Three keys to the Minnesota Vikings' 31:29 loss to the Detroit Lions

Goff didn't throw an incomplete pass until the third quarter and finished the day 22 of 25 for 280 yards and two touchdowns for a passer rating of 140. He has a passer rating of 140 or higher in his last three games and is at 82% over that span Passes completed. He didn't turn the ball over on Sunday, getting 100-yard games from running back Jahmyr Gibbs and receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. Each made a big play in the second quarter (45-yard run for Gibbs, 35-yard catch for St. Brown) as the Lions built a 21-10 halftime lead after going scoreless in the first quarter. Although Goff was sacked four times after coming up short only twice against the Vikings last season, he remained composed when it mattered most. Needed to lead the Lions to the game-winning score with 2 minutes, 32 seconds left in the game, Goff got the ball exclusively to Gibbs and St. Brown as Detroit reached the Vikings 26 to set up Jake Bates' 44-yard field goal.

Two missed opportunities in the fourth quarter

The Vikings put the game in the hands of Sam Darnold twice in the final minutes when it came down to short yardage and he failed to convert. They ran only one red zone play on offense, and it was their two-point conversion attempt after Ivan Pace Jr.'s fumble return for a TD gave them a one-point lead with 5:50 left. Darnold's pass to Jordan Addison was tipped and fell incomplete.

After the Vikings defense forced a three-pointer and sacked Goff for emphasis on third down, the offense had to hold on to a drive with 4:16 left. But the Vikings also scored a three-pointer. On the third and fourth strikes, Darnold overthrew Justin Jefferson and they had to punt. Goff had more than two minutes and only needed a field goal to win.

The Vikings' seven offensive penalties

After the Jets' game in London and as the Vikings returned from their bye week, coach Kevin O'Connell and offensive coordinator Wes Phillips expressed concern about the number of penalties the offense suffered, particularly in the area of ​​presnap penalties. The situation did not improve on Sunday. All but one of the Vikings' eight penalties were offensive-related, including false starts, illegal formations and offsides that involved multiple holds. All of this gives the impression that this is an off-kilter offense.