https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/6-tak ... p_catchall6 takeaways from Lions’ frustrating loss to the Vikings
Welp, the season is over. Although there is still a game next week against the Chicago Bears, the Detroit Lions have nothing to play for but a winning record. Heading into the Christmas Day showdown against the Minnesota Vikings, the Lions still had the possibility of making the playoffs. What they needed was to win their next two games and have the Green Bay Packers lose their next two.
Detroit couldn’t even defeat Minnesota.
The offense chose to have its worst game of the season at the worst possible time, and the Vikings’ defense took advantage of it.
Here are my seven takeaways from the Lions’ Week 17 loss.
Once again, the offensive line struggled
Stop me if you heard this before, but the offensive line was the biggest reason for the loss this week. Things appeared to be headed in a good direction with center Graham Glasgow practicing. Christmas morning, though, it took a turn. Left tackle Taylor Decker popped up on the injury report with an illness and missed the game. Glasgow, despite practicing, didn’t play either, and suddenly the Lions had Dan Skipper at left tackle and Kingsley Eguakun at center.
As you might expect, the Lions’ offense struggled to move the ball no matter what they tried on Thursday afternoon. Quarterback Jared Goff was sacked five times, fumbled the ball three times due to a bad snap by Eguakun or an immense amount of pressure from the Vikings’ pass rush that couldn’t be stopped. During the game, right tackle Penei Sewell got injured and missed some time, replaced by Kayode Awosika, and eventually returned.
I did see one successful Detroit 4th down play, but that was not a decisive moment in the game. Also, full disclosure: I did not watch the entire game. I watched a bit of Denver vs KC; the Commanders vs. Cowboys held no real interest to me and I had more important things to do.
Lots of games this weekend to watch.
ConfederateSS.out!(The Blue and Silver Rebellion)... 
