Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Rapid Reaction: Detroit Lions

MINNEAPOLIS -- A few thoughts on the Detroit Lions' 17-3 win Sunday over the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium:

What it means: The Lions offense was down two of its top playmakers. The kicking portion of special teams is still striving to reach ordinary. But in 2014, the Lions defense has been continuously dominant.

This, after all, is a team that spent the majority of its money and its first-round draft pick on offensive upgrades during the offseason. But the reason Detroit is 4-2 and could be better than that if it had a capable kicker (more on that later) is the defense and its highly rated line.

It's a defense with multiple packages -- even varying nickel personnel groupings -- to actually employ every defender's strengths. On Sunday, it was perhaps more dominant than any game this season, holding the Vikings to 212 yards, their lowest output of the season.

Stock watch: Rising -- The Lions in Minnesota. This was Detroit's second win in Minneapolis in the past 17 years. ... Theo Riddick. Before leaving with a hamstring injury, Riddick had five catches for 75 yards and a touchdown along with three rushes for six yards. Not bad production in place of Reggie Bush. Falling -- The Detroit offensive line. Four more sacks allowed for the Lions offensive line brings it to 21 this season. All last year, this group gave up 23 sacks.

Kicking circus continues: Matt Prater was signed to be the beacon of consistency for a dreadful Lions kicking game. Then he went out and missed two field goals in three quarters -- more than he did all of the regular season in 2013. The Lions are now 5-of-15 on field goals and have more missed field goals through six games than any NFL team did in its entire 2013 season. While it would seem unlikely the team would part ways with Prater after one game, there should be concern for Detroit right now.

Game ball: The Detroit defense. All of it. The defensive unit continued its dominance of quarterbacks, flustering Minnesota's Teddy Bridgewater and pressuring him all day long. They intercepted him three times, sacked him eight times, defended six of his pass attempts, hit him 12 times and pressured him a number clearly in double-digits. The eight sacks are the most for the Lions in a game since at least 2001.

What's next: The Lions play their final home game of the first half of the season Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

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