7 takeaways from the Vikings win over the Lions in Week 14

Defense gets back on track

For the past few weeks, Minnesota’s defense has been almost unrecognizable. Especially when it’s come to the play of their secondary.

But on Sunday, the woeful Lions proved to be the perfect prescription to get the Vikings back to playing at the high level that many have become accustomed to from them during the last few seasons.

Minnesota held Detroit to just 231 total yards on Sunday, the second-fewest amount the Vikings have given up all year long. Minnesota also finished with five sacks and forced the Lions to commit two turnovers.

Did it help that the Vikings were facing a Detroit offense that had a rookie quarterback in David Blough making the first-ever road start of his career? Sure, but playing against a backup or an inexperienced passer has never amounted to a guaranteed victory for Minnesota this year (See Week 4 and Week 11).

This time though, the Vikings didn’t play down to their competition and their defense propelled them to an easy win over the Lions.