RESILIENT RALLY

VIKINGS 28

LIONS 24

Said it all week. This game was about how the Vikings would bounce back after their MNF debacle in Philly.

Turns out they also needed to bounce back after their own performance put them in a separate pair of double digit holes on Sunday.

But they answered the challenge. They played a messy, inconsistent, sometimes downright putrid game, but finished with one of the most rousing rallies they have had in years, and pulled out a massive win.

The hopes they would come out crisp were dashed quickly. Our defense stunk early and gave up a pair of TD drives that looked all too familiar with the lack of pressure and the wide open receivers. Our offense couldn't get going. Well, the ground game started strong but it was repeatedly abandoned quickly.

At 14-0 it was already looking bleak, but the Vikings offense rebounded with a very good 2nd quarter. A pair of TD drives, one ending with Thielen's 50th career TD and the other with Cook's 1st TD run of 2022. They even made a worthy attempt at a scoring drive in the final 30 seconds, and probably should have had a shot at a long field goal.

Oh, and it was a rough day for kickers. Greg Joseph missed a pair of 50+ yards, and the Lions 1st drive ended in a doinker.

But anyway, rebounding to a halftime tie felt like a huge win. But then all the same issues returned in the 3rd. Our offense went cold. They drove for a field goal. We had another key drop by Irv Smith. Detroit drives on us for a touchdown. When Dalvin fumbled in Lions territory and got hurt and we entered the 4th quarter it was looking very dark.

Kirk got creamed on a sack the next drive and we had to punt. We were able to get a few stops on defense but it didn't appear like it would matter.

But we put together a drive that ended with a Mattison TD run. Could we just get a chance? 

Actually yes. All day long Dan Campbell was going for 4th downs on us, and converting. At this point they had made 4 of 5, but here the Vikings defense stepped up and made a stop. 

What looked like our last hope died when a 4th down pass to a (held) Thielen was incomplete. All that remained was Detroit picking up a couple first downs. They got one on a holding call. It got to 4th and 4 with just over a minute left. They were within field goal range, but I figured they would go for it. Why not? They had daggered us all day on these, and only a 1st down right there would.end the game.

Instead, Dan Campbell decided to kick a long field goal, which was the worst decision he could have made. It became even worse for him when the kick was wide. 

So now it really was do or die time. Just over a minute left, no timeouts. The Vikings didn't deserve this chance, but they went and grabbed it.

After one incompletion, Kirk hit KJ Osborn, who YAC'd his way into field goal range. But to hell with the field goal. On the very next play KJ got open deep and Kirk threw a pinpoint pass for a touchdown that sent US Bank Stadium into a pandemonium that I have not seen since a certain miracle. I certainly couldn't believe it. I had spent most of the 2nd half in a funk.

Only downside is the touchdown came so fast that the Lions still had a shot. Jared Goff hit one pass to get them near midfield. Josh Metellus dropped a game ending pick, but then on the next play we got some pressure, Goff heaved one up in desperation and Metellus had another chance. He secured the pick and the Vikings had snuck out the win.

This team has issues. The offense is nowhere near what I hoped. Justin Jefferson has been completely shut down for 2 weeks. We have issues getting receivers open. We abandon the run even when it is working. Kirk is misfiring more than usual (he missed a sure Osborn TD earlier). And that's even with pretty solid pass protection. 

The defense is infuriatingly passive, somehow unable to pressure the QB or cover receivers. 

But one exciting rally kind of makes me not care. This game shows that this team can grind one out. They got just enough stops on defense. They got just enough plays on offense. No apologies are needed whenever you get a win. 

I still think both sides of this team can and will improve. All the better if they can still get some wins during the growth process. Winning can cure all things. It sure did today.