Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold entered Sunday night’s game on a high. For seven weeks in a row, he had lifted Minnesota’s offense to unforeseen heights. He had been accurate. He had made quick decisions. And he had thrown for 18 touchdowns and two interceptions over that span.
That sharpness did not translate to the biggest stage, as Darnold struggled mightily in Detroit against a blitz-happy Lions team.
Darnold missed throws in the red zone and over the middle. Minnesota reached the red zone four times in the first three quarters and only scored six points. Darnold sailed a pass to Justin Jefferson and missed an open Jordan Addison. His feet bounced around constantly, and his reactions made it seem like he was not seeing the field clearly.
He finished 18-of-41 passing for 166 yards, zero touchdowns and no interceptions. There was, however, a turnover-worthy play in the red zone, a pass nearly picked off by Lions cornerback Amik Robertson. The Vikings’ offensive line’s inability to pick up pressure did Darnold no favors, but in the end, the Vikings’ operation looked too shaky in what would have been a massive victory with the NFC North and No. 1 seed on the line.
