Three keys to the Vikings' 30-24 loss to the Lions. (Hint: They're about quarterbacks.)

Lions quarterback Jared Goff was clean, Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens was not and that made all the difference Sunday.

By Naila-Jean Meyers Star Tribune

December 24, 2023 — 9:39pm

Key player

Lions QB Jared Goff

Goff probably got tired of hearing he was 0-3 against Brian Flores-coached defenses. His overall numbers were modest: 30-of-40 for 257 yards and one touchdown. But he was sacked only once. He had no turnovers. He led an offense that was 6-of-12 on third down and 2-of-2 on fourth down and dominated time of possession 38:22 to 21:38. His offense had balance the Vikings did not, as the Lions rushed 143 yards.

Key play

Nick Mullens' last interception

Somehow, despite all their turnovers, all their penalties, all their injuries, the Vikings were down by six at the Detroit 30-yard line with 58 seconds left. Most of this was Justin Jefferson's doing, after he recovered a Mullens fumble deep in Vikings territory then made a catch to convert a third-and-27 on the next play. So Mullens did what had worked all day: He threw in Jefferson's direction. But like many of Mullens' throws Sunday, the ball was behind the receiver. Ifeatu Melifonwu intercepted it at the 5 to end the threat and send the Vikings to their eighth one-score loss of the season.

Key number

Mullens has started 19 NFL games. He has thrown 29 interceptions, including four Sunday. He was also nearly intercepted in the end zone, but Detroit's Brian Branch dropped it. His career interception rate (interceptions divided by attempts) is 3.9%. He has thrown six interceptions in nine quarters as the Vikings quarterback, combining some bad decisionmaking with poorly thrown balls. He also fumbled twice while being sacked Sunday; he fumbled a third time but was ruled down by contact.

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