The Minnesota Vikings ended their two-game skid with a 27-24 victory over the Detroit Lions on November 2 at Ford Field. The matchup was closely contested, with small details ultimately deciding the outcome.
Coming off the bye week, the Lions had a prime chance to claim a home win against a team on a losing stretch. Yet, the Vikings struck early with 14 first-quarter points, signaling they weren’t going down quietly.
Minnesota’s urgency to win clearly gave them an advantage. Lions head coach Dan Campbell admitted his team’s performance handed the game to the Vikings in Week 9.
“They executed and made the plays they needed to, and it’s credit to that, too,” Campbell told reporters postgame (h/t Brad Galli of WXYZ Detroit). “As far as us, we did everything we needed to do to lose that game. We made every critical area you needed at the right time to lose it. Perfect storm. When you don’t perform well in all three phases, that falls on me. I didn’t have them ready coming out of a bye.”
How the Lions Let the Vikings Win
While praising the Vikings’ execution, Campbell noted that the Lions’ penalties were key moments that shifted momentum in Minnesota’s favor.
“We made too many mistakes,” Campbell said. “Some discipline issues and penalties caught up to us. There were times we were out of sync, never comfortable, and didn’t make enough plays. We had multiple chances to put ourselves in position to win, and we didn’t capitalize. I’ve got to fix some things — and we will.
“A few guys played well, but overall it was just too much. The penalties and turnovers at the wrong times hurt us. The defense faced tough spots, but we expect them to get stops when the game shifts. We just didn’t handle the day properly.”
Vikings Defense Came Through
For Minnesota, the win couldn’t rely solely on J.J. McCarthy. Their defense bounced back from a poor showing against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 8, recording five sacks that troubled Jared Goff and the Lions’ offense.
The Vikings also forced a fumble, with Blake Cashman tallying 14 total tackles and Eric Wilson adding two sacks, six tackles, and two QB hits. Minnesota’s offense delivered key plays while the defense ensured the Lions didn’t find a rhythm.
At 4-4, the Vikings sit squarely in the NFC North race and face a tough test in Week 10 against the Baltimore Ravens.
