KINGS OF THE NORTH!
It wasn't easy for the Detroit Lions, but they clinched the NFC North and moved to 11-4 with a 30-24 win over the Minnesota Vikings.
The Lions put up 30 points against a solid Vikings defense, and Detroit's defense threw four interceptions on the day, including the game-winning pick by Ifeatu Melifonwu.
That's how it happened.
First quarter
The Lions won the toss and elected to receive for the second straight game. Detroit got off to a good start with a 16-yard gain from Josh Reynolds on the first play. David Montgomery moved Detroit into Vikings territory two plays later with a 10-yard run. Then on the third and fifth, Jared Goff dodged pressure and found Amon-Ra St. Brown for a game-winning shot into field goal range. Jameson Williams then put them in a goal-to-go situation with another slippery catch and run. Three plays later, Montgomery plowed in from 1 yard for one 7:0 Lions lead.
The Vikings wanted to strike back quickly with a 33-yard pass to Josh Oliver to open their first drive. On third-and-2 pass, Nick Mullens hit KJ Osborn for 14 yards to put the Vikings in scoring position. On third-and-goal from the 4-yard line, Brian Branch was called for a defensive hold, giving the Vikings a new set of downs. Two plays later, Ty Chandler rushed for a 2-yard touchdown and one 7:7 draw.
Williams got the Lions' next offensive drive going with an early 12-yard pickup. But Jahmyr Gibbs fumbled on the next play and quickly gave the ball back to Minnesota.
The Vikings took over at the Lions' 48-yard line and almost turned the ball over the right fullback (and then they did). Ifeatu Melifonwu sacked Mullens, but the ball was ripped off after Mullens hit the ground.
This eventually led to the Vikings making a fourth-and-2 at the Lions' 40-yard line. Minnesota tried, but Mullens tried to force the ball to Jordan Addison and Branch was there for the easy pick.
Second quarter
The Lions offered the game's first punt after Goff couldn't find anyone on third-and-4 and the Vikings left eight balls in coverage.
After a quick third-and-7, Branch came in on a blitz and forced the ball out wide. Vikings center Garrett Bradberry fell on the ball but forced a three-pointer.
The Lions' offense came back to life with a 15-yard St. Brown gain and two plays against Montgomery that moved them to midfield. An 11-yard sack followed by a delay of game appeared to scuttle the drive, but a questionable passer penalty call got the Lions' drive back on track.
A 10-yard rush by Montgomery put Detroit on the edge of field goal range, and a WR screen on St. Brown for 6 yards put them near the red zone. On third and fourth downs, Goff was hit and it looked like he fumbled and returned the ball for a touchdown. However, the play was overturned and an incomplete pass was ruled.
Detroit kicked a field goal for a 10-7 Lions lead.
Detroit would quickly get the ball back after Kerby Joseph jumped in front of a Mullens pass and intercepted the Lions for the second time that day.
The Lions quickly capitalized on Mullens' mistake as Jahmyr Gibbs ran outside for a 14-yard touchdown and rebounded one 17-7 Lions Lead with 1:48 left in the half.
With two timeouts remaining, the Vikings tried to cut Detroit's lead before halftime. Mullens found Justin Jefferson for a big 22-yard push into Lions territory. A few players later, Melifonwu came on a delayed blitz and blasted Mullens, resulting in a 9-yard loss, setting up a third-and-19. But then Mullens went straight back to Jefferson for 29 yards. And then… right back to Jefferson for a 26-yard touchdown. 17-14 lions.
With 29 seconds left, the Lions tried to extend their lead. But with only one timeout left, they never really came close.
Third quarter
The Vikings got the ball first at the start of the second half, but had to play the rest of the game without receiver Jordan Addison, who suffered an ankle injury in the first half and was sidelined. Mullens got right back to work with a 24-yard strike to TJ Hockenson. A few plays later, Mullens passed Osborn for 47 yards to the Detroit 6-yard line.
Mullens went right back to Osborn for a 6-yard touchdown and one 21-17 Vikings lead.
On that drive, both Vikings TE TJ Hockenson and Lions defensive end Josh Paschal went to the locker room with injuries. Hockenson would quickly be eliminated for the remainder of the game. Paschal was officially listed as questionable to return due to a hand injury.
The Lions pushed toward midfield but suffered a terrible delay of game on third and second plays. On the ensuing third-and-7 from the Minnesota 41-yard line, Goff hit LaPorta for 6 yards. That led to a fourth-and-1, and Gibbs nearly scored with an 18-yard sprint to the Minnesota 16-yard line.
Once again they faced a four-and-1, and this time Goff converted with a QB sneak and set up the first-and-goal. Two plays later, Goff found St. Brown for a 2-yard touchdown and one 23-21 Lions 4:38 left in the third quarter. (The extra point was blocked.)
The Lions' defense remained strong on the next drive, with Malcolm Rodriguez securing a three-pointer with an impressive open-field tackle on CJ Ham.
With the opportunity to extend the lead to two points, the Lions began to fall behind. A third-and-5 conversion for St. Brown gave Detroit a whopping 25 yards. Goff went right back to him for a 15-yard gain to the Vikings' 37-yard line. As the game moved into the fourth quarter.
Fourth quarter
On the first play of the final quarter, LaPorta scored a nice 7-yard gain, giving Detroit a new set of downs. On the ensuing third-and-8, Goff found a quick slant shot from Donovan Peoples-Jones, bringing Detroit inside the 15-yard line. Gibbs barely managed a third-and-4 on a checkdown pass. He also finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, giving Detroit one 30-21 Lions Just over 11 minutes before the end.
Thanks to a personal foul, the Vikings ended up in a third period, and Mullens shot again from distance. This time the Lions were ready and Kerby Joseph scored his second interception of the game.
However, the Lions' offense was unable to extend their lead. A quick three-pointer tied the game with just two minutes to play, and the Vikings took over again at their own 15-yard line with 7:31 left.
The Vikings quickly moved into Lions territory with a 28-yard throw to Jefferson, followed by another 15 yards on an illegal hit by Joseph. A reverse flea flicker to Jonathan Mundt got Minnesota inside the 10-yard line. But Detroit's defense held in the red zone, and the Vikings settled for a field goal to make it 30-24 lions with 5:19 remaining.
Detroit would look to finish and finish the game on the ground. It looked like the Lions were ready to punt, but an illegal contact by the Vikings turned Detroit into a third down. Still, the Lions couldn't run out the rest of the game, giving Minnesota the chance for a game-winning touchdown.
The Vikings would need to go 88 yards with 2:23 to play to win the game. The drive started with a 21-yard pass to Brandon Powell. The Lions got a huge sack and forced a fumble, but John Cominsky didn't fall on the ball, giving the Vikings life. On the next play, Justin Jefferson made a ridiculous pass to move the chains.
But Ifeatu Melfionwu clinched the game with the Lions' fourth interception of the day.
All of you NFC NORTH CHAMPS.
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