Another double-digit halftime lead has led up to another loss for the Minnesota Vikings.

The harsh reality of the team that leads last leads best now finds the 0-3 Vikings three games out of first place in the NFC North, behind co-leaders Green Bay and Detroit, the only two NFC teams that remain undefeated three weeks into the 2011 season.

The Lions improved to 3-0 when they were able to overcome a 20-0 halftime deficit Sunday to win in overtime at Mall of America Field, 26-23.

Second-guessers could question the Vikings’ wisdom, or lack thereof, to forego a field goal when Toby Gerhart failed to gain about a yard on fourth down inside Detroit’s 20-yard line with 11:33 left in the fourth quarter.

In hindsight, a successful field goal instead of turning the ball over on downs at that point could have helped produce a three-point margin of victory for Minnesota in regulation.

Attempting to get a first down was the popular choice for Vikings fans at the Metrodome and also a decision quarterback Donovan McNabb favored, though second-guessers could still question why star running back Adrian Peterson didn’t get the handoff.

“Obviously, as you look at it now, everyone would say give the ball to Adrian,” McNabb said. “But we thought we had a great call, no one expected Toby to get it, and I thought we had it.

“Again, this is an opportunity where you look at it now and say what could you have done differently. I thought it was a great call.”

The Vikings were still in front by a field goal when they came up empty on that drive into the so-called “Red Zone.” It is only because of what the Lions did in the second half — outscore Minnesota 23-3 — that makes the unsuccessful fourth-down play significant to the outcome of the game.

The glaring statistic as to why the Vikings remain winless in 2011 is being outscored 67-6 after the first half over three games. McNabb wasn’t able to explain after Sunday’s loss to Detroit why Minnesota hasn’t been playing as well in the second half as in the first 30 minutes.

“If I had the answer we wouldn’t have this problem,” he said. “We are going to find it, we’re going to correct it and get ready for next week.”

Head coach Leslie Frazier said playing better in the second half is about “being in position to make certain plays.”

“You have to be able to execute and be able to make some plays,” he said. “We had some opportunities in that second half to make those plays and we didn’t. We are hurting ourselves with some costly penalties.

“We just can’t win games in (the) NFL with the way we are playing if we keep putting ourselves in a tough spot with crucial penalties.”

The Vikings will be in a battle of winless teams next Sunday when they travel to Kansas City. Unless Minnesota is able to play well over four quarters, the team could find itself without a victory one-quarter into the 2011 season and halfway toward another non-winning record.

Boneske may be reached via e-mail at kevin@ifallsjournal.com