Being the first team to hand the Minnesota Vikings a loss should be a time a celebration for the Detroit Lions, but few in Detroit were celebrating after the 19-15 win.
Star linebacker Jack Campbell suffered a devastating neck injury on the first play of the fourth quarter on a tackle to tight end T.J. Hockenson. After a lengthy delay, Campbell was carted off the field and taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation. Rookie LB Jimmy Rolder also injured his hamstring on the same play.
Hockenson's ten-yard reception placed the Vikings on the Lions' 25-yard line. When play resumed, the emotional Lions' defense needed to come up big on a 4th & 5 to maintain the five-point lead. EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, who was in tears during the delay, picked up the pressure on Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray, who threw the incomplete pass to turn the ball over on downs.
It was one of numerous ways the defense came up big against the Vikings. However, sadly, Campbell and Rolder's injuries weren't the beginning or the end of the Lions' injury woes on Sunday.
Cornerback D.J. Reed picked up a key interception in the second quarter, but was later injured in the fourth quarter. Safety Brian Branch solidified the secondary in his second game back until an accidental clash of helmets with EDGE D.J. Wonnum landed both in concussion protocol.
And that's just on defense. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was shaken up after his would-be TD reception, which was overturned. St. Brown did return after a stint in the locker room. Meanwhile, center Cade Mays hurt his ankle and did not return. Return man Jacob Saylors aggravated his neck injury as well.
From an injury standpoint, Sunday's win was an absolute disaster in what was already an uphill climb against the then-undefeated Vikings team. The Lions needed grit, guts, and just about any other word you can muster for toughness in order to escape this game and Brian Flores' defense with a win.
They did, and they once again have their own defense to thank for it.
Kelvin Sheppard's defense has another great performance
The Vikings' offense is far from the best, averaging 20 points per game. But with Flores' defense off to a historically good start, the Lions' offense had little room for error. Every point the offense puts on the board was going to be a hard-earned, and the defense could not afford to turn this game into a shootout.
For the third straight week, the Lions' defense has allowed no more than 21 points and have now put up back-to-back games of holding divisional opponents to under 20. The Lions' defense has given up an average of 17.67 points during their current three-game win streak after allowing 31.75 in the previous four weeks. In terms of yardage, the Lions' defense gave up an average of 423.75 per game in the first four games and have dropped that to 305.67 in the past three.
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The defense again surrendered a TD to a TE, with former Lion Hockenson picking up 58-yards on four receptions. That will likely remain a problem for this defense going forward, barring a trade for another LB, given the injuries to Campbell and Rolder.
Still, Kelvin Sheppard deserves his flowers for his efforts to turn around this defense, and having them play at a playoff level these past three weeks. But his next challenge will be an even tougher one -- recreate the "Legion of Whom" amid this sudden influx of injuries.
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