Vikings Stunned By Lions At Final Buzzer

3. Offense struggles on 3rd-and-longs

Ask any NFL coach, and they will say the key to getting a win is avoiding third-and-longs on offense.

Minnesota didn’t do that, and couldn’t convert in the tough spots against Detroit.

The Vikings were 6-for-13 overall on the down, but they spent much of the day well behind the sticks.

Minnesota faced eight different scenarios where it was third-and-7 or longer, converting just one of them. There were six times where the Vikings had third-and-10 or longer.

Detroit’s offense was just 2-for-11 on third downs. The Lions started the game 0-fer on their first eight tries, but moved the sticks on two tries (a third-and-10 and a third-and-6) during the final drive to eventually get a win.

4. A rough end to the first half

The Vikings have struggled for much of the season, especially defensively, in the final two minutes of the first half.

That trend continued Sunday, as Minnesota couldn’t execute in the final 120 seconds before halftime.

Trailing 14-6, the Vikings allowed a 77-yard drive before the Lions kicked a 31-yard field goal.

Minnesota then took the ball and drove into Detroit territory, but turned the ball over on downs as Cousins was sacked on fourth-and-10 at the Lions 42-yard line.

Detroit then took possession and was able to drive for another field goal, this one coming from 41 yards out by Riley Patterson, who spent part of the 2021 offseason program with Minnesota.

The Vikings defense has now allowed a league-worst 72 points in the final two minutes of the first half this season.

5. Vikings unveil new-look offensive line

Minnesota shuffled up its big boys up front against the Lions.

Olisaemeka Udoh, who had started all 11 games at right guard, moved to left tackle. (Rookie Christian Darrisaw was out with an ankle injury.)

Garrett Bradbury jumped back into the starting lineup at center, with Mason Cole shifting to right guard. Cole had started the past four games at center.

Ezra Cleveland (left guard) and Brian O’Neill (right tackle) manned their usual spots.