Week 12 Ups and Downs: Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions greets quarterback Case Keenum #7 of the Minnesota Vikings after the Vikings defeated the Lions 30-23 at Ford Field on November 23, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions greets quarterback Case Keenum #7 of the Minnesota Vikings after the Vikings defeated the Lions 30-23 at Ford Field on November 23, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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DETROIT, MI – NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions warms up prior to the start of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on November 23, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions warms up prior to the start of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on November 23, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The bad stuff from Week 12 vs Lions

  1. Running the ball in the first half. Coming into this game, Detroit was giving up a lot of yards on the ground to opposing running backs. However, the combination of McKinnon and Murray weren’t able to take advantage of that, as the Lions appeared focused on stopping the run.
  2. Getting a penalty when trying to draw a penalty. Usually, Joe Berger is one of the most disciplined linemen in the NFL. But the Vikings tried to make the lions jump near their own 40-yard line instead of punting…and the entire resulting play was a mess.
  3. Latavius Murray in the passing game. Minnesota is starting to telegraph their pass plays by bringing McKinnon in, much like what happened when Adrian Peterson was in Minnesota. Murray dropped a pass as well, which is strange to see from a sure-handed team.
  4. Kicking extra points and field goals. Not a good sign when the Lions are blocking kicks at will. Sure, one was a bad hold, but the other was just a defensive lineman shooting right up the gut. Leaving 4 points on the field isn’t something you can do against a team like Detroit.
  5. Letting the Lions back in. Detroit always finds a way to put themselves back in a position to win the game against Minnesota, and that was no different this week. What looked like a dominating Vikings showing turned into one of the tightest games yet for the team this season.

Schedule