Vikings need a hard reset on their passing game for the playoffs after a humbling loss to Lions

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Time after time, the Minnesota Vikings had receivers open down the field in Detroit that Sam Darnold didn't connect with on a frustrating night that prevented them from taking the top seed in the NFC.

Their first priority entering the playoffs will be rebooting the passing attack they're built around, the asset that factored heavily into their 14-3 regular-season finish.

“Just across the board, I think a little bit better execution from all 11 guys, regardless of the play call, and then there’s no question, there are certain circumstances in that game where I’ve got to do a much better job,” coach Kevin O'Connell said on Monday, lamenting the 31-9 loss to the Lions that cemented the Vikings as a wild-card team and not a division winner.

The heat was on Darnold in Detroit, on multiple levels.

The Lions blitzed on an extraordinary amount of plays, and the pass rush negatively affected Darnold far more than it had in most games with Minnesota. His 18-for-41 performance was by far his worst completion rate of the season (43.9 percent), and he failed to throw a touchdown pass despite four consecutive possessions that reached the red zone. All six drives over the second and third quarters ended inside the Detroit 35, yet the Vikings produced nine points from them.

“There’s some things where mindset and mechanics sometimes can intertwine, previous plays impacting the next,” O’Connell said, suggesting Darnold might have let the moment get too big for himself at times. “There’s maybe five, six, seven, eight plays in that game where it’s across the board, the quarterback’s going to have the spotlight on him when a play looks to be available to make and we don’t make it.”

The most common problem was uncharacteristic inaccuracy, including several passes that sailed high and some that were too far left or right.

“I felt like I went to the right place with the ball,” Darnold said. "I’ve just got to hit the throw.”

The success the Vikings have had with their passing attack under O'Connell, with not only his play-calling acumen but his quarterback development program, can actually work against them sometimes.

Despite the trouble Darnold was having against the pass rush, and his tendency to hold onto the ball longer than recommended, there were pages in the playbook for quicker and shorter throws that didn't get used. The Vikings also ran the ball only 19 times, their second-lowest total of the season, despite 6.3 yards per rush that was their second-highest average of the season. They were in a one-score game until early in the fourth quarter, with a justifiable opportunity to keep the ball on the ground more than they did.

“We were in the red zone four times and we didn’t score," wide receiver Justin Jefferson said. "You’re not going to win games like that, putting the defense in that type of predicament. They got us those turnovers. They got us that short field to go and score. We just didn’t do a good enough job.”

The defense performed much better against the Lions on Sunday than in their matchup in Minnesota in Week 7, despite the same amount of points (31) allowed. The Lions had only 10 points after their first seven possessions, until they took over down the stretch.

Darnold's performance in goal-to-go situations was particularly abysmal in Detroit. He went 1 for 9 on those downs, mostly under fierce pressure but several times with an open receiver he either missed or simply misfired to.

Linebacker Ivan Pace was eased back into action over the past two games after he missed four games with a hamstring injury, but he made a significant impact against the Lions while playing 30 of 68 snaps. He had an interception off a tipped pass deep in Detroit territory and led the team with 10 tackles, one for loss.

Rookie kicker Will Reichard has lost the rhythm he had before his quadriceps injury two months ago. He pulled a 51-yard field goal way wide right at Detroit and also sent a kickoff out of bounds with 20 seconds left in the first half, giving the Lions the ball at their 40 before two completions yielded a field goal and a 10-6 lead at the break. Reichard has missed six of his past 16 field-goal attempts.

Despite missing out on the first-round bye, Minnesota takes a remarkably healthy team into the playoffs. Cam Robinson has proved to be a capable replacement at left tackle for Christian Darrisaw, the only key player out for the season. Getting outside linebacker Patrick Jones back from a knee injury would help the depth, but O'Connell did not have an update on his status on Monday.

5 — The losing streak against the Lions has matched the longest for the Vikings in the history of the series.

Just like after they took their first loss of the season to the Lions on Oct. 20, the Vikings must travel to Los Angeles. They lost to the Rams 30-20 in Week 8. This time, they have twice as many days to recover and prepare with their wild-card round game next Monday night.

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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell watches from the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell talks to the media following an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold talks to the media following an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) looks to as he is pressured by Detroit Lions defensive end Josh Paschal (93) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is sacked by Detroit Lions linebacker Al-Quadin Muhammad (69) and defensive end Josh Paschal (93) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is sacked by Detroit Lions defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) can't make a catch against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson watches from the sidelines during the final minutes of the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Zion Williamson symbolically announced his return from a 27-game injury absence with a breakaway dunk in which he rotated 360 degrees in the air while throwing down a crowd-pleasing, double-clutch, roundhouse jam.

“The dunk was crazy just knowing how long he’s been out and to see that he could still do that,” Pelicans point guard Dejounte Murray said after the Pelicans' 104-97 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night. “I’m glad he played with the confidence and the joy."

To Williamson, attempting that dunk in his first game back from a left hamstring strain wasn't so much a bold play as “another day at the office.”

“I definitely feel like my legs are already under me," said Williamson, who scored 22 points in just under 28 minutes.

“The focus I had during this rehab was a bit more extreme,” Williamson added. “I feel like I didn’t even miss a beat, but gained a beat.”

Williamson also had six rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block on Wolves center Rudy Gobert. After a few minutes on the court, he revved up the crowd with a soaring two-handed dunk of CJ McCollum's long alley-oop lob.

“It’s incredible, his ability to impact the basketball game when he’s on the floor," Pelicans coach Willie Green said. "He had a little bit of rust, but that’s as good as I’ve seen him after being out for as long as he’s been.

"It’s a credit to Zion, the work that he’s been putting in.”

Green said Williamson was on minutes restriction that was “roughly” about the time he was in the game. But Green inserted Williamson in a starting lineup that also included Murray, marking the first time the two have played together.

Williamson's two breakaway dunks in the third quarter resulted from aggressive defensive by both of them near mid-court, swarming Minnesota's Anthony Edwards, and later Julius Randle, and poking the ball away.

“Our chemistry is there,” Williamson said.

Added Green: “That was a fun segment. That’s a small sample size of what this team is capable of."

The crowd cheered when Williamson emerged from the tunnel for warm-ups before tip-off and again when he was announced as a starter.

Williamson, the first overall pick out of Duke in the 2019 NBA Draft, had played in just six of New Orleans' previous 36 games this season, averaging 22.7 points, eight rebounds and 5.3 assists.

The Pelicans (7-30) fell to 2-5 when Williamson plays this season, but went 5-25 without him, including 4-23 during the past 27 games.

The Pelicans also have a game on Wednesday night against Portland, but Green declined to forecast whether Williamson would be cleared to play games on consecutive nights at this point in his recovery.

Williamson said he, too, would have to consult with the team about that on Wednesday.

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New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson is fouled by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels as he drives to the basket in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. The Timberwolves won 104-97. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson is fouled by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels as he drives to the basket in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. The Timberwolves won 104-97. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) moves the ball against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. The Timberwolves won 104-97. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) drives to the basket ahead of Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) and forward Julius Randle (30) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. The Timberwolves won 104-97 (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) slam dunks ahead of Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) reacts after his slam dunk in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, arm raised, high fives his teammates during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, third from left, celebrates during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) battles for the ball against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson shoots against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson moves the ball around Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson reacts to an official's call in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)