Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2017 Week 4 Recap

Game story

In Week 4 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-10-01, the Detroit Lions took care of business against the Minnesota Vikings, pulling away with a 14–7 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 11 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Stafford (Detroit Lions) paced the passing game, with -2.32 total EPA, and -6.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Fells (Detroit Lions) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.96 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-20.1% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Minnesota Vikings changed the game: (10:35) 33-D.Cook up the middle to MIN 28 for 10 yards (32-T.Wilson). FUMBLES (32-T.Wilson), RECOVERED by DET-59-T.Whitehead at MIN 29. 59-T.Whitehead to MIN 29 for no gain (33-D.Cook).

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 D. Fells · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +4.96 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.99 EPA/play
2. 2 S. Diggs · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +4.72 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.67 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Jones · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +3.45 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.58 EPA/play
4. 4 K. Rudolph · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +1.47 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Roberts · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +1.38 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.38 EPA/play
6. 6 E. Ebron · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +1.22 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Jones · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +0.97 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Bell · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +0.88 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.88 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

• Minnesota Vikings — D. Cook (Q2 31:11)
• Detroit Lions — A. Abdullah (Q3 23:04)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — M. Prater (Q2 40:50)
• Detroit Lions — M. Prater (Q3 25:45)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–3. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIN 10 (Q2 40:50) — (10:50) (Field Goal formation) 5-M.Prater 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-18-J.Locke.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 5 (Q2 31:11) — (1:11) (Shotgun) 33-D.Cook left guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q2 31:07) — (Kick formation) 2-K.Forbath extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-R.Quigley..

The third quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 11–0. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIN 18 (Q3 25:45) — (10:45) (Field Goal formation) 5-M.Prater 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-18-J.Locke.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIN 3 (Q3 23:04); Detroit Lions registered a safety from the MIN 2 (Q3 23:00) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 9-M.Stafford pass to 13-T.Jones is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

Turning points

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 25:35) — (10:35) 33-D.Cook up the middle to MIN 28 for 10 yards (32-T.Wilson). FUMBLES (32-T.Wilson), RECOVERED by DET-59-T.Whitehead at MIN 29. 59-T.Whitehead to MIN 29 for no gain (33-D.Cook). [WPA -20.1% · EPA -5.31]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 2:31) — (2:31) (Shotgun) 7-C.Keenum sacked at DET 14 for -11 yards (69-A.Zettel). [WPA -15.8% · EPA -2.21]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 45:03) — (:03) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep left to 11-M.Jones to MIN 38 for 38 yards (34-A.Sendejo). [WPA +14.9% · EPA +4.54]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 2:19) — (2:19) (Shotgun) 7-C.Keenum pass incomplete short left to 19-A.Thielen. Penalty on MIN-65-P.Elflein, Offensive Holding, declined. [WPA -13.2% · EPA -3.09]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 29:21) — (14:21) 21-J.McKinnon to MIN 47 for -4 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by DET-69-A.Zettel at MIN 47. 69-A.Zettel to MIN 47 for no gain (74-M.Remmers). [WPA -12.1% · EPA -5.58]

Impact plays

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 29:21) — (14:21) 21-J.McKinnon to MIN 47 for -4 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by DET-69-A.Zettel at MIN 47. 69-A.Zettel to MIN 47 for no gain (74-M.Remmers). [WPA -12.1% · EPA -5.58]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 25:35) — (10:35) 33-D.Cook up the middle to MIN 28 for 10 yards (32-T.Wilson). FUMBLES (32-T.Wilson), RECOVERED by DET-59-T.Whitehead at MIN 29. 59-T.Whitehead to MIN 29 for no gain (33-D.Cook). [WPA -20.1% · EPA -5.31]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 45:03) — (:03) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep left to 11-M.Jones to MIN 38 for 38 yards (34-A.Sendejo). [WPA +14.9% · EPA +4.54]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 15:50) — (:50) 2-K.Forbath 39 yard field goal is No Good, Hit Right Upright, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-R.Quigley. [WPA -7.7% · EPA -3.55]

Quarterback report card

M.Stafford led all passers in efficiency for Detroit Lions, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Stafford (Detroit Lions) · 38 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -6.0% CPOE · -0.06 EPA/play · -2.32 total EPA
• C.Keenum (Minnesota Vikings) · 34 dropbacks · 47.1% completion · -6.1% CPOE · -0.16 EPA/play · -5.40 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 (-0.10 vs -0.31), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Detroit Lions: 12 drives, -9.02 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 11 drives, -21.22 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• D. Fells (Detroit Lions) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Stafford (DET) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• C. Keenum (MIN) 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 FG (+3) — Q2 40:50 · MIN 10 · Score 3-0
   (10:50) (Field Goal formation) 5-M.Prater 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-18-J.Locke.
2. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 31:11 · DET 5 · Score 3-6
   (1:11) (Shotgun) 33-D.Cook left guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 31:07 · DET 15 · Score 3-7
   (Kick formation) 2-K.Forbath extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-R.Quigley.
4. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q3 25:45 · MIN 18 · Score 6-7
   (10:45) (Field Goal formation) 5-M.Prater 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-18-J.Locke.
5. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q3 23:04 · MIN 3 · Score 12-7
   (8:04) 21-A.Abdullah up the middle to MIN 1 for 2 yards (29-X.Rhodes). Detroit challenged the runner was not down by contact ruling, and the play was REVERSED.
6. Detroit Lions Safety (+2) — Q3 23:00 · MIN 2 · Score 14-7
   TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 9-M.Stafford pass to 13-T.Jones is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.