MINNEAPOLIS — With just 15 seconds remaining in the game, Jake Bates made a 44-yard field goal to secure a 31-29 victory for the Detroit Lions over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, delivering the Vikings their first defeat of the season in a closely contested matchup that showcased the talent of the NFL’s most competitive division.
In an impressive showing, Jahmyr Gibbs dominated the ground game for Detroit, rushing for 116 yards and scoring two of the three touchdowns that the Lions netted in the second quarter. His efforts, combined with quarterback Jared Goff’s leadership, allowed the Lions to advance 48 yards in just four plays, positioning Bates for the winning kick while forcing the Vikings to exhaust their timeouts. Bates maintained his perfect record for the season, converting all 10 of his field goal attempts.
Goff had an outstanding performance, completing 22 of 25 passes for 280 yards, throwing two touchdowns, and remaining turnover-free. This marks his third consecutive game with a passer rating exceeding 140, a feat only previously achieved by legendary quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Kurt Warner, and Roger Staubach throughout NFL history.
Gibbs added to his total, contributing 150 yards overall, further emphasizing the Lions’ physical dominance at the line of scrimmage, particularly against a Vikings defense that had been solid all season, allowing only 3.6 yards per rush—a statistic that ranked second-best in the league coming into this game.
Late in the game, Ivan Pace Jr. capitalized on a fumble by David Montgomery, returning it 35 yards for a touchdown and briefly giving the Vikings a one-point advantage after recovering from a 21-10 halftime deficit. However, Sam Darnold’s critical two-point conversion attempt fell incomplete, missing wide of Justin Jefferson in the end zone.
As the Vikings tried to mount a last-minute drive, they managed to move near midfield but were unable to reach field goal range for rookie kicker Will Reichard. Darnold was ultimately sacked, sealing the Lions’ victory and marking their fourth consecutive win against the Vikings, the longest streak for Detroit in this rivalry since 1961-63.
Minnesota’s Aaron Jones ran effectively, accumulating 93 yards rushing and scoring a touchdown, despite being a question mark before the game due to a hamstring issue. Jefferson was also a key player with 81 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Reichard successfully converted three field goals, one of which was a notable 57-yarder.
Darnold showed accuracy with 22 completions on 27 attempts for 259 yards, but he faltered during a critical series when he bypassed a wide-open Jones for a play-action throw, resulting in an interception by Brian Branch that halted the Vikings’ momentum.
In what turned out to be a historic second quarter for the Lions, they executed three impressive drives, each covering at least 69 yards, showcasing a masterclass in offensive strategy under coordinator Ben Johnson that left the Vikings’ defensive tactics ineffective, allowing Goff to consistently breach their blitzes.
As for injury updates, the Lions saw running back Montgomery return to the game after limping off in the first half, while right guard Kevin Zeitler was inactive due to a groin issue, with his replacement Kayode Awosika facing penalties for holding and false starts. The Vikings were without linebacker Blake Cashman, who was sidelined with a toe injury.
Looking ahead, the Lions will host the Tennessee Titans next Sunday afternoon, while the Vikings will travel to Los Angeles to face the Rams in a Thursday night matchup.