The win pushed the Vikings record to 9-2. The loss dropped the Lions to 6-5. The Vikings have a three-game lead in the division with five games to play.
There were a few moments during this game in which it looked like the Vikings were going to simply dismantle the Lions. The Vikings jumped to a 13-0 lead before the Lions had even earned a single first down. The Vikings twice pushed their lead to 17 points. The second 17-point lead was achieved on the opening drive of the second half. The Vikings ran the ball four times for 75 yards.
-Latavius Murray for 46 yards
-Jerick McKinnon for 16 yards
-McKinnon for 11 yards
-Murray for 2 yards and a touchdown.
The Vikings offense didn't see a second down on the drive as they pushed the score to 27-10. It was a simply dominating drive after the Lions had ended the first half with some momentum. It looked like the sort of drive that can take the "want-to" out of a team. The Lions could've headed that way but they didn't. This team is a nuisance. Especially against the Vikings.
Throughout his career, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has always hovered on the outside of the game's elite quarterbacks. That's mostly due to his team's lack of wins since he entered the league. Quarterbacks always get too much credit, or blame, for wins, or losses. Stafford's one of the most talented throwers in the game. Few, if any, can rival his arm, nerve, and confidence. His late game heroics were the reason for his team's playoff appearance last year. Two of those late game heroics came against the Vikings. Those two wins put the Lions in the playoffs and kept the Vikings out. Yesterday, it looked like he might bring his team back again. An ankle injury suffered on a 43-yard touchdown heave to Marvin Jones Jr. might've been the thing that kept Stafford from rallying his team once again. On the Lions two possessions following the injury, he completed three of six passes for seven yards. His completions were dump-offs. His downfield throws were off target. His final throw was intercepted. I'd like to think that it was the Vikings defense that squashed the hopes of the Lions but the balky ankle had to play a role. It was likely a bit of both.
For the game, Stafford was 20/35 for 250 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.
Speaking of quarterbacks. Vikings quarterback Case Keenum played well again. He was even given a heavy, golden football by the FOX folks as the Player of the Game. He seemed surprised by the award but not by his performance. He's playing with a lot of confidence and he's playing a lot like a kid on a playground. There's an energy to his play and his teammates are responding to it. He and this offense is fun to watch. His second-quarter, 22-yard touchdown throw to Kyle Rudolph under heavy pressure was a beauty.
For the game, Keenum was 21/30 for 282 yards, and two touchdowns. The more important Keenum stat is the Vikings 7-2 record with him as the starting quarterback. His second half relief appearance against the Chicago Bears in Week 5 nudges that record to 8-2.
The Vikings 4-play, 75-yard drive to open the second half was very impressive. So was their first drive of the game. 14 plays, 80 yards, 6:59. It ended with a one-yard Keenum-Rudolph touchdown toss. They converted three third downs in a steady, efficient drive.
It looked like the Lions might've noticed something on film in the Vikings place-kicking execution. They blocked two kicks with heavy pressure up the middle. The Vikings first extra-point attempt was blocked, their second was nearly blocked, and a 53-yard field goal attempt was blocked. That's not good. Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer has 10 days to get that figured out. Place-kicking has been a big enough concern this season without something more added to it.
The officiating was suspect in this game. Two obvious missed penalties might've played a role if the Lions had been able to complete their late rally. On the blocked extra point, a Lions rusher had his hands in the face mask of guard Joe Berger to the extent that Berger's helmet flew off and rolled across the field. A helmet rolling around on the field is usually a pretty good sign that something happened that shouldn't. It was an obvious penalty that was missed. A more blatant officiating miss occurred on the Vikings second possession of the second half. Keenum threw deep to Stefon Diggs. One Lions defender, without looking back for the ball, simply ran into Diggs. Another Lions defender, without looking back for the ball, made illegal contact about the head and neck of Diggs. Either penalty could've and should've been called. The Vikings should've had a 1st-and-10 inside the Lions 20-yard line. That's a nice setup for the Vikings to score a second consecutive touchdown and boost their lead to 21 points. Instead, the silent officials gave the Lions momentum and their rally was triggered. At officiating clinics in the offseason, a clip of this play could be used as Exhibit A and Exhibit B of your classic NFL pass interference penalties. If you ever have a doubt as to what pass interference looks like, take a look at this play. It was that obvious and it wasn't called. It was astonishing. A lot of flags were thrown in this game. 17 total penalties were accepted. It's amazing that two of the easiest penalties to call were ignored. It's a very good thing that they didn't impact the outcome of the game.
And, the taunting penalty called on Keenum was pathetic.
More puzzling officiating came on a supposed touchdown catch by Lions tight end Darren Fells. It was ruled a touchdown on the field. The play was supposedly reviewed because that's what the officials are supposed to do when a team scores a touchdown. Who knows what they did this time? The Lions were lining up to kick the extra point when the officials called time and did what they were supposed to do as soon as Fells supposedly scored a touchdown. It felt as if the officials wanted so much for the touchdown to stand that they were reluctant to see that it didn't. The replay clearly showed that Fells trapped the ball on the ground. At least the officials eventually got the call correct but what the hell were they doing to get there? The Lions had to settle for a field goal.
That's way too much bitching about the officiating in a game that the Vikings won.
Some team stats:
Time of possession
Vikings 34:57
Lions: 25:03
Total yards
Vikings 408
Lions 289
Passing yards
Vikings 272
Lions 236
Rushing yards
Vikings 136
Lions 53
-55% of the Vikings rushing yards came on that dominating 75-yard drive to open the second half.
Turnovers
Vikings 0
Lions 2
There'll be more chatter about the Vikings offense in this game than their defense. That's unfortunate as the defense played well. They had three sacks, a fumble recovery, and a game-sealing interception. Those are modest "splashy" numbers. The fumble recovery gave the Vikings offense terrific field position for a quick score. The interception gave the offense the opportunity to run out the clock for the win. Perhaps the thing that the Vikings defense did best was make every yard that the Lions gained difficult. The Lions had four three-and-outs, a two-and-fumble, and four-and-interception. The Lions had 11 possessions and they were completely shut down on six of them. The Lions had to settle for field goals on three of their best drives.
Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen had his streak of eight consecutive games with a sack snapped last week. He got back on the sack stat sheet with two take-downs of Stafford. That gives Griffen 12 sacks for the season.
Vikings receiver Adam Thielen had eight catches for 89 yards. He's had at least five catches in every game this season. The 89 yards pushed his season total to 1,005. He's the first Vikings receiver to crack 1,000 yards since Sidney Rice did so in 2009. That's a long drought for a team with a strong receiver tradition.
Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo really needs to learn how to wrap up on his tackles. Too often, he flies recklessly into contact. He missed a tackle yesterday because he hit rather than wrap. Sometimes he does this helmet-first which isn't good for anyone. He's already been suspended for a game for helmet-to-helmet hits. The next one could be even more severe. And I'm not talking about another suspension. Fortunately no one's been seriously hurt by one of Sendejo's torpedo runs.
The Lions selected Florida linebacker Jarrad Davis in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Each time I see him play I come away more impressed. If defensive end Ziggy Ansah can stay healthy the Lions have several talented playmakers at each level of their defense. Ansah, and interior players A'Shawn Robinson and Akeem Spence on the line. Davis and Tahir Whitehead (although Kyle Rudolph got the best of him for a touchdown) at linebacker. Darius Slay and Glover Quin in the secondary. The Lions have a young, talented, and improving defense and Davis is right in the middle of it.
Maybe it's just me but Lions head coach Jim Caldwell often looks quite surprised to be on the sideline of an NFL game.
The Vikings now have a "mini-bye" to prepare for their Week 12 game against the surging Atlanta Falcons.
***
Thanksgiving Day Game 2
Los Angeles Chargers 28
Los Angeles Chargers 28
Dallas Cowboys 6
This was the second consecutive game in which the Cowboys saw a close, competitive game in the first half get out of hand in the second half. Against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday and the Chargers yesterday, the Cowboys looked like they were running in mud in the second half as both opponents pulled away.
It's stunning how inefficient the Cowboys offense has been without Ezekiel Elliott.
It's stunning how inefficient the Cowboys offense has been without Ezekiel Elliott.
It was a good Thanksgiving for former Cal receivers.
Marvin Jones Jr., Lions: 6 catches 109 yards, 2 TDs (43,6)
Keenan Allen, Chargers: 11 catches 172 yards, 1 TD (42)
I often saw Jones and Allen have games like this for Cal. This is especially true of Allen. Cal was rarely the best team on the field during his three, wish that it was four, years in Berkeley but he was always the best football player on the field.
I often saw Jones and Allen have games like this for Cal. This is especially true of Allen. Cal was rarely the best team on the field during his three, wish that it was four, years in Berkeley but he was always the best football player on the field.
Thanksgiving Day Game 3
New York Giants 10
Washington Redskins 20
For a while it didn't look like either team wanted to do much scoring. 3-3 at the half. 10-10 after three quarters. The Redskins new triplets set of Kirk Cousins, Samaje Perine, and Jamison Crowder did some good things.
The Giants offense is so severely hampered by injuries to their playmakers and an ineffective offensive line that they are painful to watch.
Week 12 continues on Sunday.
New York Giants 10
Washington Redskins 20
For a while it didn't look like either team wanted to do much scoring. 3-3 at the half. 10-10 after three quarters. The Redskins new triplets set of Kirk Cousins, Samaje Perine, and Jamison Crowder did some good things.
The Giants offense is so severely hampered by injuries to their playmakers and an ineffective offensive line that they are painful to watch.
Week 12 continues on Sunday.
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