The Detroit Lions are fading quickly in the competitive NFC North with three straight defeats, key injuries and a crumbling defense.
This time, it wasn’t the officials who were catching most of the blame. Instead, it was the red-hot opposing quarterback, the almost-impossible-to-tackle running back and another disappointing defensive performance that did in the Detroit Lions.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins continued his stellar stretch for the Minnesota Vikings throwing for 337 yards, 4 touchdowns, and no interceptions and Dalvin Cook added 142 yards on the ground and two more scores as the Vikings beat the Lions 42-30 on Sunday at Ford Field.
The Lions have dropped three straight games to fall to 2-3-1, while the Vikings climb to 5-2. After a promising start to the season, the Lions are fading quickly, and have injuries piling up on defense.
Matthew Stafford threw for 364 yards, 4 touchdowns of his own and one late interception for Detroit, but the Lions’ defense couldn’t contain the Vikings’ attack and were plagued by health problems. In one second-quarter series alone, the Lions lost defensive starters Darius Slay, Damon Harrison and Jarrad Davis to various injuries. Slay did not return.
Lions receiver Marvin Jones was stellar, racking up four touchdown grabs, including three in the first half, both marks tying Lions records. His fourth score brought the Lions to within 35-30 after a failed two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter, however, the Vikings hit receiver Stefon Diggs on a 66-yard bomb on the next series, setting up Cook’s game-clinching 4-yard touchdown run. The Lions again were unable to stop the run, getting torched for 166 rushing yards.
The Lions also failed to record a sack, and have just one quarterback takedown over the past three games. This will undoubtedly lead to many questions about the performance of high-priced free agent edge rusher Trey Flowers, who has just one sack all year.
Lions running back Kerryon Johnson also left the game with a leg injury in the first half and did not return. He was seen wearing a brace on his right leg on the Lions’ sideline. J.D. McKissic and Ty Johnson each ran for 29 yards on 15 combined carries for Detroit.
The Lions return to action on Sunday, October 27th at 1:00 P.M. EST when they host the New York Giants.