The Detroit Lions secured a significant win against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, a victory that catapulted them to first place in both the NFC and the NFC North.
As with every game, there were standout performances and areas that need improvement. Here’s a breakdown of the winners and losers from this matchup:
Winners
Jared Goff
Week after week, Jared Goff continues to defy expectations. Many anticipated that he might slow down, but he has been consistently performing at an MVP level.
It’s impressive to watch a quarterback complete 88% of his passes in a single game, but what’s even more remarkable is his 84.5% completion rate over the last four games. He remains the driving force behind the Lions’ success.
Isaac Ukwu
For the second straight week, Ukwu proved to be a difference-maker. He played 34 snaps on Sunday and made key plays throughout the game.
One of his most significant contributions won’t show up on the stat sheet, but it demonstrated his high football IQ.
The Vikings ran a play intended for Aaron Jones, but Ukwu read it perfectly, positioned himself next to Jones, and effectively neutralized the play.
That’s the kind of veteran awareness that’s invaluable on defense.
Jack Campbell
Campbell was a force on Sunday, especially in stopping the run. He registered five tackles, with most of them coming in situations where he prevented a run from gaining yardage.
Additionally, he added a sack on Darnold. It was an all-around strong performance from the second-year linebacker.
Brian Branch
All season, Brian Branch has been performing at an All-Pro level, and it’s time to consider that he might be having a Defensive Player of the Year caliber season.
Against the Vikings, he recorded four tackles, two pass breakups, and an interception.
His impact on the field is undeniable, and he continues to anchor the Lions’ defense.
Terrion Arnold
Terrion Arnold’s name wasn’t mentioned much on Sunday, which is usually a good sign for a cornerback.
He effectively shut down his side of the field, primarily covering Jordan Addison, who only managed 15 yards outside of a single 51-yard catch.
Arnold also avoided penalties for a second consecutive week, a testament to his discipline and solid play.
Ben Johnson
Analysts described the game as a chess match between Lions’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Vikings’ defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
In this contest, Johnson came out on top, effectively outmaneuvering Flores’ defensive strategies.
Losers
Jameson Williams
The Vikings defense had a clear game plan to limit Jameson Williams, and it worked. They never allowed him to get open, and he was targeted just once.
Although he caught the pass, it resulted in a 4-yard loss after an immediate tackle. It was a quiet day for Williams, who will be looking to bounce back.
Kayode Awosika
After an impressive performance against the Seahawks, expectations were high for Awosika. However, he struggled early in this game, committing three penalties in the first quarter alone.
Though he managed to settle down as the game progressed, the penalties hurt the team’s momentum. Despite this, he remains a reliable backup guard.
Brian Flores
Flores has a reputation for aggressively blitzing, especially against Jared Goff. However, Goff has consistently been able to exploit this strategy.
Once again, Flores’ blitz-heavy approach was ineffective, and it may be time for him to reconsider his game plan against the Lions’ quarterback.
Officials
While the officiating didn’t decide the outcome of the game, it felt overly strict, leading to frequent stoppages.
The constant interruptions made the game feel less fluid, and without them, it could have been even more entertaining.
