Vikings’ Reign in the NFC North Comes to an End
Following their bye week, the Minnesota Vikings played host to the Detroit Lions in Week 7.
The game would determine not only who led the NFC North at the end of the weekend, but also who held the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Ultimately, the Vikings were unable to hold onto their undefeated record, falling to the Lions for the fifth time in their last six meetings by a score of 31-29.
Here are five takeaways following the loss.
1. The Failed Two-Point Conversion
If one play is going to stand out at the end of this game, it’s going to be the failed two-point conversion that the Vikings had following Ivan Pace’s fumble recovery TD. Sam Darnold’s pass to Jordan Addison harmlessly hit the ground, and instead of a three-point lead heading into the final minutes of the fourth quarter, it was just a one-point advantage.
That allowed Jake Bates’ field goal to be a game-winner for Detroit rather than a game-tying kick. The two-point conversion failure won’t be remembered if the Vikings get back on track in the coming weeks, but for now, it is the only “what if” of Minnesota’s season to this point.
2. Van Ginkel/Greenard Continue to Dominate
Despite the loss, Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel continue to prove to be well worth the contracts that the Vikings gave them this spring. The duo dominated up front once again in Week 7, combining for four tackles for loss, three sacks, and a pair of passes defended in the loss.
The duo not only has 10 sacks to their names over the first six games of Minnesota’s season, but they have opened up pass rush lanes for players like Pat Jones, who brought plenty of pressure against Jared Goff this weekend as well.
3. Aaron Jones Returns at Full Force
There were questions as to whether or not Aaron Jones would be ready to go this weekend as he continued to recover from a hamstring injury that he suffered in Week 5. Even if he was able to play, how productive would he be?
Well, Jones’ hamstring seemed to cause no issues on Sunday as he put together another outstanding game with 14 carries for 93 yards (6.6 yards per carry) and a touchdown. Jones has opened things up for Minnesota’s rushing attack all season, and they will need him down the stretch if they want to make a deep playoff run.
4. Defense Truly Falters for the First Time
The Vikings’ defense largely has been outstanding through its first five games, but they had major troubles stopping Detroit’s offense even with a touchdown from Pace and strong showings from Greenard and Van Ginkel.
The Vikings allowed 30+ points for the first time this season, and Detroit averaged a very efficient seven yards per play. Jared Goff threw just three incompletions on the afternoon, and the dynamic duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery proved a challenge for Minnesota’s run defense that had been stout all season.
5. No Need to Panic
Despite some struggles, the Vikings showed that they can compete with the class of the NFC. Remember, Minnesota already toppled last season’s NFC champs by defeating the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2, and now, they were a play or two away from beating the Lions, who also participated in last year’s NFC Championship Game.
The Vikings showed great poise by overcoming a double-digit fourth quarter deficit and should only get better in the coming weeks as well when T.J. Hockenson officially makes his return from injury. The loss is disappointing, yes, but it should not damper any fans’ hopes for the rest of the season.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via ESPN and Pro Football Reference.
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