If the Vikings weren’t going to be able to compete for a Super Bowl, they wanted to make sure neither were the Detroit Lions.

That mindset served as motivation for the Vikings on Thursday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium en route to a 23-10 win that officially eliminated the Lions from the playoffs.

Though the offense for the Vikings failed to move the ball for most of the game with rookie quarterback Max Brosmer under center, the defense put forth an otherworldly effort with veteran safety Harrison Smith leading the charge.

The win for the Vikings helps them vault into third place in the NFC North. The loss for the Lions might close their Super Bowl window once and for all.

Here are some takeaways from the game:

Brian Flores painted yet another masterpiece

In what might be the last game of consequence for the Vikings this season, defensive coordinator Brian Flores once again proved that he should be a top candidate for every team looking for a new head coach.

Never mind that the defense has been on a roll for a couple of months. This was its magnum opus as it made an explosive offense on the other end look completely out of sorts.

The constant pressure deployed by the Vikings rattled the Lions, especially veteran quarterback Jared Goff, who was a turnover machine for most of the game.

The implosion from Goff included him throwing two interceptions and coughing up three fumbles in total. There was also a pretty costly fumble from running back Jahmyr Gibbs early in the game.

In total, the Vikings forced six turnovers in the game, a major morale boost for a group of players that has rode the roller coaster at times this season. The identity of the defense has been forged by Flores and he deserves to be rewarded for it when the hiring cycle begins.

Harrison Smith continued to turn back the clock

It’s still unclear if Smith intends to retire at the end of this season. He has typically kept his cards close to the vest on that front so there more than likely won’t be a big announcement regardless of what he decides.

If his vintage performance for the Vikings against the Lions was indication, however, Smith should maybe consider delaying retirement a little bit longer. He was the best player on the field for prolonged stretches throughout the game, finishing with one sack, two tackles for a loss, one interception, and three passes defended.

That impressive stat line for Smith was the continuation of a positive trend. He’s looked like a much younger version of himself as of late, flying around with reckless abandon like he used to in his prime.

The fact that Smith is still able to make an impact has to make him start thinking about his future and if he’s ready to give up the game he truly loves so much.

Max Brosmer isn’t ready to be the backup

There was hope that Brosmer would be able to bounce back from a miserable NFL debut. He struggled mightily last month as the Vikings got shutout by the Seattle Seahawks. He responded by simply putting his head down and going back to work.

That set the stage for Brosmer to redeem himself with the Vikings hosting the Lions. Instead, he completed 9 of 16 passes for a mere 51 yards, while taking 48 yards worth of sacks in the game.

The disastrous showing from Brosmer proved he’s not yet ready to be the backup for the Vikings. It’s too much to ask of him so early in his career. He’s still very much a project that needs to work on his craft behind the scenes without the risk of having to play in a game.

Justin Jefferson is closing in on 1,000 yards

The inability to move the ball through the air this season has cost star receiver Justin Jefferson. He’s on pace for the least productive campaign of his career because the Vikings don’t have anybody capable of throwing him the ball with consistency.

That said, Jefferson is still in position to eclipse 1,000 yards, a milestone that means a lot to him because he’s never missed out on it. He had 30 yards for the Vikings in the win over the Lions. He needs 53 yards next week when the Vikings host the Green Bay Packers to reach quadruple digits.

The fate of Jefferson maintaining his streak of reaching 1,000 yards could hinge on whether young quarterback J.J. McCarthy can return from a hairline fracture in his right hand.

Will Reichard should be going to the Pro Bowl

After missing out on being selected to the Pro Bowl, kicker Will Reichard seemed like he was out to prove the voters got it wrong. He nailed field goals from 52 yards away and 56 yards away to help lead the Vikings past the Lions.

The ease with which Reichard can connect on long field goals is a weapon the Vikings definitely don’t take for granted. He’s now 30 of 32 on field goal attempts this season and a perfect 30 of 30 on extra point attempts.

There might not be a better kicker in the NFL at this point. That’s how good Reichard has proven to be for the Vikings.

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