Vikings report card: Offense anemic, team unprepared in loss

All signs were pointing in the Minnesota Vikings' favor.

Minnesota had nine days between games, a three-day weekend and was playing at home. Harrison Smith's injured ankle was healed in time and rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was back. The Detroit Lions were coming off a disappointing home loss and were without star receiver Calvin Johnson and explosive running back Reggie Bush.

But the Vikings looked like a team unprepared for Sunday's game at TCF Bank Stadium. The offense struggled mightily against Detroit's top-ranked defense in a 17-3 loss.

Here's how Minnesota graded out in each phase on Sunday:

Pass offense: F

A second straight week with a failing grade for the passing game. Bridgewater's return didn't provide the boost needed. Bridgewater was under constant pressure and was sacked eight times. The protection failed to hold up at all against the Lions' ferocious defensive line. Receivers failed to get separation from defensive backs, and Bridgewater didn't let the ball go as decisively as he had in his first start two weeks ago.

Bridgewater threw three interceptions. One was a missed read in which Bridgewater didn't see the safety coming across. It was, perhaps, the most crucial turnover. The interception came in the red zone on Minnesota's first offensive drive after Detroit had taken a quick 7-0 lead. The second interception bounced off running back Matt Asiata's hands straight to a defender. On the third interception, Bridgewater had a ball deflected at the line of scrimmage by a jumping lineman.

The leading receiver ended up being running back Jerick McKinnon, who caught six passes for 42 yards. Bridgewater was 23 of 37 for 188 yards and had a 41.3 quarterback rating. Cordarrelle Patterson was limited by a hip injury and had just two catches for 15 yards.

With nearly no passing game to speak of, Minnesota had just 212 yards of total offense, including 143 net passing yards. The Vikings were 3 of 14 on third downs.

Run offense: F

Along with being physically beat at the line of scrimmage on pass attempts, there was no push in the running game from the offensive line. Minnesota finished with 69 yards rushing on 18 carries, a 3.8-yard average. The biggest play of the game for the Vikings' offense was a reverse run by receiver Jarius Wright, who picked up 21 yards. The design, timing and execution were perfect on the play, one of the few instances of such success all game long.

McKinnon started for the first time and took most of the work in the running game. He had 11 carries for 40 yards, but his longest run was nine yards. Matt Asiata had just two carries for minus-5 yards. Patterson did handle an early carry, rushing for two yards, but it was his only rushing attempt of the game.

Pass defense: B

There was little consolation for Minnesota's defenders after a strong bounce-back game from the defense. To a man, the Vikings defensive players said they didn't do enough on Sunday. It's hard to pin Sunday's loss on the defense.

Detroit went 80 yards in seven plays on the opening drive of the game. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was 4 of 4 for 69 yards and a touchdown on the drive. The big play was a 41-yard catch and run by running back Theo Riddick.

After the opening drive, Minnesota's defense stepped up. Detroit would only tally 175 yards for the rest of the game and was 1 of 13 on third downs. Stafford's strong start would aid his totals. He finished 19 of 33 for 185 yards and was sacked four times.

Jasper Brinkley had his first career sack. Everson Griffen and Tom Johnson each had a sack and Brian Robison and Linval Joseph split one.

Riddick ably filled Bush's pass-catching role with five catches for 75 yards. With Johnson out, the Lions didn't have the same threat on the outside or deep. Golden Tate has had a strong season, but he was held to seven catches on 12 targets for 44 yards.

Run defense: B

Detroit's running game shouldn't have been affected as much by Bush's absence because the team still had Joique Bell. Bell is arguably a better runner than Bush. Bell ended up with 18 carries for 74 yards, a 4.1-yard average.

Perhaps the Lions should have stuck with the run a bit more, but Minnesota's run defense was there when needed. Detroit finished with 100 total rushing yards and a 3.6-yard average and never was able to control the game on the ground.

Special teams: C

The special teams miscues are becoming a problem for the Vikings, as well. Punter Jeff Locke had another dismal day. Two of his seven punts went for less than 40 yards. He finished with a net average of 37.9 yards. His gross average was 42.3 yards per punt.

Penalties have also been an issue. Punt returner Marcus Sherels had a good return wiped out by a penalty for the second straight game. Sherels' 16-yard return was negated by a holding penalty on rookie Antone Exum. Sherels had four returns for 37 yards.

Patterson hasn't had the explosive kick return we saw often as a rookie, either. He had one return for 15 yards on Sunday, though Detroit did kick away from him on the first possession to give Minnesota good field position.

Overall: D

Minnesota, at least offensively, couldn't get on track despite nine days off to refresh and prepare. The team had a three-day weekend coming off an embarrassing 32-point loss on national TV a week earlier. The Vikings' offense hasn't shown the ability to adjust to opposing defenses and has now scored 10 points or fewer in four of the last five games.

Perhaps most disturbing is coach Mike Zimmer revealing he had to fine "a couple" more players than usual last week for missing or being late for meetings or treatment. Six games into Zimmer's first season, the coach is dealing with undisciplined players.

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