The Minnesota Vikings outplayed the Detroit Lions in their Week 17 game, eliminating them from playoff contention. However, it was a victory so ugly that it set a franchise record for offensive futility, immediately putting rookie quarterback Max Brosmer under the microscope. And the head coach, Kevin O’Connell, believes that the signal caller needs to improve a lot.

“Max (Brosmer) just being really his second start, just running the show, wasn’t kind of our standard in the pass game. But sometimes, depending on how your team plays collectively as a group,” O’Connell said in his post-game conference. “I’ve learned a lot as a head coach of (doing) whatever it takes to win each and every opportunity that you get.”

The Gophers alumni completed 9 of 16 passes for 51 yards during the entire game. Though he showed toughness as he didn’t throw any interceptions. But while trying to keep the ball, the Lions sacked him seven times for 48 yards. This resulted in Kevin O’Connell’s disappointment. But was it all the Brosmer’s fault?

O’Connell also needs to look into his offensive protection. Brosmer is a rookie. In seven games this year, he has completed 40 of 63 passes (63.5% completion rate) for 271 passing yards with four interceptions. Even against the Lions, he certainly didn’t play according to expectations. But the offensive linemen also failed to stop the mounting defense.

While the passing attack was historically inept, generating a mere three net yards, the Vikings’ ground game carried the day, churning out 158 yards and two touchdowns in 28 carries to compensate for the aerial struggles. The Lions had more carries (30) but had only 68 yards with no score. Ultimately, the game was decided by possession.

The best part of Brosmer’s performance was not giving the ball away. He fumbled the ball only once, but did not lose possession. On the other hand, the Lions’ quarterback, Jared Goff, made three fumbles, losing the ball on all of them. Goff passed the ball for 197 passing yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Goff’s three costly turnovers proved to be the deciding factor, allowing the Vikings to escape with a victory despite their own offensive paralysis.

Kevin O’Connell’s team makes an unwanted record

Max Brosmer had only 51 passing yards, and 48 of them went into sacks. So, they won with only three net passing yards, the lowest in their history. It’s the lowest in 42 years of NFL history since October 16, 1983, when the Seattle Seahawks won by only two net passing yards.

Kevin O’Connell’s rookie quarterback made another record as well. He became the only signal caller in the Super Bowl era to pass for less than 70 yards and seven (or more) sacks, but still ended up winning. Perhaps the head coach didn’t appreciate these downturns in the quarterback’s performance. The last few weeks have been surprising, though.

The Vikings were eliminated from the playoffs in Week 15 after the Chicago Bears defeated the Cleveland Browns. But the Vikes have won four consecutive games since Week 14. They disrupted the Dallas Cowboys‘ playoff contention in Week 15 by defeating them 34-26.

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Even in Week 17, they eliminated the Lions from the playoffs. Although Kevin O’Connell couldn’t lead them into the playoffs this year, he has plenty of promise on his roster. 2026 will be the year to work on their development.