Minnesota Vikings: Studs and duds from wild, record-setting win in Week 17
Studs and duds from the Minnesota Vikings wild win over the Lions in Week 17.
Going into Week 17 of the 2020 NFL season, both the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions had basically nothing to play for outside of purely hoping to end the year with a win.
With both teams on the outside looking in when it comes to the postseason, Minnesota and Detroit wrapped up the regular season schedule on Sunday afternoon in Detroit in an NFC North battle. At the end of the game, the Vikings were able to come out on top 37-35 and swept the two-game series with the Lions in 2020.
With the season now over with and both the Vikings and Lions looking ahead to the 2021 year while other teams prepare for the playoffs, let’s take a look back at some studs and duds for Minnesota in Week 17.
Stud: Alexander Mattison
With Dalvin Cook out of the game in Week 17 following the unexpected death of his father during the week, that meant backup running back Alexander Mattison and others would have to pick up the pace for what has been a key aspect of the Vikings offense in the regular-season finale.
Right out of the gate in the game and during the course of the contest, Mattison had a nice showing as the top running back out of the backfield with Cook absent. Mattison finished the game with 21 carries for 95 yards and one touchdown on the ground, while adding three catches for 50 yards and one touchdown through the air in the passing game.
Mattison has been solid all year long for Minnesota, and the duo of him and Cook is something to be excited about moving forward.
Dud: Vikings pass defense
There is no denying the Vikings defense has struggled the entire season here in 2020, and those struggles continued in the passing defense to round out the year this weekend.
With multiple injuries on that side of the ball, Minnesota has taken a big step back on defense this year, allowing large chunk plays and opposing offenses to flourish throughout the course of a matchup.
In Week 17 in Detroit, the Lions managed to go off and throw for 293 yards and three touchdowns with Matthew Stafford leading the way at quarterback. In the receiving game, Marvin Jones Jr. torched Minnesota with eight catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns.