Vikings beat Lions 23-10 with just 3 net passing yards at U.S. Bank Stadium

Modern NFL teams seldom triumph the mode the Minnesota Vikings did Thursday astatine U.S. Bank Stadium. With rookie Max Brosmer making his 2nd vocation commencement and 3 starting violative linemen out, Minnesota bushed the Detroit Lions 23-10 portion finishing with conscionable 3 nett passing yards.

The Vikings became lone the 3rd squad successful the past 40 seasons to triumph with less than 10 nett passing yards. The different examples were the 1987 St. Louis Cardinals (4 yards) and the 2006 Houston Texans (minus-5 yards). Minnesota sat astatine minus-7 nett passing yards until its last throw, erstwhile Brosmer deed Justin Jefferson for 10 yards.

“It wasn't our modular successful the walk game,” manager Kevin O’Connell said. “But sometimes, it depends connected however your squad plays collectively arsenic a group. I've learned a batch arsenic a caput manager of [doing] immoderate it takes to triumph each and each accidental that you get.”

Defense, tract goals and 1 large tally bash the damage

Detroit entered ranked No. 18 successful antiaircraft walk EPA per play, yet it overwhelmed Brosmer, sacking him 7 times and hitting him 5 different times. Minnesota leaned connected its defence to acceptable the code and shorten the field. One touchdown thrust started aft the Vikings recovered a fumble astatine the Lions’ 16-yard line. The different touchdown came connected a 65-yard tally by wide receiver Jordan Addison.

Kicker Will Reichard supplied the rest, going 3-of-3 connected tract goals, including a 56-yarder.

After throwing 4 interceptions successful his archetypal NFL start, a 26-0 nonaccomplishment astatine Seattle successful Week 13, Brosmer said the attack was clear. O’Connell said the squad wanted to “protect the football.” Brosmer seldom pushed it downfield, attempting lone 3 passes that traveled much than 5 yards past the enactment of scrimmage, and finished 9-of-16 for 51 yards. Across 2 starts and parts of 4 different appearances, helium has 271 full passing yards.

“Lots of learning,” Brosmer said. “NFL shot is hard, and radical accidental it a lot. NFL shot is fun, too, and that's not maine saying I don't bask this. My favourite portion is the process.”

McCarthy valuation inactive connected hold

Minnesota has won 4 consecutive to scope 8-8, nevertheless its bigger late-season purpose remains unresolved: getting a afloat valuation of injured rookie J.J. McCarthy. He was inactive aft a “very, precise tiny hairline fracture” successful his close throwing hand. “He's doing well,” O’Connell said. “With the other clip until adjacent week, we'll see.” He added: “I would evidently emotion to person him get 1 much accidental for this year.”