The Minnesota Vikings ended their two-game skid with a 27-24 victory on the road against the Detroit Lions on November 2 at Ford Field. It was a closely fought contest, with the smallest details ultimately deciding the outcome.

Coming off a bye week and facing a team struggling for form, Detroit had a real chance to claim a home win. Still, the Vikings jumped out to 14 points in the opening quarter, making it clear they weren’t going to surrender easily.

Minnesota’s urgency to win gave them a decisive advantage. Additionally, Lions head coach Dan Campbell believes his team essentially handed the game to their opponents with their Week 9 performance.

“They executed and made the plays they needed, and that deserves credit, too,” Campbell told reporters after the game (h/t Brad Galli of WXYZ Detroit). “As for us, we did everything necessary to lose that game. We hit every key area at the wrong time. Perfect storm. When you falter in all three phases, that’s on me. I didn’t have them prepared coming out of a bye.”

What Mistakes Led the Lions to Lose to the Vikings?

While praising the Vikings’ execution, Campbell highlighted that the Lions’ penalties were a critical factor that handed Minnesota the edge.

“We committed too many errors,” Campbell added. “Discipline issues and penalties caught up with us. There were times we were off rhythm. We never seemed comfortable and didn’t make enough plays. We had several chances to position ourselves to win, and we failed to capitalize on any. I’ve got work to do — and I will.”

“Some players did perform well, but overall it was overwhelming. Mistimed penalties and turnovers really hurt us. The defense faced tough situations, but even then, we expect them to make stops during sudden changes. We just didn’t manage the day properly.”

Vikings Defense Came Through

To earn a victory in Detroit, the burden couldn’t fall solely on J.J. McCarthy. The Vikings’ defense rebounded after a weak showing versus the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 8. Minnesota’s defenders registered five sacks, giving Jared Goff and company a hard time.

Additionally, the Vikings forced a fumble. Blake Cashman was everywhere for Minnesota with 14 total tackles, while Eric Wilson added two sacks, six tackles, and two QB hits. The offense produced when necessary, and the defense prevented the Lions from mounting a big game.

With a 4-4 record, the Vikings sit mid-pack in the NFC North and will face another tough challenge in Week 10 against the Baltimore Ravens.