Vikings defense dominates at home vs Lions

The Minnesota Vikings won a very dominating game against the Detroit Lions at home by a score of 20-7.
Detroit Lions 7 Minnesota Vikings 20
Minnesota:
QB:
K. Cousins 24/30 242 yds 8.1 avg 1 TD 111.4 rtg
RB:
D. Cook 18 car 62 yds 3.4 avg 1 TD 75 total yds
A. Mattison 14 car 46 yds 3.3 avg
WR:
S. Diggs 6 rec 92 yds 15.3 avg
L. Treadwell 2 rec 42 yds 21.0 avg
B. Johnson 1 rec 9 yds 1 TD
K:
D. Bailey 2/2 FG (50 longest) 2/2 XP
DEF:
H. Smith 1 INT
A. Sendejo 1 INT
D. Hunter 3 sacks
J. Johnson 1 sack
E. Griffen 1 sack

Game Recap:
The game was one that on paper looks like it was a really good one for the Vikings. In general it was a quite good game for the purple and gold as the defense played like the version we know from 2017. This game reminds me a lot of 2017 in many ways. The offense performed enough to give the defense confidence to keep Detroit scoreless until 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter. Safety Andrew Sendejo sealed the game with Detroit driving to the endzone in the closing seconds, intercepting David Blough in the endzone. 
Now this game did leave a little more to be desired by the Vikings offense with them not really dominating as much as I had hoped. Now the Lions defense has always given our offense fits at times, because we play each twice a year. But usually we can get a rhythm going before halftime. Now the Vikings had arguable had their best drive of the day as the half came to close that ended with a Bisi Johnson receiving touchdown. After that it was really just a lot of Cook/Mattison/Boone and the defense dominating the Lions struggling offense. 

NFC North Update
Not much changed in the division this week. Both Green Bay and Chicago won so the Vikings still have pressure to keep winning. But the Vikings also won so they stay in the chase for the division title. Detroit was eliminated last week after their loss at home against Chicago. 

Playoff Picture
Even though games are still being played the NFC did shakeup a little bit. New Orleans remains the only team to clinch a division or playoff berth up until Sunday Night Football. The Saints did lose this weekend to the 49ers so San Francisco now jumps back up to the #1 seed, New Orleans drops to 3, Green Bay rises to 2, and Seattle drops back to the 5 seed. The Vikings can still get the division title if the Packers lose 2 of their next 3 games. It is a slim chance but still there. Most likely scenario would be for the Packers to lose in Minnesota and Detroit and for Minnesota to win out. This all depends on the Vikings to win out, if they don't they cannot get the division title. That would put the Vikings at 12-4 and Green Bay at 11-5. If Green Bay wins next week over Chicago that would eliminate Chicago from the playoffs despite the Bears winning 3 of their last 4. Also if the Rams lose tonight that would clinch a playoff spot for Seattle, and if Green Bay wins next week with that would eliminate the Rams as well. 

Up Next
The Vikings now will travel out to Los Angeles to face the Chargers on Sunday, December 15th. Since they were flexed out of Primetime they now play at 12 PM CT.

​#SKOL