In a game that had more twists and turns than a roller-coaster, the Minnesota Vikings snatched victory from the claws of defeat to upend the Detroit Lions 28-24. The Vikings came back from a 10-point deficit, and the outcome of the game was in doubt until the very end.
The game started out for the Lions in much the same way as many of their games have throughout their history. Since the days of Mel Farr and Nick Eddy, the Motor City Kitties have found some of the most unusual and creative ways to lose football games. On the opening drive, they put together an impressive offensive display bringing the ball all of the way down to the Vikings’ 30-yard line.
A Couple of Missed Kicks
On fourth down, Lion’s kicker Austin Seibert entered the game to attempt a very makeable 48-yard kick. Snap and hold are good, and the kick looks like a solid one as it heads for the goalposts. It continues curving to the right, and when it reaches its destination, it doinks off of the right goalpost and bounces back on the field. No good.
The Minnesota Vikings then marched down the field, and after a seven-play drive, kicker Greg Joseph lines up for a 56-yard field goal. He pushes it to the right, and the Lions take possession on their own 38-yard line.
Lions Take the Lead
After a 32-yard run by Detroit running back Jamaal Williams and a 30-yard reception from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown, the Lions bring the ball down to the Minnesota two-yard line. From there, Williams takes care of business, exploding into the end zone to put Detroit up by the score of 7-0.
After a Vikings punt, the Lions’ go on the march again. After a nice pass/run mix drive, the Lions score their second touchdown of the game on a short five-yard toss from Goff to tight end T.J. Hockenson. Detroit is now leading 14-0, and the US Bank Stadium crowd had grown awfully quiet.
Minnesota Vikings Launch a Comeback
From undrafted to 50 career receiving TDs @athielen19 ??
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 26, 2022
?: https://t.co/NqlQA1rj9r pic.twitter.com/6lWgqtMfCZ
But the Minnesota Vikings stormed back and scored two touchdowns in an explosive second quarter. The key play of the first drive was a 17-yard reception by tight end Irv Smith to the Lions’ 20-yard line. Five plays later, Kirk Cousins hits Adam Thielen with a one-yard touchdown pass to cut the Lions’ lead in half. This was a milestone catch for Thielen as it constituted his 50th NFL touchdown reception.
After Detroit lost the ball on downs, the Vikings executed a 10-play drive that culminated in a nifty little four-yard run by Dalvin Cook, and suddenly the game was tied. A possession by both teams yielded nothing, and the score remained 14-14 at halftime.
The Minnesota Vikings Fall Flat
The third quarter of this game is one that the Minnesota Vikings would like to forget forever. After they were forced to punt on their first possession of the half, the Lions pounced on the opportunity. First, they put together a 10-play drive that ended in a Seibert 40-yard field goal. Next, the Vikings kicked away an opportunity.
Minnesota methodically moved down the field until they were stopped on the Detroit 38-yard line. Once again, Joseph trotted out to kick the game-tying field goal. And once again, he pushed the ball to the left.
Detroit made them pay dearly for their miscue. The Lions moved rapidly down the field, with the highlight being a 26-yard pass reception by Josh Reynolds. Jamaal Williams then ran around the right end to torch the Vikings with a 13-yard touchdown run. The Lions were now up by 10.
On the next possession, the Minnesota Vikings experienced the double whammy. Not only does Dalvin Cook lose the football. But to make matters worse, he is also driven from the game with a shoulder injury. The silence in the stadium then gave way to a steady chorus of boos.
The Vikings Come Back
.@AlexMattison22 doesn’t care about your contact ?
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 25, 2022
?: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/59KgCSab5V
After three possessions where neither team could move the ball, the Vikings made their move. Cousins distributed the ball to several receivers, principally Thielen and tight end Johnny Mundt as steadily directed down the field. Then on the ninth play of the drive, Cousins handed the ball to Alexander Mattison, who was in for the injured Cook.
Mattison showed grit and determination as he carried several Lions with him on the way to a six-yard touchdown run. This left Detroit with a slim 24-21 lead with just under eight minutes left in the game.
Detroit then executed a drive that could easily have brought them the win. They rolled the Minnesota Vikings up on an 11-play drive, and it looked like they might salt the game away at this point. With just over three minutes left in the game, the Lions’ coach Dan Campbell took a chance with the ball sitting on the Vikings’ 30-yard line and facing fourth down.
Instead of sending Seibert out to attempt another field goal, he decided to go for it. The play sent Williams off right tackle, where he was promptly stopped by Danielle Hunter and Eric Kendricks. On the Lions’ next possession, Seibert attempted a 54-yard field goal that would have extended the Detroit lead to six. The Lions’ luck struck again as he pushed the ball to the right, thus setting up the climatic final drive by the Vikings.
Big Finish
We freaking like that.@KirkCousins8 @KJ_Osborn
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 25, 2022
?: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/Ca0DGAgQdP
So, with just over a minute left in the game, Kirk Cousins strode onto the field to give his best Tom Brady imitation. After an incomplete pass intended for K.J. Osborn, he looked Osborn’s way again and found him 28 yards downfield to bring the ball down to the Detroit 28-yard line.
So, would coach Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings offense play it safe and attempt to tie the game with a field goal to send the festivities into overtime? Minnesota answered the question swiftly and boldly on the next play. Cousins sent Osborn deep right, and he slipped past former Vikings cornerback Mike Hughes to snare the winning touchdown.
Goff and the Lions had one more chance to win the game. He heaved a Hail Mary pass downfield that was intercepted by safety Josh Metellus who was subbing for the injured Harrison Smith. Game, set, match.
The Minnesota Vikings next travel to London to play the New Orleans Saints next Sunday. Cook’s status for the game has not been determined, but they hope to have Harrison Smith back from concussion protocol. The win against the Lions was not pretty, but the team did show it could overcome a fourth-quarter deficit. This experience will serve them well as they battle for the NFC North Division title.
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