Category: 2022 Week 14 @ Detroit

Kevin O’Connell: Kirk Cousins tried to will us to victory

Despite the result, the Vikings got a star performance from their quarterback

The Minnesota Vikings were bound to lose another game over the last five weeks with three divisional opponents all on the road, but the way they lost 34-23 to the Detroit Lions felt more disheartening than anything.

The defense played poorly and the offense tried to find a way to get the victory. They even came close in doing so, as they stayed within a score until the last minute of the game.

The offense tried to carry the team on their back but it just wasn’t enough. Postgame, head coach Kevin O’Connell spoke on quarterback Kirk Cousins trying to will the team to a victory at Ford Field.

“He was attempting to will our football team to a victory,” O’Connell said of Cousins. “Justin’s adjustments he made since the last time he played against these guys, I thought he played incredibly fast and explosive and Kirk was right there with him every step of the way. I am really proud of those guys and I think that will help us continue to help us moving forward. We did a lot of different things today in the pass game to kind of have a plan of attack based off of what we saw the last time [against the Lions]. Pair that with a little bit better of a day running the football and I think that [puts us] offensively in a place where we feel like we can compete.”

This is a far cry from the Cousins that we have seen in years past. He is the catalyst behind the success of this team and having a star player like Justin Jefferson to throw to is certainly huge for this team.

He was also way better over expected on Sunday with a completion percentage 17.5 percentage points over his CPOE which ranked as the fifth-highest total this season.

The Vikings are lucky to have Cousins this season, as he is playing great football and keeping this team in games.

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Studs & Duds from Vikings 34-23 Week 14 loss vs. Lions

The Vikings did not have a lot of great performances

Things did not go the Vikings way at all on Sunday afternoon. They lost to the Detroit Lions by a score of 34-23 and it wsn’t very fun.

The Lions took a slower, more methodical approach to take over the game, but they were able to get it accomplished. The Vikings had chances to both stay in the game and even take control, but they made too many mistakes.

It’s also fair to note that the Vikings were without three of their starters and it showed early and often. Here are the week 14 studs and duds.

Justin Jefferson sets personal and Vikings’ record on Sunday

Jefferson set another team record on Sunday

Things didn’t go the way the Minnesota Vikings wanted them to. Their injuries and poor execution led to their 34-23 loss on Sunday.

While plenty did go wrong for the Vikings on Sunday, they still had a huge bright spot in superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

In the first matchup between the two teams, the Lions did everything they could to stop Jefferson from beating them and it worked. They held him to just three receptions for 14 yards.

This Sunday was a different story, as Jefferson was way more effective, catching 11 passes for a both career high and Vikings’ team record 223 yards.

The previous high for Jefferson was earlier this season against the Buffalo Bills when he notched 193 yards. The long-standing team record of 210 yards held by Sammy White, who set the record in November of 1976.

This isn’t the first, nor will it be the last time Jefferson sets a team record.

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Injuries, lack of execution doom Vikings in Week 14 loss vs. Lions

This was the game analysts feared was coming

The Vikings couldn’t get out of their own way and, along with too many injuries, cost them in Detroit. The Minnesota Vikings suffered their first loss within the division on Sunday by a score of 34-23 to the Detroit Lions

The game early on was more of a back-and-forth, but mistakes from the Vikings ended up being costly. The Lions were ahead 14-7 at the half due to the Vikings getting a little too cute and trying a running back jump pass. Unfortunately, Dalvin Cook fumbled and the Vikings didn’t get another touchdown until there was 2:49 left in the fourth quarter. By that point, it was too late. The Lions found a way to convert too many third and fourth downs

Jared Goff was an excellent distributor on Sunday. He saw the field well and was accurate in doing so. He completed 27/39 for 330 yards and three touchdowns.

The running game for the Lions also came up big for them, but no play was bigger than C.J. Moore’s 42-yard fake punt run. That extended the Lions drive which resulted in a touchdown.

The Vikings’ offense was still effective, as quarterback Kirk Cousins was really good throughout. The big plays didn’t happen consistently but Cousins stood in the pocket and found receivers down the field. He finished 30/40 for 400 yards and two touchdowns.

The real star of the game was Justin Jefferson. He broke out in a big way with some monster numbers. Jefferson finished with 11 catches for 223 yards, which is a new career high and first time topping the 200-yard mark in his young, brilliant career. It also sets the Vikings’ team record for yards in a game as well.

The Vikings got within eight points after a touchdown pass to K.J. Osborn with just under three minutes remaining, but the key play of the game came on a third and seven coming out of the two minute warning. They lined up with four players lined up out wide with right tackle Penei Sewell lined up to the far left.

Sewell motioned to the right and like a split-zone play action, Goff found Sewell in the flat for the conversion. The game was essentially over at that point, as the Lions got a field goal to go up 11 with 17 seconds left.

The biggest factor for the Vikings was missing those three key starters. The offensive like struggled with keeping a consistent pocket for Cousins and the safeties made a huge miscommunication blunder.

This loss is frustrating, but also reminiscent of why the analytical models had this team being frauds. They didn’t have all the swing plays go their way and made uncharacteristic mental mistakes.

Up next is the Indianapolis Colts whom the Vikings will host this upcoming Saturday.

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WATCH Vikings’ Dalvin Cook jukes defender to the 5th dimension

Dalvin Cook had himself a banner play

After the Vikings busted a coverage in the secondary to allow Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams to score his first touchdown, they evened the score.

The Vikings drove 75 yards in 10 plays but they got some help. The Vikings received two first downs via penalty, including a pass interference in the end zone.

The play itself was one that the Vikings have had success with so far this season. It’s essentially a misdirection pitch to create a one on one on the outside with the running back usually winning the corner and get a score.

The score also showed Dalvin Cook’s elusiveness, where he juked Lions defender DeShon Elliott out of his shoes.

Twitter reacts to Jameson Williams’ touchdown on blown coverage

This wasn’t the start Vikings’ fans were hoping for

The Minnesota Vikings made the decision to trade down 20 picks with the Detroit Lions in the 2022 NFL draft. When it happened, there were a lot of detractors due to trading with a division rival and the fact that it was for explosive wide receiver Jameson Williams.

Going into Sunday’s game, it was a huge talking point and storyline. On the Lions second drive, Williams not only caught his first pass in the National Football Leauge, but it was a touchdown.

Needless to say both allowing a touchdown to Williams and it being on a blown coverage had Vikings fans furious and they went to Twitter to voice their displeasure.

Vikings vs. Lions inactives have some heavy star power

The Vikings will be without multiple starters on Sunday

The Minnesota Vikings will be going into Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions the most short-handed they have been this season.

Late Saturday night, The Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling reported that both left tackle Christian Darrisaw and safety Harrison Smith wouldn’t start and it came out Sunday morning that both wouldn’t play. Blake Brandel and Josh Metellus will start in their places.

Center Garrett Bradbury will also be missing the game due to a back injury. Austin Schlottmann will get his first start as a Minnesota Viking.

Along with that, rookies defensive end Esezi Otomewo and tackle Vederian Lowe will dress for the first time.

Ross Blacklock will miss a second-consecutive game, but this appears to be a healthy scratch and not from the same illness that kept him out last week.

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Vikings make multiple roster moves, activate Cameron Dantzler from IR

The Vikings starting cornerback will return on Sunday

The Minnesota Vikings have made a roster move before every game either activating a player or placing a player on injured reserve. They continued that trend on Saturday with multiple roster moves, including activating cornerback Cameron Dantzler from injured reserve

Dantzler suffered a high ankle sprain against the Washington Commanders in week 11 and was placed on injured reserve relatively quickly.

Defensive end Jonathan Bullard made his first trip to injured reserve on the season. Bullard has been dealing with a bicep injury on and off for the majority of the season. He will be eligible to play again in week 18 against the Chicago Bears,

The Vikings’ issues in the secondary prompted the elevation of both Myles Dorn and Tay Gowan. They are both candidates to get the two roster spots currently open, as the have both been elevated now three times.

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Vikings vs. Lions Week 14: How to watch, stream & listen

Make sure you know how to catch Sunday’s game

The 10-2 Minnesota Vikings taking on the 5-7 Detroit Lions in a black-and-blue division matchup could end up being one of the best, if not the best, games of the weekend.

Both teams have offenses that can score points and the bottom two defenses in the NFL in terms of total defense. The last three games have been decided by a total of eight points and this game shouldn’t be much different.

The game on Sunday is going to be readily available across the entire NFC North but make sure you know how to catch the game on Sunday.

Related: NFL Week 14 TV Coverage Maps

NFL Week 14 TV coverage maps

Week 14 has a lot of interesting matchups

After this week, bye weeks will officially have concluded and every team will have four games left with the last two games being divisional ones. Going into week 14, no team has officially clinched a playoff spot, but the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles have opportunities to do so with wins on Sunday.

This week, there are quite a few interesting matchups and the primetime games offer some real intrigue, especially on Sunday night with the Miami Dolphins taking on the Los Angeles Chargers.

CBS has one game for everyone and Fox has two. Here are what games you get in your area.