The Detroit Lions didn’t just lose to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday — they unraveled. From botched playcalling to blown protection and special teams blunders, Detroit’s 27-24 defeat was a masterclass in how to waste a winnable game.
The Detroit Lions fell to the Minnesota Vikings 27-24 on Sunday, in what was one of the most disappointing performances of the season. From the opening kickoff to the final whistle, the Lions were outplayed in nearly every phase of the game. The result brought back painful memories of the Matt Patricia era, a time when the team often struggled to execute on both sides of the ball.
The biggest culprit, however, was offensive coordinator John Morton, whose playcalling left much to be desired. While Morton earned some praise after the Lions’ high-scoring win over the Chicago Bears in Week 2, his performance on Sunday raised serious concerns. The Lions are now 0-for-23 on third down attempts of 10 yards or more, the only team in the league without a single first down in those situations.
Morton’s lack of creativity and failure to adapt to the Vikings’ defense were glaring. On a key third-and-15, Morton called a screen pass to wide receiver Jameson Williams. Williams lost two yards on the play, capping off a disastrous three-play, -7-yard drive for the Lions. The Vikings would respond with a touchdown, scoring 14 unanswered points and taking control of the game. Later in the game, the Lions failed to execute another screen pass to running back Jahmyr Gibbs, resulting in a punt after a three-play, eight-yard drive to open the third quarter.
While Morton’s playcalling was clearly subpar, there were other areas of the team that deserve just as much scrutiny. Special teams, which has been a source of concern all season, continues to be a major liability. Dave Fipp’s unit, once thought to be a strength, has been among the worst in the league this year. The Vikings’ opening kickoff was returned 61 yards, setting up an easy touchdown for inexperienced quarterback J.J. McCarthy. While a subsequent Vikings kickoff return for a touchdown was negated by a holding penalty, it was still a sign of just how vulnerable the Lions’ special teams have been.
But the most damaging play came late in the game when the Lions’ field goal unit allowed a blocked kick that set up the Vikings for a potential game-clinching score. Though the Lions only lost by three points, the blocked field goal was a brutal reminder of how much the special teams have regressed this season. The Lions are currently ranked ninth in the league in allowing kick return yards, further emphasizing the need for drastic improvements.
Perhaps most concerning of all was the performance of the offensive line, which allowed the Vikings to dominate the line of scrimmage. Minnesota’s pass rush relentlessly attacked quarterback Jared Goff, recording five sacks and 11 quarterback hits. The loss of center Frank Ragnow and right guard Kevin Zeitler, both key members of the offensive line, was acutely felt in this game. But things are about to get worse: right guard Christian Mahogany left the game with a significant leg injury that will likely keep him out for a considerable period.
The struggles of the offensive line were not just a result of injuries, though. Graham Glasgow, has been far from effective, posting the worst PFF grade of any Lions offensive player on Sunday. Left tackle Taylor Decker also had a rough day, finishing among the bottom five in offensive PFF grades. The lack of protection for Goff stunted the offense’s ability to execute in crucial moments, and it showed throughout the game.
The Lions’ loss to the Vikings was a perfect storm of poor playcalling, ineffective special teams, and a struggling offensive line. All three units need to improve if the Lions hope to remain competitive this season. As it stands, the team’s weaknesses were glaring and undeniable, and unless significant changes are made, this loss could mark a turning point in the season—one that will be hard to recover from.