Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions: 2001 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2001 NFL season on 2001-12-16, the Detroit Lions took care of business against the Minnesota Vikings, pulling away with a 27–24 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. McMahon (Detroit Lions) paced the passing game, with +3.09 total EPA.

On the individual side, R. Moss (Minnesota Vikings) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.55 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-24.7% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Minnesota Vikings changed the game: (7:15) 8-T.Bouman pass intended for 81-C.Walsh INTERCEPTED by 24-T.Lyght at DET 41. 24-T.Lyght for 59 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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 R. Moss · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +12.55 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.97 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Sloan · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +5.57 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Morton · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +3.97 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
4. 4 M. McMahon · Detroit Lions · Rushing · +3.18 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
5. 5 M. McMahon · Detroit Lions · Passing · +3.09 total EPA · 45 snaps · +0.07 EPA/play
6. 6 S. Anderson · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.27 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.45 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Chapman · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +0.84 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Bouman · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +0.09 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.05 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. Lyght (Q1 52:15)
• Minnesota Vikings — T. Carter (Q1 47:23)
• Detroit Lions — M. McMahon (Q1 46:00)
• Minnesota Vikings — R. Moss (T. Bouman pass) (Q3 22:21)
• Minnesota Vikings — R. Moss (T. Bouman pass) (Q3 16:57)
• Detroit Lions — C. Schlesinger (Q4 10:40)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q2 39:18)
• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q2 30:03)
• Minnesota Vikings — G. Anderson (Q3 27:33)

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 14–7. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the DET 46 (Q1 52:15) — (7:15) 8-T.Bouman pass intended for 81-C.Walsh INTERCEPTED by 24-T.Lyght at DET 41. 24-T.Lyght for 59 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q1 51:18) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-2-L.Araguz.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the MIN 59 (Q1 47:23); Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q1 47:11) — 1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-12-L.Johnson.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIN 1 (Q1 46:00) — (1:00) 8-M.McMahon left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q1 45:55) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-2-L.Araguz..

The second quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 6–0. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIN 26 (Q2 39:18) — (9:18) 4-J.Hanson 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-2-L.Araguz.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIN 18 (Q2 30:03) — (:03) 4-J.Hanson 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-2-L.Araguz..

The third quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 17–0. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the DET 9 (Q3 27:33) — (12:33) 1-G.Anderson 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-12-L.Johnson.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 66 (Q3 22:21) — (7:21) 8-T.Bouman pass to 84-R.Moss for 66 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q3 22:12) — 1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-12-L.Johnson.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 13 (Q3 16:57) — (1:57) (Shotgun) 8-T.Bouman pass to 84-R.Moss for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q3 16:51) — 1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-12-L.Johnson..

The fourth quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 7–0. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIN 1 (Q4 10:40) — (10:40) 30-C.Schlesinger right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q4 10:36) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-2-L.Araguz..

Turning points

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 52:15) — (7:15) 8-T.Bouman pass intended for 81-C.Walsh INTERCEPTED by 24-T.Lyght at DET 41. 24-T.Lyght for 59 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -24.7% · EPA -9.51]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 47:23) — (2:23) 31-A.Cason to DET 42 for 1 yard (55-L.Hall). FUMBLES (55-L.Hall), touched at DET 46, RECOVERED by MIN-22-T.Carter at DET 46. 22-T.Carter for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -21.5% · EPA -8.82]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 46:21) — (1:21) 8-M.McMahon pass to 88-S.Anderson to MIN 1 for 69 yards (24-R.Griffith). Penalty on MIN-99-C.Hovan, Defensive Offside, declined. [WPA +20.8% · EPA +5.74]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 0:33) — (:33) (Shotgun) 8-T.Bouman pass to 81-C.Walsh to DET 42 for 19 yards (27-J.Wyrick). [WPA +17.2% · EPA +0.92]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 0:33) — (:33) 8-T.Bouman pass incomplete. Ball was spiked to stop clock [WPA -16.8% · EPA -0.47]

Impact plays

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 52:15) — (7:15) 8-T.Bouman pass intended for 81-C.Walsh INTERCEPTED by 24-T.Lyght at DET 41. 24-T.Lyght for 59 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -24.7% · EPA -9.51]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 47:23) — (2:23) 31-A.Cason to DET 42 for 1 yard (55-L.Hall). FUMBLES (55-L.Hall), touched at DET 46, RECOVERED by MIN-22-T.Carter at DET 46. 22-T.Carter for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -21.5% · EPA -8.82]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 22:21) — (7:21) 8-T.Bouman pass to 84-R.Moss for 66 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +12.6% · EPA +5.92]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 46:21) — (1:21) 8-M.McMahon pass to 88-S.Anderson to MIN 1 for 69 yards (24-R.Griffith). Penalty on MIN-99-C.Hovan, Defensive Offside, declined. [WPA +20.8% · EPA +5.74]

Quarterback report card

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

• M.McMahon (Detroit Lions) · 45 dropbacks · 33.3% completion · +0.07 EPA/play · +3.09 total EPA
• T.Bouman (Minnesota Vikings) · 43 dropbacks · 41.9% completion · -0.10 EPA/play · -4.26 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Minnesota Vikings -0.08, Detroit Lions -0.07) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Detroit Lions: 14 drives, -6.78 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 13 drives, -6.17 total EPA, 3 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.
• R. Moss (Minnesota Vikings) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

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

1. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 52:15 · DET 46 · Score 0-6
   (7:15) 8-T.Bouman pass intended for 81-C.Walsh INTERCEPTED by 24-T.Lyght at DET 41. 24-T.Lyght for 59 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q1 51:18 · MIN 2 · Score 0-7
   4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-2-L.Araguz.
3. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q1 47:23 · MIN 59 · Score 6-7
   (2:23) 31-A.Cason to DET 42 for 1 yard (55-L.Hall). FUMBLES (55-L.Hall), touched at DET 46, RECOVERED by MIN-22-T.Carter at DET 46. 22-T.Carter for 46 yards, TO
4. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q1 47:11 · DET 2 · Score 7-7
   1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-12-L.Johnson.
5. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 46:00 · MIN 1 · Score 7-13
   (1:00) 8-M.McMahon left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q1 45:55 · MIN 2 · Score 7-14
   4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-2-L.Araguz.
7. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 39:18 · MIN 26 · Score 7-17
   (9:18) 4-J.Hanson 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-2-L.Araguz.
8. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 30:03 · MIN 18 · Score 7-20
   (:03) 4-J.Hanson 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-2-L.Araguz.
9. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q3 27:33 · DET 9 · Score 10-20
   (12:33) 1-G.Anderson 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-12-L.Johnson.
10. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q3 22:21 · DET 66 · Score 16-20
    (7:21) 8-T.Bouman pass to 84-R.Moss for 66 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q3 22:12 · DET 2 · Score 17-20
    1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-12-L.Johnson.
12. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q3 16:57 · DET 13 · Score 23-20
    (1:57) (Shotgun) 8-T.Bouman pass to 84-R.Moss for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q3 16:51 · DET 2 · Score 24-20
    1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-12-L.Johnson.
14. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 10:40 · MIN 1 · Score 24-26
    (10:40) 30-C.Schlesinger right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q4 10:36 · MIN 2 · Score 24-27
    4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-2-L.Araguz.