Vikings sack Lions' playoff hopes and send rival to NFC North basement after forcing six turnovers in Christmas Day win
The Detroit Lions asked Santa for a win to keep their faint playoff hopes alive. Instead, they got a stocking full of coal, in the form of a slew of turnovers.
Entering Thursday’s matchup against Minnesota with the fewest giveaways in the NFL — including four straight games without one — Detroit coughed up four fumbles and quarterback Jared Goff was intercepted twice in a pitiful, 23-10 loss to a Vikings team that was missing its starting quarterback, three starting offensive linemen, its top tight end and leading rusher.
With the loss, the Lions have officially been eliminated from postseason contention.
Detroit’s defense, which had been reeling coming into the day, wasn’t the problem. Instead, the team’s offense suffered a catastrophic letdown.
Not only did the Lions (8-8) uncharacteristically fail to protect the football, but they also allowed Goff to be sacked five times, matching his season-worst. The Lions also proved unable to run the ball once again, getting held under 100 yards for the seventh time in eight losses.
The Vikings grabbed an early lead in the opening quarter, cashing in with a short touchdown run by Aaron Jones after recovering a fumbled snap in the red zone.
Detroit managed to tie things up just before the half with a 19-play, 10-minute drive that was capped by a leaping scoring grab by Isaac TeSlaa on fourth-and-goal.
Minnesota (8-8) added two field goals in the third quarter off back-to-back interceptions by Goff.
Detroit sliced the deficit to three with under five minutes remaining, but the defense, which had shut down the short-handed Vikings all day, got caught napping on a 65-yard end-around that Jordan Addison housed.
With the win, the Vikings swept the season series from the Lions, sending the back-to-back division winners to the basement of the NFC North heading into next week’s season finale.
Scoring summary
First quarter
● 1:35 — After the Vikings recovered a fumble deep in Lions territory, they handed it to running back Aaron Jones on four of five snaps, with the back gaining 16 yards and finishing the short drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. VIKINGS 7, LIONS 0
Second quarter
● 1:05 — Detroit went on a ridiculous 19-play march that ate more than 10 minutes off the clock. The team converted a trio of third-and-longs to get into the red zone. Once inside the 20-yard line, the Lions went for it twice on fourth down, with David Montgomery moving the chains on the first with a bulldozing 1-yard run and Isaac TeSlaa coming down with a high throw on fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard line. LIONS 7, VIKINGS 7
Third quarter
● 3:03 — Following an interception, the Vikings only needed to drive 28 yards to get into field goal range. Will Reichard drilled the 52-yard effort down the middle to put the Vikings back on top. VIKINGS 10, LIONS 7
● 1:57 — Effectively taking over in Reichard’s range after another interception, the Vikings’ big-legged kicker knocked it home from 56 yards out to extend the lead. VIKINGS 13, LIONS 7
Fourth quarter
● 4:44 — Inheriting a short field after the defense forced a three-and-out with the Vikings pinned deep in their own territory, the Lions picked up a couple of first downs and a 48-yard Jake Bates field goal to slice the lead in half. VIKINGS 13, LIONS 10
● 3:43 — Two plays into the ensuing drive, speedy receiver Jordan Addison took an end-around going right and got the edge, outrunning Detroit’s defense for a 65-yard score. VIKINGS 20, LIONS 10
● 1:04 — Reichard added a third field goal to the day’s tally sheet, knocking down a 42-yarder. VIKINGS 23, LIONS 10
Turnovers
● After winning a challenge that negated a Lions’ first down and put them in third-and-short, the snap was botched with Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel recovering the ball at Detroit’s 16-yard line.
● Detroit lost a fumble on a second straight drive early in the second quarter when linebacker Eric Wilson ripped the ball free of Jahmyr Gibbs’ grasp. The loose ball was scooped up by cornerback Byron Murphy.
● On third-and-long after a sack in the third quarter, Goff heaved up a deep shot to TeSlaa while being hit by Van Ginkel. That caused the ball to be underthrown, leading to it being intercepted by Murphy.
● Working from a clean pocket, Goff threw a ball directly to Vikings Harrison Smith late in the third quarter. The veteran safety read the quarterback’s eyes and beat Amon-Ra St. Brown to the spot for the interception.
● Detroit’s turnover woes continued on the opening play of the fourth quarter as Van Ginkel forced a fumble while sacking Goff. Defensive lineman Jalen Redmond recovered the loose ball.
● Another bad snap late in the fourth quarter sent Goff scrambling for the ball. While trying to fall on it, it was ripped from his grasp by Van Ginkel.
Key stats
● Goff completed 18-of-29 passes for 197 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He was also assigned blame for losing three fumbles.
● St. Brown paced Detroit’s pass catchers with eight receptions for 68 yards.
● Gibbs finished with 41 yards on 17 carries, while Montgomery chipped in 25 yards on 10 carries.
● Safety Daniel Thomas, filling in for Avonte Maddox, led the Lions with seven tackles. Aidan Hutchinson and Al-Quadin Muhammad each had two sacks as Detroit’s defense got home for 6.0 on the day.
Notable
● St. Brown topped 100 receptions for the fourth consecutive season. He’s the first player in franchise history to accomplish that feat.
● Hutchinson and Muhammad are just the second tandem in Lions history to each record 10.0 or more sacks in the same season.
● Kalif Raymond took over the franchise lead in punt return yardage.
Injuries
● With a little more than five minutes remaining in the second quarter, Penei Sewell had a defender fall on the back of his left ankle. Kayode Awosika came into the game as a temporary replacement at right tackle, but Sewell was able to return later in the drive.
● Safety Thomas Harper exited at the half with a concussion.
● Linebacker Alex Anzaloe suffered a concussion in the third quarter.
● In the closing minute of the game, St. Brown suffered a leg injury.
Inactives
The Lions made the following players inactive: Offensive tackle Taylor Decker, offensive lineman Trystan Colon, defensive lineman Tyler Lacy, safety Avonte Maddox, offensive lineman Michael Niese and defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo.
Maddox was ruled out on Wednesday with a back injury, while Decker contracted an illness on Thursday morning that knocked him from the contest.
Next game
The Lions close the season next weekend in Chicago. The exact date and time of the matchup will be announced later this weekend.
Justin, while I’m in a lot of mental pain from all this, I know the pain for you is probably real as you lose subscribers. The losing impacts you directly and for that I’m sorry. I’m too diehard and loyal to leave you or the Lions, no matter how bad it gets. Keep your chin up!
While I agree that the defense needs a hard look, when you peel back the onion the weak center position haunted this team from week one all the way to yesterday. The team never got this hole filled. Young players flanked a revolving door of middling to sub par talent week after week. By week six opposing team coordinators had figured it out. The Lions didn’t seem to have a counter strategy. This is a very talented offense - we have never had so many offensive weapons at one time - but you really need a good center to make it hum. I am hopeful this is like the Eagles were in 2023. We can bounce back to the NFL’s top tier quickly with some position upgrades and better weekly game scheming. We are too talented rich to expect anything else.