The offense isn’t the Vikings offense without tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. The defense isn’t the Vikings defense without outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel. Then there’s J.J. McCarthy. He left some plays out there. He threw a few high to wide open receivers. Despite those plays, he was very, very good. If this game against the Lions is his baseline, and I believe it is, the Vikings have their quarterback of the present and many years to come. If McCarthy can continue this sort of play, the Vikings will be a factor in the division and conference chase this season. The Lions are one of the favorites and the Vikings out-physicaled, out-fought, and beat them. 

The Vikings got healthy at the right time as the Vikings needed this game. 

Perhaps it’s a recency bias but this feels like the biggest Vikings win in years. Perhaps it’s their recent difficulties with the Lions. Perhaps it’s the pain of the last couple games. Dan Campbell, Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, especially Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, and a defense peppered with dirty players have routinely gotten better of the Vikings since that long ago win in 2022. Josh Metellus’s game-sealing interception of Goff feels so damn long ago. This win brings exhilaration and relief. I can finally breathe. 

The McCarthy-led offense wasn’t explosive. It was just football. Good football. The Vikings offense was competitive on nearly every possession. They had just two three-and-outs. I was actually surprised there were even two. Their worst possession was at the end of the first quarter and start of the second. The game book will show that the Vikings ran three plays for -3 yards. T.J. Hockenson dropped a short, underneath third down pass that he might’ve taken for a first down. The second three-and-out followed the Myles Price kick return touchdown that was taken away by a ridiculous holding call. At worst, Tavierre Thomas had a pinch of a Lions jersey. The offense didn’t seem ready to take the field after celebrating what should’ve been a special teams touchdown. Fortunately, those possessions were outliers. They felt like the only instances all game the offense wasn’t ready to cut through the Lions defense and their legion of dirty players. The Vikings offense gained 258 total yards. That’s not a lot. It was an important 258 yards. Especially the final 16 yards. At the two-minute warning, the Lions had cut the Vikings lead to three points, 27-24, on a touchdown toss to Jameson Williams. The game felt in the balance for the first time since the first quarter. With the Lions holding all three timeouts, the Vikings had to convert a first down. This is a thing they haven’t often done in recent years. Too often, the Vikings have had to sweat out close wins rather than calmly closing them. On third-and-five, with 1:41 to play, head coach Kevin O’Connell let his young quarterback decide the game. McCarthy threw a beauty to Jalen Nailor for 16 yards. That first down toss allowed McCarthy to seal the win with three kneel-downs.

The difference in the game can be seen the team’s respective rushing performance. 

Vikings:

29 carries

142 yards

4.9 yards/carry

Lions:

20 carries

65 yards

3.3 yards/carry

The Lions have a versatile offense. They can hurt a defense in many ways. It’s their run game with the dynamic duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery that sets up the versatility. Gibbs has been a particularly difficult player for the Vikings defense. Yesterday, he wasn’t. 

Jahmyr Gibbs:

9 carries

25 yards

2.8 yards/carry

David Montgomery:

11 carries

40 yards

3.6 yards/carry

1 TD

Aaron Jones Sr. carried the Vikings run game initially.

9 carries

78 yards

8.7 yards/carry

Unfortunately, he left the game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury. It was Jordan Mason’s game after that. He wasn’t as explosive as Jones but he consistently gained tough yards. 

10 carries

36 yards

3.6 yards/carry

It would’ve been nice to see him punch it into the end zone from a yard out with just over four minutes to play. That probably would’ve sealed the game and made for an even more comfortable final moments. Instead, he was stopped short on first down and O’Connell opted for a McCarthy pass on second down and a McCarthy option attempt on third down. From my comfy couch, I preferred Mason runs on second and third. Scoring was the most important thing and the Vikings settled for the short Will Reichard to provide the winning points. 

Offense, defense, and special teams. The Vikings defeated the Lions in all phases of the game. In Detroit. 

Next up for the Minnesota Vikings, a home date with the Baltimore Ravens.

 

Flea Flicker Week 9 Predictions

It’s Week 9! Here are some guesses at the games. 

Byes: Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions

Pick: Vikings

Of course, it’s the Vikings

Chicago Bears @ Cincinnati Bengals

Pick: Bengals

Picking against the Bears is easy.

Carolina Panthers @ Green Bay Packers

Pick: Panthers

Go Panthers!

Los Angeles Chargers @ Tennessee Titans

Pick: Chargers

The Chargers cruise against a Titans team already looking at next year. 

Atlanta Falcons @ New England Patriots

Pick: Falcons

The Falcons are probably the league’s most unpredictable team. The good Falcons show up for the Patriots. 

San Francisco 49ers @ New York Giants

Pick: 49ers

Without the Giants heart, Cam Skattebo, on the field, the 49ers find a way.

Indianapolis Colts @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Pick: Colts

I keep expecting the surging Colts to come back to reality. That won’t happen against the Steelers.

Denver Broncos @ Houston Texans

Pick: Texans

Sean Payton sucks. 

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Las Vegas Raiders

Pick: Jaguars

Pete Carroll sucks.

New Orleans Saints @ Los Angeles Rams

Pick: Rams

Rams roll.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Buffalo Bills

Pick: Chiefs

Don’t the Bills beat the Chiefs in the regular season but lose in the playoffs? The Chiefs take this regular season game.

Seattle Seahawks @ Washington Commanders

Pick: Seahawks

The Commanders were the surprise team of 2024. 2025 hasn’t been their season.

Arizona Cardinals @ Dallas Cowboys

Pick: Cardinals

The Cowboys fade continues. 

Detroit Lions All - Time Team

For most of my football-following days, the Detroit Lions have been a mere road bump on the NFL schedule. They weren’t very good. They had some nice moments with Barry Sanders making defenses look silly. They had some competitive days when Matthew Stafford was throwing the ball for them. They had Calvin Johnson. Billy Sims. Decades of frustration make their recent ascent feel like an anomaly. All those years of poor teams and frustrations make it hard to believe that the Lions were once a dominant team. They really were. The brilliant Dutch Clark led them to their first NFL title in 1935. They were a force in the 1950s with three more titles. They were once a great and fun team. On the eve of their big game against the Minnesota Vikings, here are some of best players in the complicated history of the Detroit Lions. 

Detroit Lions All - Time Team

Offense

Quarterback 

Bobby Layne

Running Back

Barry Sanders

Fullback

Ace Gutowsky

Tailback

Dutch Clark

Dutch Clark must be on all Detroit Lions All-Time Team.

Wide Receivers

Calvin Johnson

Herman Moore

Tight End

Charlie Sanders

Tackles

Lou Creekmur

Lomas Brown

Guards

Ox Emerson

Dick Stanfel

Center

Alex Wojciechowicz

Defense

Defensive Ends

Al Baker

Robert Porcher

Defensive Tackles

Alex Karras

Roger Brown

Linebackers

Chris Spielman

Joe Schmidt

Wayne Walker

Cornerbacks

Dick “Night Train” Lane

Lem Barney

Safeties

Jack Christiansen

Yale Lary

Special Teams

Kicker

Jason Hanson

Punter

Yale Lary

Kick Returner

Mel Gray

Punt Returner

Jack Christiansen

Minnesota Vikings Injured List

On the injury front, the Minnesota Vikings have had a rocky first seven games of the season. Injuries have  thoroughly thrashed the continuity, consistency, and play of the offensive line. The rebuilt group was a significant reason for team optimism as the season approached. The projected starting five has yet to take a snap together in the seven games. The lack of continuity, consistency, and play of the group is a significant reason starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy missed five games with an ankle injury and backup quarterback Carson Wentz is now done for the season with a shoulder injury. The offensive line isn’t the only position group that’s had to deal with injuries. It’s been a team-wide issue but the offensive line has been especially hard hit. The international travel and short-week demands of a ridiculous, early-season schedule haven’t helped the rest and recovery in dealing with those injuries. All of it is why the Vikings injury report is a must-read every week. On that front, things are looking up as the Vikings prepare for their Week 9 game against the Detroit Lions.

Wednesday

Christian Darrisaw, OT (Knee) - Full Practice

C.J. Ham, FB (Hand) - Did Not Practice

Jeff Okudah, CB (Concussion) - Did Not Practice

Josh Oliver, TE (Foot) - Did Not Practice

Brian O’Neill, OT (Knee) - Limited Practice

Isaiah Rodgers, CB (Shoulder) - Limited Practice

Jonathan Greenard, OLB (Ankle) - Limited Practice

J.J. McCarthy, QB (Ankle) - Full Practice

Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB (Neck) - Full Practice

Thursday

Christian Darrisaw, OT (Knee) - Did Not Practice

C.J. Ham, FB (Hand) - Did Not Practice

Jeff Okudah, CB (Concussion) - Did Not Practice

Josh Oliver, TE (Foot) - Did Not Practice

Brian O’Neill, OT (Knee) - Limited Practice

Isaiah Rodgers, CB (Shoulder) - Limited Practice

Jonathan Greenard, OLB (Ankle) - Full Practice

J.J. McCarthy, QB (Ankle) - Full Practice

Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB (Neck) - Full Practice

Last week’s short week, with a Thursday night game halfway across the country against the Los Angeles Chargers, was the reason Christian Darrisaw played only nine snaps and Brian O’Neill didn’t play at all. Both elite tackles are navigating knee injuries. Both need a full week of maintenance. Two days and a day traveling isn’t enough time for the necessary maintenance. It isn’t close. For that reason, the league’s scheduling and need for Thursday night money impacted the game as much as the Chargers defense. Darrisaw’s injury maintenance has included resting Thursday after practicing Wednesday. So, his “DNP” yesterday isn’t concerning. As for O’Neill, his “LPs” are also part of his injury maintenance. I expect him to play, probably with a brace on his knee. 

The best news of the Vikings injury report this week is the probable availability of outside linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard. Van Ginkel has only played in two games this season. He played the bulk of the season-opener against the Chicago Bears. He played a handful of snaps in the Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. His impact on the Vikings defense can be seen in the two sacks he had in the handful of snaps against the Bengals. He’s an instinctive problem-solver for the team. The strength of the Vikings defense is its versatility and it isn’t the same without Van Ginkel. His return would be a game-changer. Greenard’s availability may never have been in doubt. He was injured late in the Chargers game. After being helped off the field, he jogged to the blue tent. That was a little reassuring. It’s an ankle injury and those can be worrisome. I don’t recall Kevin O’Connell mentioning Greenard in his postgame injury recap so maybe it wasn’t a concern even from the start. Personally, I was concerned until I saw his “FP” yesterday. Having Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard on the field against the Lions would be outstanding. We haven’t seen much of the terrific duo together this season. 

I’m guessing the handling of cornerback Isaiah Rodgers is more precautionary than concerning. At least, that’s what I’m hoping. 

The most concerning injuries on this week’s injury report are those to corner Jeff Okudah and tight end Josh Oliver. Concussions are always concerning and this is Okudah’s second of the season. A second concussion put center Ryan Kelly on injured reserve earlier this season. With a few extra days “gifted” by the Vikings Week 8 Thursday game, perhaps Okudah is cleared before Sunday. But a football game is secondary when dealing with concussions. Simply in terms of game availability, Oliver’s injury is the most concerning. He might be the most underrated player on the team. His versatility, and especially his blocking, is so important to the Vikings offense. Adjustments are plenty when he’s not out there and he won’t be out there against the Lions. Hopefully, his return from the foot injury is quick.

Finally, I can not wait to see J.J. McCarthy back on the field. 

Also, I’ll miss C.J. Ham’s stabilizing presence. There’s something reassuring about #30 being on the field. 

Wentz’s Injury

In another example of media and fans needing a reason to bitch and point fingers, the Minnesota Vikings and especially head coach Kevin O’Connell received a great deal of heat over the handling of injured quarterback Carson Wentz. The injury goes back to the Week 5 game against the Cleveland Browns in London. Just before the half, Wentz injured his left shoulder. The injury was significant enough that he had to leave the game and immediately head to the locker room. Backup Max Brosmer took the final snap of the first half. It felt as if it would not be the day’s final snap for Brosmer. With a separated shoulder, torn labrum, and a broken socket, Wentz returned in the second half and guided his team to a comeback win over the Browns. Even without the injury, it was an inspiring effort. Considering the injury, it was heroic. A separated shoulder, torn labrum, and broken socket sounds serious and is serious. It’s an injury that requires surgery to repair. It’s not a rest and rehab deal. Doctors, trainers, coaches, and Wentz, especially Wentz, decided that it was an injury with which he could play. It’s his non-throwing shoulder and he apparently couldn’t hurt it further. It was a pain deal and whether Wentz could deal with the pain and discomfort that was sure to come. The Week 6 bye did little more than give Wentz time to get used to the pain and discomfort. The injury wasn’t going to get better with rest. A physical game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7 didn’t help and a brutal game on a short week against the Los Angeles Chargers brought an end to Wentz’s season. Whether it’s truly the case, it’s easy to think that Wentz was intentionally carrying the team until J.J. McCarthy was healthy enough to return. If that goal and hope was hatched in the London locker room during halftime of the Browns, it’s a goal and hope Wentz managed to reach. Even though we all knew the severity of his injury, he was greatly criticized for his inconsistent play on the field the past two games. Once we all saw the pain he was experiencing during the brutal game against the Chargers, that criticism was redirected to another target. The heat directed at the team and O’Connell came from Wentz still being on the field in the fourth quarter of a blowout loss to the Chargers. It was apparently a much bigger deal than the blowout loss to the Chargers. 

The fired-up fans and media seemed to ignore the simple fact that Wentz wouldn’t have been on the field if he couldn’t handle the pain and if he didn’t want to be there. Ultimately, playing was his decision. Oh, the critics said that the coach should’ve taken better care of his player, should’ve been the voice of reason to the player’s desire to play. Where was the outrage when rookie guard Donovan Jackson played against the Cincinnati Bengals with a wrist injury from the week before? Team and player knew the injury would require surgery but he played that game. He had the surgery the day after he played against the Bengals. Is it less of a deal because Jackson is a guard and Wentz is the quarterback. Is it because we didn’t see Jackson’s pain splashed across television screens. Who knows? Players play with injuries all the time. Some of those injuries are significant. Some will require surgery. It’s not a normal deal for those that don’t play the game. It is a normal deal for those that do. Wentz said yesterday “I’m not an idiot. I knew what I was doing, going out there. Nobody was forcing me, pressuring me, any of those things.” He knew that his opportunities to play this game are closer to the end than the beginning. Whether for himself or for his team, the pain was less than his desire to play. Anyone that thinks that the Vikings or O’Connell forced Wentz to play is really just looking for a reason to bitch and point fingers. 

Through all of this puzzling outrage from the media and fans, I couldn’t help but think of all of the examples of the same critics romanticizing players that plow through the pain of injuries. Jack Youngblood playing with a broken leg. Emmitt Smith playing through a shoulder injury. This was an injury perhaps similar to that of Wentz and Smith had to use his somewhat useless arm. Ray Lewis playing with a torn triceps. Those three easily come to mind. Each instance of playing through pain might’ve helped each player reach Canton. It certainly didn’t hurt. I can’t recall criticism leveled on the coaches that “forced” each of those players on the field. Injuries will always be an unfortunate part of football. Even with the rules that are intended to make the game more safe, football is a brutal game. It always will be. Players will play with injuries and it’s no one’s fault that they do. 

Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Room

The Minnesota Vikings quarterback room has changed a bit in the past few days. The entire offseason has seen changes in that room. There’s what it was supposed to be. There’s what it was. There’s what it’s become as the Vikings get ready to play the Detroit Lions in Week 9.

When the 2024 season ended, there was a lot of optimism that the Vikings 2025 quarterback room would start with this trio.

J.J. McCarthy 

Daniel Jones

Brett Rypien

As an often overly optimistic Vikings fan, I was certain that the team’s depth would be topped by those two quarterbacks. It was a terrific situation. Unfortunately, the possibility faded early in free agency as Daniel Jones opted for a starting opportunity with the Indianapolis Colts. It was an excellent decision for him and the Colts. It was very disappointing for the Vikings. 

From the time Jones bolted for the Colts and the draft, the Vikings quarterback room numbered two, J.J. McCarthy and Brett Rypien. A veteran was obtained in a draft day trade and a rookie was signed following the draft. Four quarterbacks were brought to training camp.

J.J. McCarthy

Sam Howell

Brett Rypien

Max Brosmer

Through practices and preseason games, undrafted rookie Max Brosmer outplayed veterans Sam Howell and Brett Rypien. Brosmer was a keeper. Howell and Rypien were not. For the third time since the start of the offseason, the Vikings needed a veteran quarterback. They found that veteran quarterback in Carson Wentz. Hindsight is an often unfair thing but it’s a damn shame that the Vikings didn’t sign Wentz months earlier. If they had, maybe, just maybe, they wouldn’t be where they are now. Wentz, with months of preparation in the Vikings system with the Vikings coaches, would be a very different quarterback than the one that took the field in Week 3. That’s not what happened and the Vikings entered the 2025 season with the following quarterbacks. The veteran backup had barely unpacked. 

J.J. McCarthy

Carson Wentz

Max Brosmer

It’s an intriguing group. As the optimist, I was excited for the group. A young quarterback loaded with potential and promise. A solid veteran quarterback. And a poised and intriguing rookie. 

Unfortunately, nothing has gone as hoped with the Vikings quarterbacks this season. Not a lot has gone as hoped with the entire team but that’s a whole other story. J.J. McCarthy exited the Week 2 game against the Atlanta Falcons with an ankle injury. The injury was a week-to-week deal with a month absence a near certainty. After only a couple of weeks with the team, Carson Wentz would be the Vikings quarterback for a few games. It started great with an easy win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3. Things didn’t go great when the Vikings headed overseas for a Week 4 game in Dublin against the Pittsburgh Steelers and a Week 5 game in London against the Cleveland Browns. With a wildly inconsistent, “who’s next?” offensive line in front of him, Wentz was often dodging pass rushers. He came out of the Steelers game with tender ribs. He came out of the Browns game with an even more serious injury. Just before the half, he seriously injured his left shoulder. With a separated shoulder, torn labrum, and a broken socket, Wentz returned in the second half and guided his team to comeback win over the Browns. On the team’s final possession, he was perfect on the drive to a game-winning touchdown toss to Jordan Addison. It’s not a high bar but that drive is probably the highlight moment, so far, of the Vikings season. The past two games against the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers haven’t been so great. With each of those games, the pain Wentz was experiencing became more and more apparent. He put team ahead of pain as he guided the Vikings while McCarthy recovered. Now, Wentz’s season is over. The surgery that he’s needed since the injury will finally happen. 

For the fourth time since the end of last season, the Vikings needed a veteran quarterback. They filled that need this morning with the signing of John Wolford. With three seasons on an active roster, four starts and seven appearances, he is a veteran quarterback. He’s not a very experienced veteran quarterback as he only has twice as many starts as J.J. McCarthy. Most significant in Wolford’s three seasons, all with the Los Angeles Rams, is that two of them were with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell on the coaching staff. O’Connell knows Wolford. That’s a good place to start. Wolford has also experienced training camps with the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and most recently with the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

So, the Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Room now includes the following:

J.J. McCarthy

John Wolford

Max Brosmer

Carson Wentz - injured

Until, John Wolford gets up to speed with his new team, Max Brosmer is certainly the backup to J.J. McCarthy. Hopefully, Brosmer isn’t needed and McCarthy never again has to deal with an injury in his long and ridiculously successful Vikings career. 

Wentz Is Done

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz will have surgery on his left shoulder. The surgery will end his season as the Vikings placed him on injured reserve yesterday. 

Carson Wentz has started the past five games while J.J. McCarthy recovered from an ankle injury. Wentz guided the Vikings to an easy win over the Cincinnati Bengals in his first start in Week 3. Then came the Week 4 and Week 5 international games against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin and Cleveland Browns in London. The Steelers game was a loss. Wentz’s most dynamic moment in his five-game run as the starter was the game-winning drive against the Browns. It was in that game that he suffered the shoulder injury that wouldn’t end his season until three weeks and two games later. Just before the end of the first half against the Browns, Wentz came off the field in obvious pain and discomfort. Rookie Max Brosmer took the final snap of the half and it really looked like he might have to finish the game. It was something of a surprise that Wentz returned in the second half. While he had an up-and-down second half against the Browns, he was brilliant on the final, game-winning drive. The Vikings had a Week 6 bye after the return from overseas. Following the much-needed bye, the Vikings and Wentz struggled in losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers game was a particularly brutal game for Wentz as he was sacked five times and hit repeatedly. His pain was obvious. It was after that game when we learned the severity of the injury he suffered against the Browns. Wentz had been playing through a dislocated shoulder that included a torn labrum and fractured socket. His struggles at times in the Eagles and Chargers games make sense as it took a warrior’s effort to simply suit up for those games. He did all that he could to get the Vikings to McCarthy’s return. 

The Vikings must keep their starting offensive line on the field or Carson Wentz won’t be the last quarterback to need season-ending surgery. Due mostly to the wildly inconsistent lineup of offensive linemen, Vikings quarterbacks have been sacked and hit and an unsustainable rate. That must change and that change must start with this week’s game against the Detroit Lions. One of the biggest reasons for optimism this season was the rebuilt offensive line. The five projected starters have yet to take a snap together. Instead, it’s been a “who’s next” situation at every position but right guard. Will Fries is the only lineman to take every snap. That must change. The offensive line starters must get on the field and stay on the field. If the Vikings are to rebound from their 3-4 start, the team needs offensive line consistency. J.J. McCarthy definitely needs it. 

Get healthy, Carson.