Lions earn NFC’s top seed in victory over the Vikings
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 05: On January 5, 2025, in Detroit, Michigan, Jahmyr Gibbs #26 of the Detroit Lions celebrates a touchdown with Amon-Ra St. Brown #14 during the first quarter of the Detroit Lions’ game versus the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. (Image courtesy of Gregory S.
DETROIT (FOX 2):On Sunday night, the Detroit Lions emerged victorious in the NFL’s most successful regular-season match. 31-9 was the final score.
The division rival Vikings (14-3) were defeated by the Lions (15-2) in a matchup between two teams with 14 wins apiece going into the match. Before a matchup, no two teams had ever won that many games.
The Lions earned their second consecutive division title, deciding the NFC North and the top seed in the NFC playoffs.
The Detroit Lions defeated the Minnesota Vikings 31-9 on Sunday night to win the NFC North for the second time in a row and secure home-field advantage until the Super Bowl. Jahmyr Gibbs scored three of his franchise-record-tying four touchdowns in the second half.
“Everybody s got to come through here, baby!” After the game, Detroit defensive end Za Darius Smith addressed the boisterous fans.
In two weeks, the Lions and Vikings might play again.
In the first week of the playoffs, Detroit will receive a much-needed break for its injured team, while Minnesota will host the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams on Monday night.
With over a dozen big injuries over the past few weeks, the Lions defense has been extremely vulnerable. However, in the first half, they held the Vikings to only six points and stopped two drives within the five-yard line.
The Cowboys used their top seeding to their advantage as they proceeded to and won the Super Bowl in 1993 after Dallas defeated the New York Giants 16–13 in overtime to end the regular season. In contrast, the Giants defeated Minnesota in the wild-card round before losing badly to San Francisco the next week.
Jared Goff discusses how the Detroit Lions defense secured the top playoff spot by holding a strong Vikings offense to zero touchdowns in a 31-9 victory.
Detroit is fervently hoping that history will repeat itself. The Lions are looking to make their first participation in the Super Bowl and break their NFL championship drought, which began in 1957.
Pro Bowl quarterbacks were expected to lead high-scoring attacks in Game No. 272 of the regular season, but Sam Darnold and Jared Goff weren’t playing at their best.
Gibbs took on the responsibility for his team.
With a career-high three rushing touchdowns and 23 carries for 139 yards, he also grabbed five passes for 31 yards and another touchdown.
After being picked off just once in the previous seven games, Goff threw two interceptions, and Minnesota converted field goals following the second and third quarter turnovers.
Goff led a 13-play, 70-yard drive that took 7:25 and was culminated by a deft toss to Gibbs for a 10-yard touchdown on fourth-and-2 after Vikings rookie Will Reichard landed on his third goal to trim the margin to 10-9 early in the third.
During that series, Goff was 8 of 8 and finished 27 of 33 for 231 yards, two interceptions, and a touchdown.
In the first half, Darnold missed chances to get first downs and score touchdowns by completing less than half of his attempts. The Lions led 10–6 at the half after the Vikings had been 0–3 in the red zone throughout the first two quarters.
Under pressure, Darnold threw an open Justin Jefferson in the end zone as the Vikings went for it on fourth down from the Lions 3 in the second quarter.
Early in the third, on fourth down from the Detroit 2, Darnold fired another incomplete throw.
Late in the third quarter, with Minnesota behind eight points, coach Kevin O. Connell decided to try a 51-yard field goal, which Reichard missed wide right.
After the Lions kept the Vikings to nine points in the final regular season game, head coach Dan Campbell stated that Alex Anzalone is a vital member of the team’s defense.
In addition to connecting with Jefferson just three times on nine targets for 54 yards, Darnold was 18 of 41, a season-low 44% completion rate.
Injuries
OLB for the Vikings Inactive was Patrick Jones (knee).
Lions: LB Both punt returner/receiver Kalif Raymond (foot) and Alex Anzalone (broken forearm) made their injury comebacks to play for the first time since November. CB During the game and OG, Terrion Arnold (foot) and DL Pat O Connor (calf) sustained injuries. Late in the game, Kevin Zeitler left the field with a sore right leg.
Up next
As the NFL’s first 14-win wild card, the Vikings will travel to the Rams.
Lions: Following their first bye since Week 5, host a divisional-round match.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 05: On January 5, 2025, in Detroit, Michigan, Blake Cashman #51 and Byron Murphy Jr. #7 of the Minnesota Vikings tackle Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown #14 during the first quarter at Ford Field. (Image courtesy of Getty Images/Mike Mulholland)
Bob Fryz, a native of Taylor, constructed his custom hot rod as a way to enjoy tailgating parties and to honor the Lions.
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