Vikings loss to Lions makes dubious history for Minnesota

The Minnesota Vikings made embarrassing NFL history in their loss to the Detroit Lions.

As it turns out, you can spell Minnesota Vikings without using a single D just fine.

Although there is no D to be found in Kevin O’Connell, we may need to refer the Vikings efensive coordinator as E Onatell going forward. While a 10-3 record is certainly commendable, the Vikings just became the first team in NFL history with that strong record to have posted a negative point differential. Minnesota has scored 312 points this season, but has surrendered a whopping 313…

Losing to the surging Detroit Lions is not the end of the world, but this Vikings defense is putrid.

Minnesota Vikings are good at scoring points, but even better at allowing them

While Motor City Dan Campbell is telling his Lions “let’s fricking go, man!”, nobody is more disgusted by this blatant disregard for defensive dominance more than former Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer. The only thing he hated more than allowing points was his team’s franchise quarterback. Oo-wee! This Vikings defense needs to get better in a hurry because this one stinks!

Let’s be real. This is a bad year to have a bad defense if you are the Vikings. The NFC is down across the board, but despite being 10-3, there are no guarantees Minnesota gets to the conference title bout to play for an almost unheard-of trip to the Super Bowl. This Minnesota defense will transform any pocket quarterback into the 21st-century version of Fran Tarkenton.

Fortunately for the Vikings, there is time to make adjustments. Minnesota may have to win games the rest of the way in spite of its defense, but if that side of the ball improves to being within striking distance of league average, the Vikings can win the NFC. The Vikings are in the NFC Super Bowl bubble along with the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers.

We could be living in a world where a 13 Vikings team finishes with a negative point differential.