Leading the Detroit Lions by a score of 29-28 with 4:16 left in regulation on Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings needed their offense to just get one first down, and the team likely would've been able to walk off the field with a 6-0 record.
Instead, the Vikings went three-and-out and were forced to punt the ball back to the Lions. Detroit's offense then proceeded to drive 44 yards and eventually kick the game-winning field goal to give Minnesota its very first loss of the 2024 season.
Unfortunately, this late-game mishap by the Vikings is something that has taken place more than once during the team's tenure with Kevin O'Connell as the head coach, and ultimately, it's what cost Minnesota the victory on Sunday.
Poor late-game decision making by Kevin O'Connell causes Minnesota Vikings to lose to the Detroit Lions in Week 7
This isn't the first time the Vikings have struggled to run the clock out on offense in a game this season, but it is the first time it's resulted in a loss for the team.
Minnesota did something similar during its Week 4 win over the Green Bay Packers. Leading 31-22 with a little over six minutes left in the fourth quarter of the contest, the Vikings could have easily kept the ball for the remainder of the game by getting one or two first downs.
Instead, Minnesota's offense went three-and-out, and the ball went right back to the Packers, who had already scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Luckily, the Vikings still managed to escape Green Bay with a two-point victory, but the result didn't have to be so close.
Minnesota's offense and O'Connell's play-calling always seem to come out firing every week this season. But, for whatever reason, the third-year head coach still struggles with calling the right plays in order for the Vikings to close out games.
Now, O'Connell was certainly not the only reason Minnesota lost to Detroit on Sunday, as the Vikings' defense allowed the Lions to average 7.0 yards per play on offense during the game, and seven of the eight penalties Minnesota was flagged for were thrown while the team was on offense.
Detroit is also a very good football team, and there's a reason why they are now in the top spot in the NFC North after this weekend's victory over the Vikings.
But Minnesota still has a lot of games left on its 2024 schedule and plenty of time to get things under control to remain in contention for not only the top spot in their division, but the top spot in the NFC as well.