10-21-2019, 05:51 PM
https://www.vikings.com/news/5-takeaways-from-the-vikings-win-over-the-lions-x0824
5 Takeaways from the Vikings Win Over the Lions
![[Image: smrm6qmykywcpgcqr1yk.jpg]](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_thumb_squared/f_auto/vikings/smrm6qmykywcpgcqr1yk.jpg)
Mike Wobschall
5 Takeaways from the Vikings Win Over the Lions
Mike Wobschall
The Vikings arrived in Detroit on a two-game winning streak and
they left Detroit with their first NFC North win and, consequently, a
three-game winning streak. A 42-20 triumph over the Lions at Ford Field
sent the Vikings back home with a 5-2 record and feeling good as they
set their sights on the Washington Redskins and their Thursday night
matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Here are five takeaways from the Vikings win over Detroit.
they left Detroit with their first NFC North win and, consequently, a
three-game winning streak. A 42-20 triumph over the Lions at Ford Field
sent the Vikings back home with a 5-2 record and feeling good as they
set their sights on the Washington Redskins and their Thursday night
matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Here are five takeaways from the Vikings win over Detroit.
1. Vikings offensive line dominates
The Vikings scored six touchdowns and had a lot of skill position
players fill up the box score, but it all began with a group that
doesn’t get called out much in the headlines or highlight shows when
things go well. That group is the offensive line, and the Vikings
offensive line was dominant on Sunday. The Vikings averaged 7.1 yards
per offensive snap, rushed for 4.5 yards per carry, did not allow a
sack, collected 32 1st downs and were four of four in goal-to-go
situations. The “no sacks” part of the equation is significant because
this is an area of great improvement for the Vikings offense. In fact,
while Cousins was sacked six times in the Vikings loss at Chicago, he’s
been sacked only six total times in the Vikings six other games. Put
simply, the Minnesota Moving Company is on a roll.
The Vikings scored six touchdowns and had a lot of skill position
players fill up the box score, but it all began with a group that
doesn’t get called out much in the headlines or highlight shows when
things go well. That group is the offensive line, and the Vikings
offensive line was dominant on Sunday. The Vikings averaged 7.1 yards
per offensive snap, rushed for 4.5 yards per carry, did not allow a
sack, collected 32 1st downs and were four of four in goal-to-go
situations. The “no sacks” part of the equation is significant because
this is an area of great improvement for the Vikings offense. In fact,
while Cousins was sacked six times in the Vikings loss at Chicago, he’s
been sacked only six total times in the Vikings six other games. Put
simply, the Minnesota Moving Company is on a roll.
2. The offense can play, too
In Mike Zimmer’s tenure as head coach, defense has ruled the day
for the Vikings. The defense has played well in 2019 and is still the
identity of the team, but the offense has come alive this season and is
demonstrating that it can pace victories, too. On a day when the
opposition was able to put up 30 points, the Vikings offense responded
with a 503-yard, 42-point outburst in which both the passing game and
running game were clicking on all cylinders. This is the kind of
offensive output that will, over time, relieve a lot of stress from the
Vikings defense and perhaps eventually result in even better defensive
efforts down the road. It’s also the kind of output that will lead to
all five takeaways in this article being about offense!
In Mike Zimmer’s tenure as head coach, defense has ruled the day
for the Vikings. The defense has played well in 2019 and is still the
identity of the team, but the offense has come alive this season and is
demonstrating that it can pace victories, too. On a day when the
opposition was able to put up 30 points, the Vikings offense responded
with a 503-yard, 42-point outburst in which both the passing game and
running game were clicking on all cylinders. This is the kind of
offensive output that will, over time, relieve a lot of stress from the
Vikings defense and perhaps eventually result in even better defensive
efforts down the road. It’s also the kind of output that will lead to
all five takeaways in this article being about offense!
3. Stefanski is pressing all the right buttons
Vikings Offensive Coordinator Kevin Stefanski worked his way up the
chain of command as a coach with the Vikings, beginning in his first
season with the club in 2006 when he worked every day with Darrell
Bevell. Now, Bevell is the offensive coordinator for the Lions and
Stefanski holds the same post with the Vikings. On a day when his
one-time mentor was on the opposite sideline and he had many supporters
in the Ford Field stands watching, Stefanski and his offense had a
banner day. Stefanski used every facet of the offense to generate 500+
yards and 42 points against a well-respected and salty Lions defense,
and he did it without the services of one of his best playmakers for
most of the game; Adam Thielen left the game in the 1st quarter and did
not return. Thielen’s absence didn’t appear to handicap Stefanski’s
ability to dial up big plays and scoring opportunities. Rookie receiver
Bisi Johnson scored the first touchdown of his career. Fullback CJ Ham
found the paint. Kyle Rudolph logged the first tight end touchdown of
the season for the Purple and Irv Smith, Jr. had the best receiving day
of his young career. And to top it all off, Stefanski iced the game with
a cold-blooded play call late in the 4th quarter when, with everyone in
the building expecting a run on 2nd and 5 from the Minnesota 30 with
3:00 to play in the game, he dialed up a play action pass and watched
his quarterback hit Diggs for a 66-yard gain to the Detroit 4.
Vikings Offensive Coordinator Kevin Stefanski worked his way up the
chain of command as a coach with the Vikings, beginning in his first
season with the club in 2006 when he worked every day with Darrell
Bevell. Now, Bevell is the offensive coordinator for the Lions and
Stefanski holds the same post with the Vikings. On a day when his
one-time mentor was on the opposite sideline and he had many supporters
in the Ford Field stands watching, Stefanski and his offense had a
banner day. Stefanski used every facet of the offense to generate 500+
yards and 42 points against a well-respected and salty Lions defense,
and he did it without the services of one of his best playmakers for
most of the game; Adam Thielen left the game in the 1st quarter and did
not return. Thielen’s absence didn’t appear to handicap Stefanski’s
ability to dial up big plays and scoring opportunities. Rookie receiver
Bisi Johnson scored the first touchdown of his career. Fullback CJ Ham
found the paint. Kyle Rudolph logged the first tight end touchdown of
the season for the Purple and Irv Smith, Jr. had the best receiving day
of his young career. And to top it all off, Stefanski iced the game with
a cold-blooded play call late in the 4th quarter when, with everyone in
the building expecting a run on 2nd and 5 from the Minnesota 30 with
3:00 to play in the game, he dialed up a play action pass and watched
his quarterback hit Diggs for a 66-yard gain to the Detroit 4.
4. Cousins stays hot and distributes opportunities generously
How hot is Cousins? Check out the tweet below. But first, just
remember that for the third consecutive week the Vikings quarterback has
been in complete command of the offense, has taken care of the ball and
is spreading his targets around to all the play makers available to
him. On Sunday, seven different Vikings were targeted in the passing
game, four different receivers had at least six passes thrown their way,
four different receivers had touchdowns and four different receivers
had double-digit receiving yards.
How hot is Cousins? Check out the tweet below. But first, just
remember that for the third consecutive week the Vikings quarterback has
been in complete command of the offense, has taken care of the ball and
is spreading his targets around to all the play makers available to
him. On Sunday, seven different Vikings were targeted in the passing
game, four different receivers had at least six passes thrown their way,
four different receivers had touchdowns and four different receivers
had double-digit receiving yards.
5. Dalvin does it again
The Vikings offense dazzled and ultimately clinched the game with
an impressive aerial assault on Sunday, but don’t let the spectacular
performance by the passing game hide the fact that the Vikings rushing
attack, with Dalvin Cook as the bell cow, was every bit as impressive on
Sunday. Whether using his speed to press the edge of the Lions defense
or using his strength and grit to power through it, Cook made life tough
on Detroit’s defense. Cook ran the ball 25 times for 142 yards and two
touchdowns, pacing an effort that generated 166 yards on the ground and
taxed a physical Lions defensive front. In only seven games, Cook now
has rushed for eight touchdowns and the Vikings have 11 rushing
touchdowns on the season, two more than they had in 16 games last
season.
The Vikings offense dazzled and ultimately clinched the game with
an impressive aerial assault on Sunday, but don’t let the spectacular
performance by the passing game hide the fact that the Vikings rushing
attack, with Dalvin Cook as the bell cow, was every bit as impressive on
Sunday. Whether using his speed to press the edge of the Lions defense
or using his strength and grit to power through it, Cook made life tough
on Detroit’s defense. Cook ran the ball 25 times for 142 yards and two
touchdowns, pacing an effort that generated 166 yards on the ground and
taxed a physical Lions defensive front. In only seven games, Cook now
has rushed for eight touchdowns and the Vikings have 11 rushing
touchdowns on the season, two more than they had in 16 games last
season.
