Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions: 2011 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2011 NFL season on 2011-12-11, the Detroit Lions took care of business against the Minnesota Vikings, pulling away with a 34–28 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 28 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Stafford (Detroit Lions) paced the passing game, with +3.81 total EPA, and +3.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Webb (Minnesota Vikings) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.82 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-39.5% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Minnesota Vikings changed the game: (:09) 14-J.Webb sacked at DET 11 for -10 yards (54-D.Levy). FUMBLES (54-D.Levy), touched at DET 16, RECOVERED by DET-92-C.Avril at MIN 43.

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 J. Webb · Minnesota Vikings · Passing · +6.82 total EPA · 31 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Young · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +5.93 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.85 EPA/play
3. 3 B. Pettigrew · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +5.64 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.81 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Gerhart · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +4.31 total EPA · 19 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Stafford · Detroit Lions · Passing · +3.81 total EPA · 37 snaps · +0.10 EPA/play
6. 6 P. Harvin · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +3.54 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.88 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Johnson · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +1.85 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
8. 8 V. Shiancoe · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +1.12 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.16 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

• Detroit Lions — C. Ponder (Q1 58:02)
• Detroit Lions — T. Young (M. Stafford pass) (Q1 54:54)
• Detroit Lions — B. Pettigrew (M. Stafford pass) (Q1 50:59)
• Minnesota Vikings — V. Shiancoe (C. Ponder pass) (Q1 46:57)
• Detroit Lions — A. Smith (Q2 42:45)
• Minnesota Vikings — P. Harvin (C. Ponder pass) (Q2 37:41)
• Minnesota Vikings — J. Webb (Q3 19:34)
• Minnesota Vikings — T. Gerhart (J. Webb pass) (Q4 7:57)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q2 31:10)
• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q4 12:21)

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 21–7. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the DET 90 (Q1 58:02) — (13:02) 7-C.Ponder sacked at MIN 2 for -8 yards (92-C.Avril). FUMBLES (92-C.Avril), RECOVERED by DET-55-S.Tulloch at MIN 0. TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q1 57:56) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-B.Graham.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIN 57 (Q1 54:54); Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q1 54:45) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-B.Graham.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIN 12 (Q1 50:59) — (5:59) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 87-B.Pettigrew for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q1 50:54) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-B.Graham.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 7 (Q1 46:57) — (1:57) (Shotgun) 7-C.Ponder pass short left to 81-V.Shiancoe for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q1 46:51) — 8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-4-C.Kluwe..

The second quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 10–7. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the DET 79 (Q2 42:45) — (12:45) 7-C.Ponder pass short right intended for 85-G.Camarillo INTERCEPTED by 27-A.Smith at MIN 30. 27-A.Smith for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q2 42:33) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-B.Graham.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 6 (Q2 37:41) — (7:41) (Shotgun) 7-C.Ponder pass short middle to 12-P.Harvin for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q2 37:36) — 8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIN 12 (Q2 31:10) — (1:10) 4-J.Hanson 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-B.Graham..

The third quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–0. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 65 (Q3 19:34) — (4:34) (Shotgun) 14-J.Webb scrambles right end for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q3 19:21) — 8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-4-C.Kluwe..

The fourth quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–3. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIN 7 (Q4 12:21) — (12:21) 4-J.Hanson 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-B.Graham.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 2 (Q4 7:57) — (7:57) 98-L.Guion reported in as eligible. 14-J.Webb pass short left to 32-T.Gerhart for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q4 7:54) — 8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-4-C.Kluwe..

Turning points

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 0:09) — (:09) 14-J.Webb sacked at DET 11 for -10 yards (54-D.Levy). FUMBLES (54-D.Levy), touched at DET 16, RECOVERED by DET-92-C.Avril at MIN 43. [WPA -39.5% · EPA -4.59]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 58:02) — (13:02) 7-C.Ponder sacked at MIN 2 for -8 yards (92-C.Avril). FUMBLES (92-C.Avril), RECOVERED by DET-55-S.Tulloch at MIN 0. TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -17.0% · EPA -6.66]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 0:26) — (:26) (Shotgun) 14-J.Webb scrambles up the middle to DET 2 for 10 yards (92-C.Avril; 99-C.Williams). [WPA +11.3% · EPA +1.87]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 54:54) — (9:54) 9-M.Stafford pass deep left to 16-T.Young for 57 yards, TOUCHDOWN [96-B.Robison]. The Replay Assistant challenged the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was Upheld. [WPA +10.7% · EPA +6.17]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 0:29) — (:29) (Shotgun) 14-J.Webb pass incomplete short left to 12-P.Harvin. [WPA -9.6% · EPA -1.07]

Impact plays

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 19:34) — (4:34) (Shotgun) 14-J.Webb scrambles right end for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.0% · EPA +7.03]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 42:45) — (12:45) 7-C.Ponder pass short right intended for 85-G.Camarillo INTERCEPTED by 27-A.Smith at MIN 30. 27-A.Smith for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -4.9% · EPA -6.96]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 58:02) — (13:02) 7-C.Ponder sacked at MIN 2 for -8 yards (92-C.Avril). FUMBLES (92-C.Avril), RECOVERED by DET-55-S.Tulloch at MIN 0. TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -17.0% · EPA -6.66]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 54:54) — (9:54) 9-M.Stafford pass deep left to 16-T.Young for 57 yards, TOUCHDOWN [96-B.Robison]. The Replay Assistant challenged the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was Upheld. [WPA +10.7% · EPA +6.17]

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) · 37 dropbacks · 54.1% completion · +3.2% CPOE · +0.10 EPA/play · +3.81 total EPA
• J.Webb (Minnesota Vikings) · 31 dropbacks · 38.7% completion · -10.6% CPOE · +0.22 EPA/play · +6.82 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 -0.06, Detroit Lions -0.03) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Detroit Lions: 13 drives, -2.58 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 13 drives, -6.12 total EPA, 6 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.
• J. Webb (Minnesota Vikings) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Stafford (DET) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• J. Webb (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 TD (+6) — Q1 58:02 · DET 90 · Score 0-6
   (13:02) 7-C.Ponder sacked at MIN 2 for -8 yards (92-C.Avril). FUMBLES (92-C.Avril), RECOVERED by DET-55-S.Tulloch at MIN 0. TOUCHDOWN.
2. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q1 57:56 · MIN 2 · Score 0-7
   4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-B.Graham.
3. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 54:54 · MIN 57 · Score 0-13
   (9:54) 9-M.Stafford pass deep left to 16-T.Young for 57 yards, TOUCHDOWN [96-B.Robison]. The Replay Assistant challenged the runner broke the plane ruling, and
4. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q1 54:45 · MIN 2 · Score 0-14
   4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-B.Graham.
5. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 50:59 · MIN 12 · Score 0-20
   (5:59) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 87-B.Pettigrew for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q1 50:54 · MIN 2 · Score 0-21
   4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-B.Graham.
7. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q1 46:57 · DET 7 · Score 6-21
   (1:57) (Shotgun) 7-C.Ponder pass short left to 81-V.Shiancoe for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q1 46:51 · DET 2 · Score 7-21
   8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.
9. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 42:45 · DET 79 · Score 7-27
   (12:45) 7-C.Ponder pass short right intended for 85-G.Camarillo INTERCEPTED by 27-A.Smith at MIN 30. 27-A.Smith for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 42:33 · MIN 2 · Score 7-28
    4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-B.Graham.
11. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 37:41 · DET 6 · Score 13-28
    (7:41) (Shotgun) 7-C.Ponder pass short middle to 12-P.Harvin for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 37:36 · DET 2 · Score 14-28
    8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.
13. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 31:10 · MIN 12 · Score 14-31
    (1:10) 4-J.Hanson 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-B.Graham.
14. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q3 19:34 · DET 65 · Score 20-31
    (4:34) (Shotgun) 14-J.Webb scrambles right end for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q3 19:21 · DET 2 · Score 21-31
    8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.
16. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q4 12:21 · MIN 7 · Score 21-34
    (12:21) 4-J.Hanson 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-B.Graham.
17. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 7:57 · DET 2 · Score 27-34
    (7:57) 98-L.Guion reported in as eligible. 14-J.Webb pass short left to 32-T.Gerhart for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
18. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q4 7:54 · DET 2 · Score 28-34
    8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.