10 quick thoughts on the Vikings loss to the Lions in Week 14

We learned why the Minnesota Vikings were underdogs in Week 14 as they suffered a loss to Detroit Lions on Sunday.

We knew that the Minnesota Vikings probably weren’t going to win all of their remaining five games this season. However, the hope was that the Vikings would still be able to get the job done in Week 14 against the Detroit Lions.

Instead, the Lions proved that they’re no longer the Lions of old, and they left Ford Field on Sunday with a victory over Minnesota. With a 10-3 record now, the Vikings still have a tight grip on their lead in the NFC North, but they let an opportunity to clinch the division title slip through their hands this weekend.

We’ll have a more detailed look at everything that took place in Detroit on Sunday in the near future, but what are some of the initial takeaways from the Vikings‘ third loss of the 2022 season?

Quick thoughts on the Vikings loss to the Lions

Defense deserves most of the blame for this loss: Heading into Sunday, Minnesota did have an impressive 10-2 record, but they were surprisingly the underdog to the 5-7 Lions. The Vikings’ defense proved why many still have doubts about this team this season.

Minnesota’s defense had no answer for the Detroit offense on Sunday. The Lions finished with 34 points and 464 yards, which means that the Vikings have allowed at least 400 total yards to their opponent in their last five games. That is abysmal, and something needs to be fixed fast.

Jefferson still came to play: For as much as Minnesota’s defense deserves the blame for Sunday’s result, Justin Jefferson deserves zero percent of the blame for the loss to the Lions.

Jefferson had himself a career performance, hauling in 11 passes for 223 yards against Detroit. His 223 receiving yards are the most ever in by a Vikings player in a single regular-season game.

More rapid thoughts from Minnesota’s loss to Detroit

Cook put a Detroit defender on skates: Lined up on the Lions’ one-yard line during their second offensive drive of the game, the Vikings decided to pitch the ball out to the left side of the line to running back Dalvin Cook.

Lions safety DeShon Elliot had a good opportunity to tackle Cook, but the Minnesota running back decided to juke the defender out of his shoes for an easy touchdown instead.

Hockenson showered with boos: Despite the fact that he never asked to be traded by Detroit earlier this season, fans inside Ford Field still decided to boo every time Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson touched the ball on Sunday.

Apparently, Lions fans feel betrayed by Hockenson because their favorite team decided to trade him to a division rival.

Vikings begin second half in familiar fashion: For whatever reason, Minnesota has struggled mightily in the third quarter this season, especially during their first offensive possession.

This continued on Sunday as the Vikings’ offense was off the field after just three plays during their first drive of the third quarter. This was the seventh time this season that Minnesota’s first offensive possession of the second half resulted in a 3-and-out.

O’Connell opts to go for two: After Adam Thielen hauled in a touchdown pass in the middle of the third quarter to cut the Vikings’ double-digit deficit, Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell decided to attempt a two-point conversion to shrink Detroit’s lead to just six points instead of kicking the extra point and cutting their lead to seven.

It seems like O’Connell’s decision had to do with the Vikings getting better odds to win the game in regulation instead of tying the matchup and giving the Lions’ a chance to win in overtime. A bit confusing at the time the decision was made, but probably the correct choice.

Even more rapid thoughts from Minnesota’s loss to Detroit

Cousins continues to love playing in Michigan: Whenever it’s time for Kirk Cousins to travel to Detroit each season, he typically plays some of his best football. Since 2018, Cousins has thrown 12 touchdowns and no interceptions while averaging more than 330 passing yards per contest during his games played inside Ford Field with the Vikings.

On Sunday, the Vikings quarterback threw for 425 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions to finish with a 124.5 passer rating. For Cousins, his 425 passing yards are tied for the most he’s thrown in a single regular-season game in a Minnesota uniform.

Lions are heading in the right direction: Going up against a 10-2 Vikings team, Sunday was a chance for the 5-7 Lions to prove that they’re beginning to figure things out in their second season under head coach Dan Campbell.

With their victory over Minnesota on Sunday, Detroit has now won five of their last six games, and they still have a chance to make the playoffs this season. No matter how things turn out for the Lions during the next few weeks, they should definitely be a team who can challenge the Vikings for the top of the NFC North in 2023.

No. 1 seed likely out of reach now: With their loss to Detroit and the Philadelphia Eagles defeating the New York Giants on Sunday, any hope of Minnesota finishing the season as the No. 1 seed in the NFC is now highly unlikely.

The Vikings would need to win each of their remaining four games and hope that the Eagles lose three of their final four matchups. With the way that Philadelphia has been performing all season long, the chances are very low that they will lose three of their next four games.

So if Minnesota is hoping to make the Super Bowl this season, the road to accomplishing that goal will likely have to go through Philadelphia.

Back inside U.S. Bank next weekend: The Vikings will have one less day to prepare for their next game in Week 15 against the Indianapolis Colts, as the matchup will take place next Saturday at 12 p.m. central time inside U.S. Bank Stadium.

With the Colts losing six of their last seven matchups, it should be a great opportunity for Minnesota to get back on track as they inch closer to the playoffs.