The Vikings beat the Lions 28-24 on Sunday in week 3 of the NFL Season. Here’s a recap!
1st Quarter
The Vikings defense looked bad early on in the first quarter but got lucky when Lions Kicker Austin Seibert missed a 48 yard field goal off the right upright. The Vikings then marched down the field to the Lions 38 yard line where Vikings Kicker Greg Joseph missed a 56 yard field goal which would have tied his career long he set earlier this year. The Lions made the Vikings defense look bad again but when they Vikings forced a 4th down at their own 32 yard line, Dan Campbell had no trust in his kicker which lead to a 30 yard connection between QB Jared Goff and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown on 4th and 5. Jamaal Williams then was able to sneak it by the left guard and in to the endzone to make it 7-0 Lions. RB Dalvin Cook managed to gain a first down before the Vikings were forced to punt from their own 35 yard line. The Lions were then able to march down the field again, gaining yards on all but 2 plays leading to a TJ Hockenson Touchdown reception from Jared Goff.
2nd Quarter
The Vikings offense finally came to life in the 2nd quarter where they were able to score on their first possession of the quarter on a Adam Thielen touchdown who was wide open in the back of the endzone. The Lions went for it again on 4th down but this time was stopped at their own 49 yard line on 4th and 1. This put the vikings in great field position with 5 minutes left in the half. QB Kirk Cousins was able to lead the Vikings offense on a 9 play, 49 yard drive resulting in a Dalvin Cook touchdown with a little under 1:30 remaining in the half.
3rd Quarter
The Vikings received to start the 2nd half but went 3 and Out to start. The Lions finally kicked on 4th down to take the lead 17-14 half way through the 3rd quarter. The Vikings missed another 56 yard field goal wide right which again, would have tied Greg Josephs record. The Lions only took 5 plays to march down to the Vikings endzone with a Jamaal Williams rushing touchdown. The Vikings couldn’t catch a break with bad luck, this time Star RB Dalvin Cook fumbled and the Lions recovered. The Lions couldn’t go anywhere with their great field position and got backed up 2 yard before punting.
4th Quarter
To start the final quarter of the game, the Vikings went 3 and out, forcing them to punt but then the lions took 4 plays before they had to punt it right back. The Vikings marched down the field in 6 plays going 57 yards to score a rushing touchdown by Alexander Mattison to cut the Lions lead to 3. The Lions again went for it on 4th down and were stopped by the Vikings but then the Vikings went for it on 4th down and the Lions were able to stop them. Unlike every other possession, the Lions trusted their kicker to make a field goal to put them up 6 but he missed wide right giving the Vikings solid field position for a game winning drive. QB Kirk Cousins found WR KJ Osborn open at Detroit 28 yard line for a gain of 28 and on the next play Cousins connected with him again for a 28 yard touchdown. The Lions still had 45 second to get a touchdown against a bad Vikings defense. After nearly picking of Jared Goff the play before, Vikings safety, Josh Metelus (Filling in for Harrison Smith), Snagged the game sealing interception to lead the Vikings in a 28-24 win over their divisional rival Detroit Lions.
Responses
Great post. This was an exciting matchup.
Kirk and Jefferson in shambles
JJ was double covered a lot this game and Jeff Okudah really surprised me and looks like the corner the Lions drafted him to be. He’s really improved.