Detroit Lions (1-10-1) – Minnesota Vikings (5-7) : 29-27
They did it ! Almost a year after their last success, the Lions are rediscovering the joys of victory. Yet deprived of Andre Swift, Detroit relied on Jared Goff (25/41, 296 yards, 3TDs, 1int) who could, once again, have ruined all the efforts of his team, without a last saving possession .
As for the Vikings, the many absences for injuries will not be enough to hide the questionable choices of Mike Zimmer and company. The three failed two-point conversions are costing Minnesota dearly, which may have said goodbye to the playoffs with this new preventable loss. Deprived of Adam Thielen from the second game of the match, Kirk Cousins (30/40, 340 yards, 2TDs) yet could count on a Justin Jefferson (11 receptions, 182 yards, 1TD) exceptional.
Jared Goff pulls out the fangs
The first mistake of the match is to be put to the credit of the Lions. Always looking for their first victory, the locals are very aggressive, too even. On their 41 yards, they failed in 4 & 1 and gave Cousins an excellent starting position on the field. The quarterback took the opportunity to bring his team to the gates of the redzone but the purple must be satisfied with a field goal to open the scoring, 0-3.
On their next possession, the Vikings weighed down the mark with a second field goal from Greg Joseph. Detroit finally reacts thanks in particular to two receptions from TJ Hockenson (4 receptions, 49 yards, 1TD), including one in the endzone.
Little satisfied, the Lions force a fumble from Kirk Cousins in the middle of the field. Two passes from Goff are enough again to cut out the Minnesota defense. The locals add 2 field goals before half-time and take a 14-point lead, 20-6.
.@JaredGoff16 is finding his tight ends. Another TD! #OnePride
????: #MINvsDET on CBS
????: NFL app pic.twitter.com/BQiEwvzkQo— NFL (@NFL) December 5, 2021
Minnesota wakes up …
From the start of the second half, the Vikings show a whole different face, from two sides of the field. Goff does not advance, unlike Cousins, carried by Jefferson. A new field goal, then a touchdown from Alexander Mattison (22 races, 90 yards, 1TD) allow Minnesota to return to 5 points, 20-15.
The Lions resume a little wide after a new field goal, but the attack of the purple is untenable. KJ Osborn (4 receptions, 47 yards, 1TD) is found in the back endzone, but the two-point attempt is missed, 23-21.
Under the pressure of an opponent back to score, Goff ends up once again breaking down. He sends the leather straight into the hands of Cameron Dantzler. Once saved by the penalties conceded by the offensive line of the Vikings, the Lions find a new way to shoot themselves in the foot. On its 30 yards, Detroit is once again trying the 4 & 1. The result will be worse than in the first half, since Goff will concede a fumble and return the ball to purple over 20 yards. Jefferson took the opportunity to register his touchdown and remade the Vikings in front, 1 minute and 30 seconds from the end, 23-27.
Cousins to Jefferson! Vikings take the lead! #SKOL
????: #MINvsDET on CBS
????: NFL app pic.twitter.com/AxTEh4GRYY— NFL (@NFL) December 5, 2021
… before being overtaken by his old demons
Without downtime, Goff must go up 75 yards to provide a first victory for his team. While he has shown his limits under pressure, the Lions quarterback is inexplicably left in peace by Mike Zimmer who decides, once again, to play too conservative. The coach of the Vikings will be punished by the former Rams who comes to offer the Lions their first victory of the season on a pass from 11 yards to Amon-Ra St. Brown (10 receptions, 86 yards, 1TDs).
GOFF TO ST. BROWN AND THE LIONS WIN AT THE BUZZER! #OnePride #MINvsDET pic.twitter.com/duobP8B2ZK
— NFL (@NFL) December 5, 2021
It was deliverance for Dan Campbell who won his first success as a head coach. For the Vikings, it is surely one too many defeats for Zimmer, who will have a hard time keeping his place at the end of the season.
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