MINNEAPOLIS –Stefon Diggs set team records and recorded personal-best stats Sunday, but he won't accept accolades for the game that ended in a tough **overtime loss to the division-rival Lions**.
"Maybe if we had capitalized on something earlier, you know, I had an early drop that probably could have put us in a better position," Diggs said. "[It's about] everybody just doing their part.
"Looking back, just be your hardest critic," he added.
Diggs finished the game with 80 receiving yards on 13 catches, which passed Randy Moss and Percy Harvin (10 apiece) for receptions against the Lions. His 13 receptions also set a team record for most receptions in a November game and ranks third all-time behind Rickey Young (15) and Cris Carter (14).
Five of Diggs' grabs gave the Vikings first downs.
The second-year receiver turns every opportunity he can into a chance to learn and improve himself as a player, and that's the way he said Minnesota needs to view its third consecutive loss.
"[The game] didn't go the way we wanted it to go," said Diggs, whose longest plays of the game were a pair of 12-yard catches. "Take the positives from it, take the negatives, grow from it and move forward."
Diggs was just one of 10 Vikings to catch a Sam Bradford pass on Sunday.
Adam Thielen came in second on the team with 68 yards off of four catches.Three of Thielen's receptions gained more than 15 yards, including a 29-yard haul-in to convert a third-and-7 in the fourth quarter and subsequent 17-yard catch. The pair of plays aided in Minnesota's drive that ended in a Rhett Ellison touchdown run to take the lead at the end of the game.
Thielen echoed Diggs' thoughts about the outcome of the game.
"Any time you lose a game, it's not easy," Thielen said. "You think about things that you could have done better to help this team win games. As an offense, we could have started out faster to help our defense out. Our defense has had our back a lot this season, so we have to help them out."
Added Thielen: "We moved the ball in the situations that we needed to, but at the same time, we needed to start faster to take pressure off our defense."
Cordarrelle Patterson was utilized as an offensive weapon in addition to his role as kickoff returner, and he finished with six catches for 45 yards. On special teams, he recorded 87 yards on three kickoff returns.
Running backs Matt Asiata and Ronnie Hillman contributed to the passing game, as well. Asiata made two grabs for 14 yards, while Hillman came up with a big 32-yard reception for a Vikings first down early in the fourth quarter.
Despite the difficult loss – the first at home this season – the Vikings have not given up faith in themselves as a team.
"Things don't happen the way you want them to all the time," Diggs said. "As an [offensive player], I have 100-percent faith in my guys all the time, and I know they have faith in me."
