Lions vs. Vikings score, takeaways: Detroit fends off Minnesota rally, wins first division title in 30 years

The NFC North belongs to Detroit

The Detroit Lions are partying like it's 1993. For the first time in three decades, the franchise has won its division, clinching the NFC North with a 30-24 win over the Minnesota Vikings. 

Both clubs began the day mirroring themselves a bit with opening-touchdown drives but started to get sloppy for a time after that. Jahmyr Gibbs fumbled on the Lions' second drive of the game, but the Vikings gave it right back on an interception by Nick Mullens a few plays later. After back-to-back punts, the Lions put together a 10-0 run sandwiched in between another Mullens interception and looked like they were going to hold a double-digit heading into the halftime break. However, with less than two minutes to play in the half, Mullens started to connect with star wideout Justin Jefferson, who hauled in a 26-yard touchdown with 30 seconds left in the second quarter to cut the lead to just three.

Minnesota then began finding a bit of a groove, particularly with the deep ball, exploiting the Lions secondary. That carried over into the start of the second half where Mullens orchestrated an 81-yard touchdown drive on just five plays to take the lead. They'd only hold an edge for a moment, however, as Detroit took the ball on the ensuing possession and regained the lead, thanks to a gutsy drive that featured two fourth-down conversions. That gave the Lions the momentum necessary to build enough of a lead to keep the Vikings at bay. 

That said, within the final two minutes of regulation, Minnesota gave one last gasp to try and take the lead and brought the ball all the way to the Detroit 30-yard line. However, Mullens dropped back and threw his fourth interception of the game, which allowed the Lions to crown themselves division champions. 

Jared Goff completed 30 of his 40 passes for 257 yards and a touchdown, while Amon-Ra St. Brown caught 12 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. Mullens was 22 of 36 for 411 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. Jefferson was his go-to target and the star wideout finished with 141 yards and a touchdown on six catches in the losing effort. 

For more on how this game unfolded, check out our main takeaways below. 

Why the Lions won

Detroit was stellar on critical downs when it needed to be. While the final stats show that the Lions converted 50% of their third-down opportunities, it seemed like each conversion came in a clutch moment. They also were able to move the chains on both fourth-down attempts, which came on the offense's opening drive of the second half that truly shifted the game in the Lions' favor (more on that below). On top of key situational execution, the defense continued to apply pressure on Mullens, which forced him to throw multiple interceptions and nearly commit a handful more. While defending the deep ball was an issue, it wasn't a fatal flaw because of the opportunistic play from the unit. 

As for the offense, the ground attack is what really shined in the wining effort. David Montgomery saw most of the early action and set the tone with a number of hard early runs. As the game went on, Gibbs started to find a rhythm and gash the Minnesota defense. As a team, the Lions rushed for 143 yards and three touchdowns in the win.

Why the Vikings lost

While the offense showed some flashes throwing deep, Mullens was too sloppy with the football in this game. He finished with four interceptions (including a game-clinching pick), but he could have had a handful more turnovers, which put Minnesota behind the eight ball. On top of Mullens struggling in key situations, he was also without some key weapons in this game as both wideout Jordan Addison (ankle) and tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) were ruled out due to injury midway through. That allowed the Lions to apply most of their attention on Jefferson and limited what the Vikings could do down the stretch. That said, the turnovers from Mullens were the difference in the Vikings keeping their playoff standings as they were the No. 7 seed coming into the weekend and are now on the outside looking in.

Turning point

The Vikings were gaining some momentum around halftime where they scored 14 unanswered points. It looked like Mullens and the offense were unable to unlock the deep passing game, which was torching the Detroit secondary and allowed Minnesota to take the lead early in the third. With momentum swinging away from them, Dan Campbell oversaw an gutsy opening drive for the Lions offense in the second half. The drive traveled 75 yards over 13 plays and required Campbell to keep the offense on the field for two fourth-down attempts that were rewarded with first-down conversions. Goff then found St. Brown for a goal-line touchdown to retake the lead and they'd never give it up again. 

Play of the game

For a minute, it looked like Minnesota was driving to steal the game inside of the two-minute warning. Mullens completed a 28-yard pass to Jefferson, who beat his man on a 50-50 ball, to convert a third-and-27 to keep the drive alive. Then, a throw to Brandon Powell that went for 26 yards put the Vikings at the Lions' 30-yard line, down by just six points with a minute to play in regulation. However, on the next snap, Mullens threw a ball intended for Jefferson that hung in the air a bit too long and was picked off by Ifeatu Melifonwu to eliminate the scoring opportunity and give the Lions a division title. 

What's next

From here, the Lions will travel to Dallas to face the Cowboys next Saturday night. As for the Vikings, they'll remain in Minnesota and await the Green Bay Packers for a prime-time game on Sunday night. The Lions and Vikings will also wrap up the regular season against one another in Week 18 at Ford Field. 

[Dec 24, 2023 at 4:16 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Goodness! Mullens is picked off to give the Lions a division title! Crazy! 

[Dec 24, 2023 at 4:15 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

The Lions have been gashed by chunk plays through the air all day long and it's coming up here again with the Vikings showing signs of life. 

[Dec 24, 2023 at 4:14 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Ridiculous catch by Justin Jefferson to convert a third-and-27!

[Dec 24, 2023 at 4:08 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

The question now is whether or not Mullens can complete a few more deep balls. 

[Dec 24, 2023 at 4:02 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Yikes. Back-to-back penalties is NOT what the Lions need right now. A false start and then a delay of game penalty sends them backward. 

[Dec 24, 2023 at 4:00 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Brutal penalty for Minnesota to give the Lions a first down. If Detroit plays this right, they can milk this clock to a division title. 

[Dec 24, 2023 at 3:59 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Don't love that swing pass to Gibbs. Just give the ball to Montgomery to keep the clock moving. 

[Dec 24, 2023 at 3:53 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

It's early enough in the fourth that kicking the field goal is the right call here. Cuts the lead to just six and Minnesota still has all of its timeouts and the two-minute warning. 

[Dec 24, 2023 at 3:49 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

This is the Lions eighth 30-point game this season, which is tied for the most in a season in franchise history. It's also tied for the third most by any team in the NFL this year.  

[Dec 24, 2023 at 3:38 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Mullens showed some flashes, but then threw a balloon and was picked off for the third time today. 

[Dec 24, 2023 at 3:32 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Could be a dagger touchdown for the Lions as Gibbs rushes into the end zone basically untouched. It's a 30-21 game in favor of Detroit. 

[Dec 24, 2023 at 3:20 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Amon-Ra St. Brown has 10 catches for 101 yards and a TD heading into the fourth quarter. 

[Dec 24, 2023 at 3:06 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

That's the type of drive that wins you a division. The Lions decided to keep the offense on the field TWICE and it pays off with a touchdown by St. Brown to take the lead. 

[Dec 24, 2023 at 3:02 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Dan Campbell gambles on fourth-and-1 and Gibbs rips off 14 yards to get within the red zone. Gutsy call. 

[Dec 24, 2023 at 3:00 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Another delay of game for Detroit. This crowd is making an impact. 

[Dec 24, 2023 at 2:59 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Injury update: Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson (knee) is officially out for the game.

[Dec 24, 2023 at 2:52 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Mullens is finally starting to push the ball down the field and the Vikings pass catchers are torching this Lions secondary. 

[Dec 24, 2023 at 2:51 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Hockenson limped off after making a 20-plus yard catching. Something to monitor. 

[Dec 24, 2023 at 2:50 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Injury update: Vikings WR Jordan Addison (ankle) has been ruled out for the remainder of the game.

[Dec 24, 2023 at 2:30 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

The Vikings finally started to target Justin Jefferson on the deep ball and the star receiver rewarded his team with a monster touchdown. 

[Dec 24, 2023 at 2:26 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Jordan Addison is questionable with an ankle injury, per the broadcast.