On Sunday, the Vikings' defense forced just two punts, allowing the Lions to score on five of their last six possessions. Their running game produced only 22 yards on 17 carries. And with center Garrett Bradbury and left tackle Christian Darrisaw both out because of injury, the Lions pressured Kirk Cousins on 36.4 percent of his dropbacks, sacking him three times and forcing him to shake off eight hits.
It provided the backdrop for the kind of day, in a 34-23 loss, when Cousins is often either expected to produce or said to be incapable of delivering.