The Detroit Lions sealed the NFC North title, the No. 1 seed, a first-round bye, and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a 31-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night at Ford Field.
The Vikings struggled early, failing to capitalize on multiple red-zone chances. Despite seven snaps inside the 10-yard line across two possessions, Minnesota came away with just three points. Quarterback Sam Darnold went 1-of-8 in the red zone and finished with 166 passing yards. His performance was marred by missed opportunities, including a would-be touchdown to Justin Jefferson, and constant pressure from the Lions’ defense.
Let AG cook pic.twitter.com/jUkpFdmeLf
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 6, 2025
Jahmyr Gibbs was the offensive star for Detroit. The second-year running back scored on a 25-yard run, caught a 10-yard touchdown pass, and added a 47-yard rushing touchdown to finish with 139 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. He also tallied five receptions for 31 yards and a TD, becoming one of the few Lions players to lead the entire NFL in touchdowns. Jahmyr Gibbs’ dominant performance helped the Lions pull away in the second half.
The only @Lions players to lead the entire @NFL in TDs scored in a season since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger:
1. @Jahmyr_Gibbs1 (20 in 2024)
2. @BarrySanders (17 in 1991, 16 in 1990)
3. @RealBillySims (16 in 1980)#OnePride pic.twitter.com/Y8yeJ54l3V— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) January 6, 2025
Detroit’s defense also stepped up, limiting Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison to just 54 yards combined. Jared Goff, under pressure throughout the game, managed to keep the offense on track and secure the win.
Minnesota now faces questions about their red-zone struggles and Darnold’s performance as they prepare for a Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Lions are firmly positioned as the team to beat in the playoffs, especially with running back David Montgomery eyeing a return. As Dan Campbell likes to say, “All roads go through Detroit.” And much like the city’s actual roads, those playoff paths will be full of potholes and construction zones, making the journey through Detroit a bumpy one for any opponent.