Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2014 Week 6 Recap

Game story

In Week 6 of the 2014 NFL season on 2014-10-12, the Detroit Lions took care of business against the Minnesota Vikings, pulling away with a 17–3 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 10 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Bridgewater (Minnesota Vikings) paced the passing game, with -25.43 total EPA, and -8.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Riddick (Detroit Lions) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.72 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-13.9% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Minnesota Vikings changed the game: (:49) (Shotgun) 5-T.Bridgewater pass short middle intended for 44-M.Asiata INTERCEPTED by 59-T.Whitehead at DET 47. 59-T.Whitehead to DET 49 for 2 yards (44-M.Asiata).

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 T. Riddick · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +4.72 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Ford · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +4.01 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
3. 3 J. McKinnon · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +2.05 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Bell · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +1.15 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Wright · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +1.14 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.14 EPA/play
6. 6 G. Winn · Detroit Lions · Rushing · +0.98 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
7. 7 Charles. Johnson · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +0.92 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Collins · Detroit Lions · Rushing · +0.52 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.52 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Detroit Lions — T. Riddick (M. Stafford pass) (Q1 56:11)
• Detroit Lions — J. Bell (Q4 11:46)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — M. Prater (Q2 30:12)
• Detroit Lions — T. Bridgewater (Q2 30:01)
• Minnesota Vikings — B. Walsh (Q4 4:56)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 7–0. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIN 9 (Q1 56:11); Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q1 56:06) — (Kick formation) 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin..

The second quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 6–0. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIN 34 (Q2 30:12) — (:12) (Field Goal formation) 5-M.Prater 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the DET 81 (Q2 30:01) — (:01) (Run formation) 5-T.Bridgewater kneels to MIN 18 for -1 yards..

The fourth quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 7–3. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIN 1 (Q4 11:46) — (11:46) 35-J.Bell up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q4 11:44) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the DET 22 (Q4 4:56) — (4:56) (Field Goal formation) 3-B.Walsh 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-18-J.Locke..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 30:49) — (:49) (Shotgun) 5-T.Bridgewater pass short middle intended for 44-M.Asiata INTERCEPTED by 59-T.Whitehead at DET 47. 59-T.Whitehead to DET 49 for 2 yards (44-M.Asiata). [WPA -13.9% · EPA -3.30]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 52:42) — (7:42) 5-T.Bridgewater pass deep middle intended for 84-C.Patterson INTERCEPTED by 27-G.Quin at DET -2. 27-G.Quin to DET 18 for 20 yards (31-J.McKinnon). [WPA -13.2% · EPA -5.15]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 26:39) — (11:39) 5-T.Bridgewater pass short middle intended for 84-C.Patterson INTERCEPTED by 59-T.Whitehead (52-D.Tapp) at DET 48. 59-T.Whitehead to DET 48 for no gain (74-Charlie.Johnson). [WPA -12.1% · EPA -4.95]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 57:42) — (12:42) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 25-T.Riddick to MIN 9 for 41 yards (55-A.Barr). [WPA +10.7% · EPA +2.74]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Field Goal formation) 5-M.Prater 50 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin. [WPA -9.4% · EPA -3.64]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 52:42) — (7:42) 5-T.Bridgewater pass deep middle intended for 84-C.Patterson INTERCEPTED by 27-G.Quin at DET -2. 27-G.Quin to DET 18 for 20 yards (31-J.McKinnon). [WPA -13.2% · EPA -5.15]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 26:39) — (11:39) 5-T.Bridgewater pass short middle intended for 84-C.Patterson INTERCEPTED by 59-T.Whitehead (52-D.Tapp) at DET 48. 59-T.Whitehead to DET 48 for no gain (74-Charlie.Johnson). [WPA -12.1% · EPA -4.95]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 21:54) — (6:54) 5-M.Prater 44 yard field goal is No Good, Hit Left Upright, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin. [WPA -8.6% · EPA -4.01]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Field Goal formation) 5-M.Prater 50 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin. [WPA -9.4% · EPA -3.64]

Quarterback report card

T.Bridgewater led all passers in efficiency for Minnesota Vikings, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• T.Bridgewater (Minnesota Vikings) · 51 dropbacks · 45.1% completion · -8.7% CPOE · -0.50 EPA/play · -25.43 total EPA
• M.Stafford (Detroit Lions) · 42 dropbacks · 45.2% completion · -10.5% CPOE · -0.08 EPA/play · -3.22 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Detroit Lions generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.15 vs -0.36), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Detroit Lions: 13 drives, -13.29 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 14 drives, -29.48 total EPA, 1 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Detroit Lions leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• T. Riddick (Detroit Lions) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• T. Bridgewater (MIN) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• M. Stafford (DET) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 56:11 · MIN 9 · Score 6-0
   (11:11) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 25-T.Riddick for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official challenged the runner broke the plane ruling, and th
2. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q1 56:06 · MIN 2 · Score 7-0
   (Kick formation) 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
3. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 30:12 · MIN 34 · Score 10-0
   (:12) (Field Goal formation) 5-M.Prater 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
4. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 30:01 · DET 81 · Score 10-0
   (:01) (Run formation) 5-T.Bridgewater kneels to MIN 18 for -1 yards.
5. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 11:46 · MIN 1 · Score 16-0
   (11:46) 35-J.Bell up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q4 11:44 · MIN 2 · Score 17-0
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
7. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q4 4:56 · DET 22 · Score 17-3
   (4:56) (Field Goal formation) 3-B.Walsh 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-18-J.Locke.