The Viking Age
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Minnesota Vikings Best and Worst: Week 14 vs. Detroit Lions

By Adam Carlson

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 08: Minnesota Vikings Running Back Dalvin Cook (33) leaps into the endzone after a 3-yard run for a 2nd quarter touchdown during a game between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings on December 8, 2019 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 08: Minnesota Vikings Running Back Dalvin Cook (33) leaps into the endzone after a 3-yard run for a 2nd quarter touchdown during a game between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings on December 8, 2019 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 08: Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs #14 catches the ball against the Detroit Lions in the first half at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

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It was awesome watching the Minnesota Vikings defense work against the Lions in this game. Aside from late in the fourth quarter, the team rendered the Detroit offense ineffective in both running and passing the ball, forcing seven punts.

The Lions ran 67 plays in the game and gained only 231 yards of offense. They averaged only 3.6 yards per pass and 3.2 yards per carry, giving the Vikings a lot of confidence in their ability to hold the line and limit yards after the catch.

Here are some other good things to come out of Week 14 for the Minnesota Vikings:

  • Big catches from Diggs. Do you need some clutch plays? Well, Stefon Diggs is your man. Whether it was a 44-yard bomb or a sideline pass to pick up a first down, Kirk Cousins can trust him to make necessary adjustments to haul in passes. With Adam Thielen sidelined, it’s great to see him step up.
  • Up and over! One of the most exciting (and dangerous) plays in the NFL comes when a player goes airborne to try to gain a few extra yards. Thank goodness Alexander Mattison is a former track and field star who ran hurdles because he needed every inch of his jump to leap over a defender.
  • Perfection. Dan Bailey has been great this season and his efficiency continued in this game. He made both his extra point tries and knocked through two field goals, one from 50 yards out. It is nice fans shouldn’t have to hold their breath when the Vikings kick…but we probably still should.
  • It’s a pick party! While the front of the defense was getting sacks, the back end was cashing in on those pressures. Safeties Harrison Smith and Andrew Sendejo each grabbed an interception, with Sendejo’s coming in the final moments to ice the game for the Vikings.
  • Spreading the ball around. Kirk Cousins connected with 11 different players during this game. Sure, Diggs was his top target with nine passes coming his way, but having the time to survey the field and find open receivers is so valuable. For now, we’ll just forget about that ugly play that resulted in a Garrett Bradbury reception.
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