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| 6-4 |
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| 8-2 |
VS
Happy Turkey Day everybody! Welcome to my first game recap/live post on this blog; a special Thanksgiving Day divisional matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions! The game took place at 12:30 at Ford Field. The Vikings are looking to avenge their *ahem* embarrassing 14-7 loss at home to the Lions earlier in the season, while the Lions aim to remain undefeated in divisional play. Can the Vikings sail to victory over a struggling Lions team, or will the Lions continue to dominate the division?
Predictions:
This is a game with major playoff implications. I'm gonna go with the Vikings on this one, with a 30-17 win. The Lions will keep it close, as they've always had Minnesota's number, but I personally believe Case Keenum and the Viking receiving core is too good right now. Towards the end, like they usually do, the Vikings will start to really move the ball, and clinch the win with a TD with under 5 minutes remaining. I think the Lions will move the ball well, but the Viking's defense will ultimately keep Jim Caldwell's dumpster-fire of a Red Zone offense out of the end zone in crucial moments.
Recap: 30-23, Vikings
As expected, Stafford kept the Vikings within reach. Penalties and a mediocre showing by the Viking special teams unit gave the Lion's hopes a shot in the arm; ultimately, however, Keenum and his receiving core kept the purple people eaters on top the entire game. Meanwhile, the Viking defense made the stops when they needed to be made, while the Lions defense at too much turkey and fell asleep at the table. The Vikings are now in prime position for the NFC North title, while the Lions have a long battle to claim a wild card spot against a huge field of contenders.
Live Comments:
1st Quarter:
Oh good, more penalties for the Vikings. 30 yards on the return plus 5 for the Lions.
Viking defense shuts down Lions opening drive. Only lets them get nine yards.
Looked like Lions were trying to get the Vike's defense offside. Nice try, Caldwell, but Vikings defense doesn't fall for it.
Scary catch by Sherles. Vikings start on own 20.
Vikings playing conservative on offense to start. Didn't work last year, let's see if it does today.
Rocket from Keenum to Thielen, big catch, plus unsportsmanlike conduct against Detroit gives them first down and more.
Viking running game doesn't seem to be going anywhere early.
Keenum keeps it and runs for six yards on 3rd and 4, first down.
Short pass to Thielen, 13 yards and the first down.
Illegal block on Minnesota, moving back to 1st and 19.
Pass to Diggs, gets 13 yards back.
Murray, how do you drop that pass!!??
Diggs gets the first down.
There's the running game, Murray runs for 10 and another first down.
First and goal: Nothing on the run.
2nd and goal: Wide open pass to Kyle Rudolph, TD.
Extra point blocked. As usual, Detroit's gotta make it exciting.
Kai Forbath, thank God you can kick a field goal. How do you miss 5 extra points??
Lions start on their 25.
Gain of 17 off short pass to Marvin Jones. First down Detroit.
Butterfinger Abdullah does it again: fumble and Vikings recover in Detroit territory.
McKinnon gets stuffed again, loses one yard.
McKinnon gets a short pass, big gain. McKinnon lost control of the ball after he was down, and Thielen grabbed it and ran it in. Initial call was TD, but McKinnon was as down under as Australia, no TD.
Keenum with the sneak, another TD and a Thanksgiving Dinner celebration for the Vikings. Maybe when they win this game, they can put the Vikings on Broadway, call them "Excessive Celebration" or something...
Lions get it back on their 25.
Illegal formation puts Lions at 2nd and 10.
Lions stuck in cement, forced to punt again.
Vikings get it back on their 28.
Long pass to Thielen, but inches short of first down.
Vikings' appear to be going for it on 4th and 1. False start on offense, five yards back, and now they will punt. If the Viking's defense wasn't a brick wall, this would perhaps be the life the Lions need.
Good punt, Lions get it on their 15.
Abdullah gets the catch and run for the 1st down and a bunch more.
Vikings defense proves to be made of mahogony against both the run and the pass, while their offense slices through the Lion's secondary like corwood in the 1st Quarter. With that, we skol to the 2nd.
2nd Quarter:
Big pass to Golden Tate, but he's out of bounds. Holding call against Viking defense gives Lions automatic first down. In other news, time travel confirmed.
Ebron gets a short pass, carries for another first down. Expecting the Lions to start passing more soon; Vikes run defense is too good.
Stafford sacked, loses five.
Stafford finds Jones Jr. for first down.
Stafford tries to find Fells in end zone, but Vikings break it up.
Dropped pass by Theo Riddick on an easy TD. Who else but the Lions??!!?
Incomplete pass by Stafford, but two offsetting penalties result in repeat of down. Lions get one more chance at the first down or the end zone.
Pass broken up by Xavier Rhodes, Lions settle for field goal.
Prater gets it. 13-3, Vikings.
Holding against Vikes on kickoff. Penalties really starting to bite. Vikes start on their own 8.
Keenum almost loses ball on carry. 3rd and 8 Vikings.
Keenum throws incomplete, holding call against Lions give Vikes crucial first down.
Thielen drops a low pass, 3rd and 6.
Wright with the grab in the middle of the field, first down Vikings.
Diggs gets the ball off the toss for 10 yards.
McKinnon finally gets a hole, big gain for another first down.
Keenum keeps and runs again for 1st down. I think he has more running yards than his running backs.
Big pass to Thielen, another first down.
Another running loss for Vikes, six this time. Reminiscent of Ray Lewis.
Yet ANOTHER running loss on 3rd down. 4th and very long, Vikes go for 53 yard FG attempt.
Forbath is blocked AGAIN, remains 13-3.
Stafford had a lot of time, and still threw incomplete.
Stafford can't find anyone on 3rd down either, 3 and out for Lions.
Vikings get ball on 25.
Murray loses one on run, Vikes RB's have gum shoes today.
Rudolph gets 1st down and a lot more.
Wright gets first down, is held down too long, gets five more from delay of game penalty. What are you doing, Lions??
Rudolph with a big catch in the end zone over the heads of Lions defenders, TD.
FORBATH GOT AN EXTRA POINT!!! 20-3 Vikings.
Lions get it back on 25 again.
Amazing grab by Golladay for Lions in Viking territory, although they are reviewing it.
Pass interference on Rhodes, Lions move down to Viking 12 yard line off penalty.
Facemask on Kendricks, Lions move to Viking 6 yard line, 1st down.
Stafford finds Jones Jr. right at the plane, TD Lions. Ruling on field stands after review.
20-10, Vikings.
Keenum kneels to end half.
20-10 Vikings at end of half.
Minnesota continues to dominate offensively and defensively, but costly penalties for the Vikings are the only things keeping the Lions in the game. As expected, Stafford waits until crunch time to do anything, scoring the team's first TD right at the end of the half. However, I'm surprised at how poorly the Vikings are running the ball; Keenum is essentially carrying the run game on his back. The Vikings will come out in the second half with more passing to offset the poor run game, while the Lion's chant their "hail Stafford's" with the hopes that he will actually complete a pass.
Also, Jason Derulo is a manufactured American Idol pretty boy with no place on a football field.
3rd Quarter:
So much for stuffing the running game; Lions defense too busy stuffing a turkey, as Murray runs for first down and a whole lot more.
McKinnon picks up another big run, this time 16 yards. Vikings in Red Zone less than two minutes in.
McKinnon makes it first and goal with another big run.
Murray runs it in for TD.
Forbath makes the extra point. 27-10 Vikings.
Stafford makes a completion for a first down. No, I didn't hit the wrong key.
Marvin Jones Jr. makes big 3rd down conversion off a great juggling catch
Lions actually moving the ball pretty well.
Ebron with catch in middle of the field for first down.
Trae Waynes for Vikings may be injured after great tackle.
Abdullah gets a short pass, but loses a yard.
Stafford finds Fells in the end zone on great catch, TD.
Under review.
Ruling changed to incomplete. Controversial decision, but the ball was pinned against the ground. Lions also waited too long to snap the extra point.
Prater's FG is good, 27-13 Vikings.
Controversial no-call on pass interference after Keenum airs it out for Diggs. If that's not pass interference, than I don't know what is anymore.
Keenum sacked...when was the last time you heard that? Loss of five.
Keenum can't find anyone, 4th down.
Good punt return from Golden Tate, but flag is down. Block in the back against Lions.
Tate having his knee checked after punt return. Not what the Lions wanted.
Stafford finds Bolladay in midfield, first down. Swanson, the Lions Center, appears to be injured.
Ebron with another big catch for the Lions on third down, first down.
Lolcow Lions like usual. Attempted flea flicker goes haywire when Stafford juggles the ball. Holding against defense gives Lions first down anyway.
Zimmer throws a challenge flag, although Riddick was obviously down. Who else but Zimmer?!?!
Stafford turns back the clock, and his noodle arm returns.
Stafford sacks and the ball comes out, Detroit recovers but...ouch.
Prater puts up another field goal. 27-16, Vikings.
Vikes start at their own 25.
Murray swallowed, loses four.
Keenum sacked again. Taunting call against Keenum?! Apparently, all he did was flick the ball at the guy who sacked him (didn't get his name)Vikings punting from deep in their Red Zone.
Stafford making it interesting in the 3rd, but once more he can't find the end zone. The early Viking TD gives them a considerable advantage, but Stafford is the king of 4th quarter comebacks.
4th Quarter:
Lions get good starting field position.
Unbelievable Jones Jr. grab in double coverage, breaks away for Lions TD. Stafford may be hurt.
27-23, Vikings.
Crucial 3rd and 3 for the Vikes. Looks like Stafford is okay.
Good play by Keenum, narrowly escapes blitz, dumps it off to Thielen, first down.
Another first down off catch from Adam Thielen
Murray runs, barely enough for first down, Thielen now has 1,000 receiving yards this season.
Big 3rd and 10 coming up.
Bad pass, Vikings will punt.
Lions start deep in their own territory. This has quickly turned into a good game.
Only the Lions would have the first down, then run backwards. 3 and out.
Vikings start at their own 40.
Pass dumped off to Diggs, who barely gets the first down.
Block in the back on the Vikings. Ugh.
Diggs with a big gain, nobody stopped him. WHY WOULD YOU RUN OUT OF BOUNDS?!
Keenum with glue fingers, almost stripped but held on!
Forbath is good. 30-23, Vikings.
Lions get it on the 25.
Terrible pass goes incomplete.
Too high from Stafford to wide open Tate.
4th and 8 for Lions.
Xavier Rhodes interception in Lions territory.
BLOCKED FIELD GOAL...but once again, only the Lions would go offsides to make a great play. Vikings win 30-23.
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