5 Takeaways from Detroit's 17-3 Win over Minnesota

The Detroit Lions invaded Minnesota Vikings territory and came out a 17-3 winner in their first outdoor game in Minnesota in 33 years. It was just Detroit's second road win versus the Vikings since 1997. 

Considering the Lions were without Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush, it's an extremely satisfying win. The victory raises Detroit's record to 4-2 and keeps them in first place in the NFC North. The Green Bay Packers also won to advance to 4-2, but the Lions own the head-to-head advantage. 

Coach Jim Caldwell has many talking points for his team based on this performance. Despite the victory, some serious issues remain. Still, it's always better to work on weak points after a victory than a defeat.

Here are the five biggest takeaways from the win, in no particular order.

Nick Fairley Might Not Be Crazy

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

Defensive tackle Nick Fairley has always been good for a sound bite or interesting quote. He's often candid and engaging in either victory or defeat. 

Fairley certainly provided some fodder with his postgame comments in Minnesota. As he told the assembled reporters, "We can be great. We can be great but we're not there yet. We can be the best ever, in my eyes."

I don't know about the best ever, but Fairley is absolutely correct in his assessment of greatness. Right now, this is the best defense in the entire NFL. They certainly proved that against the Vikings.

The defense was consistently superlative:

"

The #Lions defense has three picks and five 3 and outs on 11 #Vikings possessions today.

— Jennifer Hammond (@HammerFox2) October 12, 2014"

Minnesota only had one real shot at a touchdown. On their first drive the Vikings ran the ball into Detroit territory, but Glover Quin snuffed out the threat by picking off Teddy Bridgewater's first pass attempt in the end zone. 

The numbers are mighty impressive:

• Three interceptions
• Eight sacks, with seven different Lions bagging at least half a sack
• Allowed just 3.4 yards per play
• 11 tackles for loss

They very nearly pitched the team's first shutout since a 1996 blanking of Tampa Bay. 

Detroit entered the game already ranked first in total defense, and the Lions bested their per-game averages in yards, points and yards per play. With the day's other results, the Lions now lead the league in scoring defense with just 82 points allowed in six games. 

This group will be tested by New Orleans next week, but Lions fans should have ample confidence in this defense. They have proved time and again they are worthy. A few more games like this suffocating effort and it will be hard to dismiss Fairley's comments. It's certainly the best defense Detroit has sported in a long, long time. 

The Kicking Nightmare Continues

Jim Mone/Associated Press

In what has quickly become a recurring nightmare, the Detroit Lions once again missed two field-goal attempts. Everyone hoped Matt Prater—a Pro Bowler last year in Denver—would wake the Lions from a bad dream.

The lion still sleeps with a big thorn in its paw:

"

Now Matt Prater can't make a kick in a Lions uniform. @Lions have missed 9 FGs in 2014, matching most missed FGs by a team in all of 2013

— trey wingo (@wingoz) October 12, 2014"

Wingo's tweet came before Prater split his next two attempts, the miss bouncing off the left upright. With his two misses on the day, Prater already has more misses in one game in 2014 than he had in all of 2013. 

The team has missed 10 of its first 15 field-goal attempts. From Nate Freese to Alex Henery to Prater, the Lions have been horrible at what was a perennial strength of the team with Jason Hanson.

Prater deserves some reprieve. He hadn't kicked in game action since the Super Bowl, and he spent his suspension to start the season in rehab for his alcohol issues. This is the first year for kicking in Minnesota's outdoor stadium and the conditions were breezy. 

He will get more chances, but not many if he cannot quickly end the madness. 

The Turning Point

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

This contest remained very much undecided until one key play early in the fourth quarter. Facing 4th-and-1 at the Minnesota 10-yard line, the Lions made a critical decision to eschew any more kicking failures and go for it.

George Winn took the handoff and plowed forward for a four-yard gain. There was no doubt he was going to make it from the second he received the ball from Matthew Stafford. 

Two plays later, Joique Bell plunged over the top for a touchdown. That pushed the score to 17-0 with just under 12 minutes left in the game. 

It was a smart call to go for it. As soon as the prior play ended, Stafford emphatically gestured to the sideline that he was ready to stay on the field and go for the conversion. He's clearly been frustrated by the kicking woes and demanded to take the game into his own hands.

Given the way the defense was dominating, the risk made sense. Even if the Lions failed here, Minnesota would have taken over near its own 10. On their prior drive the Vikings lost four yards on three plays, so the trust in the defense was definitely warranted.

This play might not be the most memorable from the game, but it was the most important in terms of securing the victory. 

Pass Protection Remains a Problem

Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

It was another long afternoon for Stafford, who frequently found himself getting acquainted with Minnesota's pass rush.

Stafford was sacked four times and hit on seven other attempts. While tackles Riley Reiff and LaAdrian Waddle were better this week than in the loss to Buffalo, the interior was once again a sieve:

"

@jkatzenstein @MasterStrib It's the A and B gaps on both sides. Communication on pickups has been a trouble spot all year.

— Justin Rogers (@Justin_Rogers) October 12, 2014"

Right guard Larry Warford had a particularly rough afternoon. One play after being beaten for a tackle-for-loss, he got blown away in surrendering a sack:

"

Looked like Warford was just slow getting out of the three point there. #DETvsMIN

— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) October 12, 2014"

Center Dominic Raiola also struggled. He gave up a sack in the red zone where his blocking would do Manolete proud; he barely touched his man as the Vikings bulled the middle. Stafford avoided an earlier sack under identical conditions by quickly spiking the ball at Bell's feet. 

For a line that was so good in pass protection last year, it's a baffling fall for a unit returning all five regular starters. Detroit ranked second in sack percentage in 2013, but now ranks 31st, according to TeamRankings.com—and that was before the four sacks in 37 dropbacks in Minnesota will make that number even worse. 

Next Man Up: Theo Riddick

Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

Third-string running back Theo Riddick garnered a lot of buzz this offseason. Many fantasy football enthusiasts touted him as a must-have sleeper pick. 

He hadn't done much in a very limited role through the first five weeks, some of which he missed with injury. But when starter Reggie Bush couldn't suit up, Riddick seized upon his opportunity:

"

Lots of people scoffed that the oodles of Theo Riddick hype this offseason. Who's laughing now? 51 yds and TD on three opening drive touches

— Sigmund Bloom (@SigmundBloom) October 12, 2014"

The second-year back from Notre Dame demonstrated his skills and style are pretty redundant with the man he backs up. Riddick made the leaping catch pictured above, a photo that could very easily be mistaken for Bush with a little more muscle.

He finished the day as Detroit's leading receiver, hauling in five catches for 75 yards and the game's first touchdown. 

Between Riddick and Winn, who capably filled in for an injured Bell last week, the Lions have impressive depth at the running back position. Given how often Bush seems to get nicked up, that's a very important luxury to have. 

All statistics are courtesy of NFL.com. All quotes and comments are taken from the official syndicated postgame show and press conferences available on DetroitLions.com.