The Minnesota Vikings weren't supposed to beat the Detroit Lions on Christmas Day.
After all, they were missing several key players due to injury, including quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
Adding to that, the Lions were fighting for their playoff lives and we assumed there was no way they would allow the eliminated Vikings to beat them with undrafted rookie Max Brosmer under center.
But that's why they don't play the games on paper.
The Lions threw up a total dud on offense, partly thanks to a sensational effort from the Vikings' defense, and Minnesota's offense did just enough to put the Vikings over the top for a win that eliminated the Lions from postseason contention.
Saying the Vikings' offense did "just enough" might be overselling it, at least when it comes to the passing attack.
Brosmer struggled mightily, tossing four picks and completing nine passes for 51 yards. If you factor in the seven sacks for 48 yards Brosmer took, the Vikings finished with three net passing yards in the Vikings victory.
Max Brosmer makes NFL history
According to OptaSTATS, Brosmer is the only quarterback in the Super Bowl era to finish with under 70 passing yards and get sacked seven or more times and still win.
When it comes to the three net passing yards, that is the second-fewest for any winning team in the last 42 seasons, trailing only the Houston Texans, who beat the Raiders in 2006 with -5 net passing yards, per Josh Dubow of the Associated Press.
If there was a way for Lions fans to feel even sicker about their season-ending loss to the Vikings on Thursday, these stats are it.
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