Vikings Fall Short Against Lions in Dramatic Finish
MINNEAPOLIS – Something had to give Sunday in Minnesota with Detroit’s top-ranked scoring offense squaring off against Minnesota’s third-ranked scoring defense in an early NFC North showdown between the top two teams in the division.
Detroit’s offense stayed hot, but it was kicker Jake Bates who had the biggest moment of his young Lions career connecting on a 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds left to give the Lions a 31-29 come-from-behind win after Detroit gave up the lead late on a costly David Montgomery fumble returned for a touchdown.
Quarterback Jared Goff and the Lions' offense calmly maneuvered their way 44 yards in eight plays to set up Bates with the chance to win it late. Bates is now a perfect 10-for-10 kicking field goals this season.
Minnesota came into the game allowing on average just 15.2 points per game and 67.2 yards rushing. Detroit topped those totals in the first half alone as they led 21-10 at halftime and rushed for 97 yards. Detroit finished the game rushing for 144 yards and had 391 total yards of offense.
Vikings Show Resilience but Fall Short
Minnesota built an early lead after Detroit tried a fake punt on a 4th & 7 play at their own 34-yard line on their first possession and didn’t get it on a Jalen Reeves-Maybin 1-yard run. It took Minnesota just two plays to capitalize with a 34-yard Aaron Jones touchdown run to make it 7-0 in the opening minutes of the contest.
Key Plays Drive the Lions
- Detroit got on the board early in the second quarter on a 45-yard Jahmyr Gibbs touchdown run off the right side, showcasing his speed and agility.
- Goff found Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 35-yard score, putting the Lions ahead 14-10.
- Detroit's passing attack continued with a touchdown pass from Goff to Kalif Raymond, securing a substantial lead.
Critical Moments Shape the Game
Minnesota trimmed Detroit’s lead to 21-17 on their opening possession of the second half on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Sam Darnold to wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
Jake Bates was a highlight of the game, finishing perfect on the season and delivering a dramatic game-winner.
Injury Report and Next Steps
Montgomery was briefly sidelined due to injury but returned, showcasing the depth of the Lions.
Next, Detroit faces Tennessee as they look to build on their winning momentum.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.