Adam Thielen, Sam Bradford talk about Lions' trap on critical interception

Adam Thielen was the intended target on the late interception that Sam Bradford threw, the one that set up the Lions' game-winning field goal.

November 25, 2016 at 1:37PM
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (8) was pressured by Detroit Lions defensive end Kerry Hyder (61) in the second quarter at Ford Field Sunday November 24 ,2016 in Detroit MI. ] The Minnesota Vikings played the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Thanksgiving .Jerry Holt / jerry. Holt@Startribune.com
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (8) was pressured by Detroit Lions defensive end Kerry Hyder (61) in the second quarter at Ford Field Sunday November 24 ,2016 in Detroit MI. ] The Minnesota Vikings played the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Thanksgiving .Jerry Holt / jerry. Holt@Startribune.com (Brian Stensaas — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Adam Thielen was the intended target on the late interception that Sam Bradford threw, the one that set up the Lions' game-winning field goal. He said he knew "pretty much right away" that there could be trouble.

"They played a different coverage than we had been getting all game and I've just got to do a better job of knocking that ball down," he said.

Starting out in the slot, Thielen ran an out route toward the right sideline. But Darius Slay, the outside corner, showed man coverage before dropping off of wide receiver Laquon Treadwell and was lurking right there.

"They had been playing two-man the whole game pretty much in those situations," Thielen said. "They just went to a two trap, I think, and the corner just came off and I've just got to try to [break it up]."

Bradford believed that was the first time the Lions showed that look.

"They trapped it and, yeah, he just made a good play," Bradford said.

Slay returned the interception to the 20-yard line and was ruled down before fumbling. An official video review confirmed he was down. Lions kicker Matt Prater then came out with four seconds left to boot the game-winner.

Thielen said the stunning loss shouldn't be solely pinned on Bradford, who completed 31 of his 37 attempts for 224 yards with that one interception.

"It's a team game. It's not one guy. There were a lot of plays on that field that I could have made personally and I could have done better to help us win," he said. "It's a team game. You win as a team and lose as a team."

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