Detroit Lions: 10 observations from the Vikings loss

Mistakes doomed the Detroit Lions in yet another loss to a division rival

Forget what you heard about an improving rush defense. Forget any notions that a road game against the Vikings might be ‘easy’ in any way, no matter what their record says. Forget about the Detroit Lions getting back to .500 by the midway point of the season.

Led by 252 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns from the NFL’s second leading rusher, the Vikings ran all over the Lions from start to finish, capitalized on several terrible passes to the tune of three interceptions, and not even two blocked punts could slow down this 34-20 steamrolling at U.S. Bank Stadium. Here are ten observations from Sunday in Minnesota:

1. Dalvin Cook of the Vikings is really good.

When the stars align and a really good player comes in hungry and confident against a really bad defense, this sort of day becomes possible. Cook rushed for 206 yards, added 46 receiving, plus two touchdowns while taking it easy for most of the fourth quarter.

Adding that to his outburst in an upset win versus Green Bay last week, Cook has 488 yards from scrimmage and six total touchdowns in his last two games. He is now just 17 yards shy of catching Derrick Henry for the league lead, and his eleven touchdowns puts him at the very top. Through midseason, Cook has to be an any shortlist for league MVP, along with Henry and the QB trio of Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, and Patrick Mahomes.