Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2018 Week 9 Recap

Game story

In Week 9 of the 2018 NFL season on 2018-11-04, the Minnesota Vikings took care of business against the Detroit Lions, pulling away with a 24–9 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 16 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Stafford (Detroit Lions) paced the passing game, with -14.16 total EPA, and +2.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Jones (Detroit Lions) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.49 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-15.7% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Minnesota Vikings changed the game: (10:42) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep right intended for 19-A.Thielen INTERCEPTED by 23-D.Slay at DET 35. 23-D.Slay to MIN 44 for 21 yards (82-K.Rudolph).

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 M. Jones · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +5.49 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
2. 2 K. Golladay · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +4.68 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.17 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Cousins · Minnesota Vikings · Passing · +4.01 total EPA · 26 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Beebe · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +3.31 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.10 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Wilson · Detroit Lions · Rushing · +2.87 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.87 EPA/play
6. 6 K. Rudolph · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +2.68 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.34 EPA/play
7. 7 L. Treadwell · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +2.60 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.30 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Jones · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.33 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.16 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 — L. Murray (Q1 54:59)
• Minnesota Vikings — A. Thielen (K. Cousins pass) (Q2 33:25)
• Minnesota Vikings — D. Hunter (Q4 7:11)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — M. Prater (Q2 43:20)
• Detroit Lions — M. Prater (Q2 34:48)
• Minnesota Vikings — D. Bailey (Q2 30:08)
• Detroit Lions — M. Prater (Q4 1:13)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–0. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 1 (Q1 54:59) — (9:59) 25-L.Murray left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q1 54:53) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile..

The second quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 10–6. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIN 17 (Q2 43:20) — (13:20) 5-M.Prater 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIN 16 (Q2 34:48) — (4:48) 5-M.Prater 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 2 (Q2 33:25) — (3:25) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 19-A.Thielen for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q2 33:20) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the DET 21 (Q2 30:08) — (:08) 5-D.Bailey 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile..

The fourth quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–3. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the MIN 63 (Q4 7:11); Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q4 6:57); Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIN 19 (Q4 1:13) — (1:13) 5-M.Prater 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin..

Turning points

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 40:42) — (10:42) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep right intended for 19-A.Thielen INTERCEPTED by 23-D.Slay at DET 35. 23-D.Slay to MIN 44 for 21 yards (82-K.Rudolph). [WPA -15.7% · EPA -5.94]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 34:45) — (4:45) (Shotgun) 33-D.Cook left tackle to DET 5 for 70 yards (27-G.Quin). [WPA +13.0% · EPA +4.54]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 56:38) — (11:38) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 12-C.Beebe pushed ob at DET 24 for 13 yards (31-T.Tabor). [WPA +10.0% · EPA +3.44]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 47:32) — (2:32) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short left to 11-M.Jones to MIN 21 for 18 yards (41-A.Harris; 20-M.Alexander). [WPA +8.2% · EPA +2.90]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 38:19) — (8:19) 9-M.Stafford scrambles left end to MIN 32 for 3 yards (50-E.Wilson). [WPA +6.9% · EPA +1.73]

Impact plays

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

• Detroit Lions (Q4 7:11) — (7:11) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford scrambles right guard to DET 38 for 1 yard. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by MIN-99-D.Hunter at DET 32. 99-D.Hunter for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -5.1% · EPA -8.16]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 40:42) — (10:42) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep right intended for 19-A.Thielen INTERCEPTED by 23-D.Slay at DET 35. 23-D.Slay to MIN 44 for 21 yards (82-K.Rudolph). [WPA -15.7% · EPA -5.94]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 10:20) — (10:20) 8-K.Cousins FUMBLES (Aborted) at DET 28, RECOVERED by DET-91-A.Robinson at DET 28. 91-A.Robinson to DET 28 for no gain (63-D.Isidora). [WPA -3.8% · EPA -5.76]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 34:45) — (4:45) (Shotgun) 33-D.Cook left tackle to DET 5 for 70 yards (27-G.Quin). [WPA +13.0% · EPA +4.54]

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) · 49 dropbacks · 51.0% completion · +2.7% CPOE · -0.29 EPA/play · -14.16 total EPA
• K.Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) · 26 dropbacks · 69.2% completion · +6.9% CPOE · +0.15 EPA/play · +4.01 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Minnesota Vikings held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.05 vs -0.20), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Detroit Lions: 11 drives, -17.25 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 10 drives, -3.10 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Minnesota Vikings leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• M. Jones (Detroit Lions) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• K. Cousins (MIN) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

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

1. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q1 54:59 · DET 1 · Score 0-6
   (9:59) 25-L.Murray left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q1 54:53 · DET 15 · Score 0-7
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile.
3. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 43:20 · MIN 17 · Score 3-7
   (13:20) 5-M.Prater 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
4. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 34:48 · MIN 16 · Score 6-7
   (4:48) 5-M.Prater 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
5. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 33:25 · DET 2 · Score 6-13
   (3:25) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 19-A.Thielen for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 33:20 · DET 15 · Score 6-14
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile.
7. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q2 30:08 · DET 21 · Score 6-17
   (:08) 5-D.Bailey 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile.
8. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 7:11 · MIN 63 · Score 6-23
   (7:11) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford scrambles right guard to DET 38 for 1 yard. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by MIN-99-D.Hunter at DET 32. 99-D.Hunter for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q4 6:57 · DET 15 · Score 6-24
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile. MIN-74-M.Remmers was injured during the play. PENALTY on DET-97-R.Jean Francois, Unneces
10. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q4 1:13 · MIN 19 · Score 9-24
    (1:13) 5-M.Prater 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.