The Numbers Behind the Vikings Thrilling Loss To the Lions
Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
The biggest number anyone is going to associate with this Minnesota Vikings game is 1 — their first loss of the season. There’s a lot more to it, however, with the ups and downs that this game presented, the back-and-forth between two elite teams, and in the end, it came down to the final seconds of the game.
Let’s take a look at the numbers underlying this exciting game.
3 — The Vikings had previously not allowed a touchdown from outside the red zone, but the Lions struck three times on big plays. The first was Jahmyr Gibbs’ 45-yard run to give Detroit their first score of the game, then Jared Goff found Amon-Ra St. Brown and Kalif Raymond for 35 and 21 yards, respectively. The Vikings’ defense isn’t used to getting burned like that.
19 — That’s the number of yards Jefferson was from his seventh 100-yard game in nine tries against the Lions. Jefferson was reliably good, getting seven catches on 8 targets for 81 yards and a touchdown, but the Lions held him relatively in check for the game.
WE SEE YOU JUSTIN JEFFERSON 🔥
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/6XPhPlJDqZ
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 20, 2024
37 — That’s the number of minutes it took Jared Goff to throw his first incomplete pass of the game, having started the game 15-for-15. 15 of his 25 passing attempts were within 1o yards of the line of scrimmage, emphasizing short passes to evade Brian Flores’ blitz. Goff’s no stranger to accurate performances — he went a perfect 18-for-18 last season against the Seattle Seahawks.
43.6 — What about Sam Darnold, who had an efficient game himself, going 22-for-27 with 259 yards, a touchdown, and an interception? Unfortunately, that number was the gap between Goff’s QBR (87.5) and Darnold’s (43.9) on Sunday. This is Darnold’s second-straight game with a below-average (under 50%) QBR, and while it was a big improvement from Week 5, Darnold didn’t quite play well enough to get Minnesota over the hump.
509 — That’s the collective number of yards that Will Reichard’s 12 field goals have traveled to score this season, an average of 42.4 yards per kick. Not only has he been perfect thus far, but he’s being trusted to make long-distance kicks basically every game. Fans half-expected him to line up for a game-winning attempt from the Vikings’ own 45-yard line.
57-yard field goal for Will Reichard 10-0 Vikings. #DETvsMIN pic.twitter.com/t5nqAIVK7R
— Anthony (@anthonyjc92) October 20, 2024
2018 — Ivan Pace Jr. got in on the action in the fourth quarter, with his fumble recovery touchdown combining with Andrew Van Ginkel’s two pick-sixes to give Minnesota three defensive touchdowns in six games. The last time the Vikings have had three defensive touchdowns in a season was in 2018.
THE LIONS JUST FUMBLED AND IVAN PACE JR PICKS IT UP AND TAKES IT BACK FOR THE VIKINGS pic.twitter.com/2cAffNiBuT
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) October 20, 2024
89% — Dropping this game was a heartbreaker, but with the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers losing on Sunday, the Vikings’ current playoff odds are at 89%. We’ll take that any day.
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