New Vikings GM needs to make some key trades after loss to Lions exposed a few Vikings weaknesses

Every NFL team has flaws except perhaps the 17-0 Miami Dolphins in 1972. In the Vikings 19-15 loss in Detroit on Sunday, the Vikings offense that couldn’t convert enough third downs and stay on the field allowed the Lions talented offense to wear down the Vikings defense to the tune of 164 rushing yards in the second half (230 for the game) and an 11:26 edge in time of possession.

We knew this Vikings team was going to lose a few games, especially during the current toughest four-game stretch of the season. This was a tough loss for Kevin O’Connell and Vikings Nation to digest when the Lions had five starters out in the second half including four on their defense that ranked last entering the game. This included two Pro Bowlers—linebacker Jack Campbell (who we hope is recovering from his scary neck injury) and safety Brian Branch along with their best corner D.J. Reed.

Kyler Murray’s shaky performance coupled with an offensive line that couldn’t protect him well enough. The Vikings converted only 3 of 11 third and fourth downs to keep the defense on the field too much (30 of the first 45 minutes thus wearing them down in the fourth quarter). And the three-and-out by the offense late in the game when trailing by four was a bad series at a bad time (although I think the Lions should’ve been penalized for illegal contact on Jordan Addison on the third-and-five play with 3:06 left and that would’ve extended the drive).  

The Vikings remain tied for the best record in the NFC with the 49ers at 6-1. But the 5-2 Lions are now nipping at their heels along with the Bears who were 5-2 entering their Monday night game in Seattle and the 5-3 Packers. Losing this winnable game in Detroit has tightened up the NFC North race considerably.

The Vikings weaknesses showed up in significant fashion on Sunday with the offensive line and defensive line struggling at various times. These issues contributed to a not good enough performance from Murray and tackling problems at all levels of the defense to cost the Vikings their first loss.

The good news is the Vikings return home where they are 3-0 this season to face the likewise 6-1 Bills at U.S. Bank Stadium next Monday night. The bad news is four-time Pro Bowler and past MVP Josh Allen is coming to town with the NFL’s top scoring offense (33.3 points per game), the second-ranked team (to Detroit) in total offense and the third-ranked rushing offense. Allen leads the NFL with nine rushing TDs.

The Bills also have All-Pro back James Cook who led the NFL in rushing last season, ranks fifth this season with 707 yards, and has seven rushing TDs. He would love to make a good showing against his brother Dalvin’s old team and in prime time.

The Vikings need more consistent impact from rookie defensive linemen Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange who have 12 and 5 tackles, respectively, and neither has a sack. Trading a mid-round pick for a defensive tackle who can be effective against the run and pass would be a big help to a defense that is sure to see a heavy dose of the run game after the Lions’ success (and it limits the pressure a QB faces against the blitz-heavy Brian Flores scheme).

After the loss of Donovan Jackson with his knee meniscus injury, trading for a starting guard would help the run game and the pass protection for Murray. Perhaps that player could replace the underproducing Will Fries next season when Jackson is back as Fries is clearly not playing up to his $17.5 million per year contract and the Vikings can pick up significant cap savings by cutting him after this season.

It behooves new Vikings GM Nolan Teasley to help this team that is capable of winning the NFC North and going on a playoff run. But Teasley needs to make some moves before the November 10 trade deadline to add help to both the offensive and defensive lines and perhaps trade for Jonathan Taylor, who certainly would add juice to the running game (as long as it doesn’t cost too much in draft picks for a back who turns 28 in January).

Three of the teams competing with the Vikings in the NFC have made big moves recently including Teasley’s mentor at Seattle—GM John Schneider—who traded for Colts All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson. The Bears acquired All-Pro DT Jeffery Simmons from the Titans and Simmons had a sack and two tackles for loss in his first half for the Bears in Seattle. And the 49ers added DT DeForest Buckner from the Colts.

Other Reactions to the Loss in Detroit from the Former Vikings GM

1. For the second straight game, Justin Jefferson was targeted only one time in the second half. It’s no wonder he’s frustrated when he sees comparable elite receivers such as Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Ja’Marr Chase regularly have double digit targets and 100+ yard games.

Jefferson has not had a double-digit target game or a 100+ yard game this season and is sitting at 28 catches for 335 yards (44th ranked in the league) and four TDs in the six games he’s played. O’Connell and Murray need to get him the ball a lot more to help make the offense more productive.

I still say O’Connell should call more rollouts/bootlegs with a run-pass option for Murray and more quick throws so he doesn’t hold the ball which led to several sacks in Detroit.

2. Along with the non-call for illegal contact on the last Vikings drive, I thought the Lions should’ve been penalized for pass interference on the deep pass to Jordan Addison on the first drive that was underthrown by Murray. Addison was open and a good throw would’ve been a TD but the defender did interfere with Addison as he tried to come back for the ball. On the positive side, Murray threw a great deep ball to Addison for 51 yards in the fourth quarter to set up the TD pass to Hockenson that put the Vikings up 15-12.

3. I didn’t like O’Connell’s decision to go for it on 4th and 5 from the Lions 25 early in the fourth quarter. It was the play following the long delay due to Campbell’s injury. With Murray’s accuracy an issue, a field goal to pull the Vikings within 12-10 would’ve been a better choice with plenty of time left. Sure enough, Murray sailed a throw over Addison’s head.

I was OK with O’Connell deciding to punt on 4th and 5 from the Vikings 33 with 3:01 left and count on the defense to stop the Lions (despite the run D struggles) and get the ball back. But Gibbs was able to pick up 28 yards on three carries against the tired D and help run out the clock. Orange and the other interior D-linemen were unable to stop Goff’s QB sneak that sealed the win.

4. Christian Darrisaw did not play to his usual high standard in this game. He can’t let a rookie fourth rounder (Jimmy Rolder) run around him for a sack and he gave up a couple other pressures.

5. The Vikings defense now ranks 17th against the run but still second overall and second against the pass while allowing the fewest points per game (13.3). Despite the run defense struggles in Detroit, the Vikings still held the league’s top offense in yards per game and No. 3 in scoring (29 points per game) to 10 points under their average. That should have been good enough to win if the offense had reached at least 20 points against the NFL’s lowest ranked defense.

The defense will now face a heavy dose of running from upcoming opponents until they prove they can stop the run.

6. The special teams that have been excellent until the Lions game were not up to par on Sunday. Will Reichard missed a 57-yarder that he usually makes even from that distance and punter Brett Thorson had two poor punts under 40 yards. Lions punter Jack Fox was the better punter in forcing league-leading returner Myles Price to make three fair catches and have one punt with no yards on the return. The Lions also held Price in check on his three kickoff returns.

Around the NFL Observations in Week 8

1. Buffalo comes into next Monday night’s game off an impressive 36-10 win over Baltimore in which Lamar Jackson suffered an injured thumb on the first play and the Ravens were reeling after that. Allen passed for 289 yards and two TDs and ran for a score. Cook had 101 combined yards and one TD. The Bills defense sacked Tyler Huntley and Joe Fagnano four times.

The Cowboys meltdown (now 3-5) continued by blowing a 14-point lead and losing at home to the Cardinals 33-30 in OT.

Pittsburgh (6-2) leads the AFC North after a dominating 27-6 triumph over Cleveland. But the Bengals are only a half-game back after escaping 43-36 in overtime against the Titans with Joe Burrow having a wild game as he threw for 462 yards with five TD passes but was picked off three times.

Denver (6-2) took over first place in the AFC West over Kansas City (5-2) by beating the Chiefs 28-24 in a game that came down to the wire.

The Rams improved to 4-4 with a 24-9 win over the disappointing Chargers who have gone from a playoff team last year to the NFL’s only winless team at 0-7.

And in a bizarre game at Tampa Bay, the Bucs shut out the Falcons 16-0 despite Baker Mayfield completing no passes. Bucky Irving rushed for 170 yards and Atlanta’s Michael Penix threw four interceptions to help the Bucs cause.

I’ll be back on Friday to preview the big Monday night matchup between the Vikings and Bills as the Purple try to get a home win and hang onto first place in the ultra-competitive NFC North with all four teams being at least two games over .500.