NFL: North titles within reach!

The Minnesota Vikings (9-2) have taken a giant step towards divisional titles: Minnesota’s Thanksgiving season kicks off with a 30-23 victory over the Detroit Lions (6-5). Detroit is far too conservative, and the Lions too often have no response to the Vikings front or the gleaming Case Keenum. From the point of view of the hosts, the starts in both halves could hardly have been worse.

Minnesota’s offense rolled down the field in 14 pitches after a quick 3&Out for Detroit, and in the play-action touchdown pass just before the final zone, the Lions had only ten men on the field. Immediately afterwards, Matt Stafford (20/35,250 YDS, 2 TD, INT) and Ameer Abdullah fumbled at the ball delivery, a few placements later Case Keenum (21/30,282 YDS, 2 TD; 5 ATT, 23 YDS, TD) marched into the final zone via Zone Read.

Detroit’s offense had huge problems finding some rhythm throughout the game, with extremely conservative play calling, mistakes in the line and by Stafford himself, and after an outstanding touchdown pass from Keenum to Kyle Rudolph, an impressively dominant Vikings team suddenly led by 20-3 before Detroit passed by far the best drive and a few long passes seconds ahead of the half-time break.

The Lions had great hope, not least because the run defense looked vastly improved in the first half after last-desolate appearances. But that was about to change: Minnesota marched with the first drive of the third quarter with only four runs (46,16,11,2 yards) into the end zone. And in return, the Lions apparently had the answer – but when Detroit waited too long with the PAT, the Refs decided to re-examine and realized that Darren Fells had no control over the ball in the final zone.

And yet, as is so often the case with Lions games, it was once again thrilling in the final quarter. Detroit, meanwhile without the injured center Travis Swanson, brought defensively more pressure and Minnesota’s offense suddenly found no rhythm whatsoever. A spectacular touchdown match between Marvin Jones and Rhodes and Newman brought Detroit back into the game after two field goals – Minnesota’s 17-point lead had become a 4-point advantage. But Minnesota’s Defense brought victory over time, completed by Rhodes’ interception a good three minutes before the end.

Detroit Lions (6-5) – Minnesota Vikings (9-2)23:30 (0:13,10:7,6:7,7:3) BOXSCORE

The Lions got the ball back on the clock in six and a half minutes and had the chance to take the lead with a touchdown. At the first third down of the drive, Tate actually had the first down – and instead of just going down, he took two steps back to let a defender get off. But that didn’t work out, Tate went down behind the marker and so the first down was gone. In return, Minnesota played three minutes off the clock and scored a field goal. Directly at the next drive Xavier Rhodes ended all comeback dreams with an interception at Fourth Down.

That Minnesota games with its defensive front decides is not a new insight. It’s still impressive to see, though: The vikings are incredibly good at playing the box and the line of scrimmage aggressively and at the same time remain unpredictable. Stafford was under pressure the whole game and also in the Run Game there was nothing for the chronically bad Lions.

Quarterback swap? Not a chance. When Keenum plays as it is now, there is no reason to switch to Teddy Bridgewater. Against the Lions he once again showed great pocket-movement against Pressure, used his athletics in Scrambles and the Zone-Read-Run for a touchdown – and his touchdown-pass on Rudolph with a hard hit imminent was simply perfect.

Detroit’s quarterback was anything but his best day: holding the ball in his pocket for too long, several times conspicuously inaccurate on possible Big Plays that could have given the game a different course. Also worth mentioning: Tackle Taylor Decker. Decker’s return after injury break was and is extremely important for Detroit’s offensive line – but today he didn’t have his best day. Against Everson Griffen too often looking back, Stafford made life difficult.