Game 272 of the regular season was a historic one for the Detroit Lions.
In a thrilling match between two 14-2 teams to finish the regular season, the Lions dominated in all areas, securing a 31-9 victory. With this win, Detroit became the NFC North champions for the second year in a row.
This win not only gave the Lions the division title, but also earned them the first-ever No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. This means they will have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
“What a win,” said Lions head coach Dan Campbell after the game. “I can’t say enough about our defense. Let me start there. AG (defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn) and the defense really controlled that game for us, particularly in the first half.”
“It was a total team effort starting with our defense. It took the whole unit, but what a great job. Back-to-back division winners in the NFC North and got the No. 1 seed, 15 wins, I just couldn’t be more proud of those guys.”
Detroit’s defense was outstanding all game, stopping the Vikings from scoring a touchdown and making two crucial fourth-down stops inside their own 5-yard line to help secure the win.
Minnesota struggled with just 3 successful third downs out of 13 tries, failed on all three fourth downs, and didn’t score at all in the red zone (0-for-4).
After a slow start, Detroit’s offense picked up in the second half, with Jahmyr Gibbs scoring three touchdowns. Gibbs finished the game with four touchdowns, setting a new franchise record with 20 touchdowns in a season, breaking the previous record of 17 held by Barry Sanders and Jamaal Williams.
He rushed for 139 yards, caught five passes for 31 yards, and has now surpassed 100 scrimmage yards and scored a touchdown in four consecutive games, tying a franchise record for most such games in a single season.
“It’s a huge accomplishment, but like I said, and we said it (in the locker room), it’s step one,” said quarterback Jared Goff. “We’re proud to be 15-2 and NFC North champs back-to-back, the No. 1 seed, bye week, all of that stuff we’re proud of it, this is just tick No. 1. Check. Tick No. 2 is next.”
The Lions now have a much-needed bye week and will automatically advance to the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
After both teams punted on their opening drives, Detroit was the first to score, with a 25-yard touchdown run by Gibbs. This came just one play after head coach Dan Campbell decided to go for it on 4th & 5 at the Minnesota 39-yard line, successfully converting on a 14-yard pass from Jared Goff to Jameson Williams.
Minnesota’s first points came from a 25-yard field goal by Will Reichard, which followed an interception by Goff at the Lions’ 7-yard line on a tipped pass. This occurred after Detroit had stopped Minnesota on a 4th & goal play from the 3-yard line on their previous drive.
A 31-yard field goal by Will Reichard with 20 seconds left in the first half made the score 7-6 in favor of Detroit. However, the Lions got a chance to score again before the half ended when Reichard kicked the following kickoff out of bounds.
Detroit started with the ball at the 40-yard line. Two passes from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown moved the ball to the Minnesota 30-yard line with just a couple of seconds remaining. Jake Bates then kicked a 48-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Lions a 10-6 lead at halftime.
Detroit’s defense forced their second turnover on downs inside their own 5-yard line on Minnesota’s first possession of the second half.
After a 51-yard field goal by Reichard made it 10-9, Goff and the Lions’ offense responded with a 13-play, 70-yard drive. The drive ended with a 9-yard touchdown catch by Jahmyr Gibbs on a 4th & 2 play, increasing Detroit’s lead to 17-9.
The Lions extended their lead to 24-9 early in the fourth quarter with a 13-yard touchdown run by Gibbs. They pushed the lead even further to 31-9 when Gibbs scored his fourth touchdown of the game, a 4-yard run, with just over five minutes left in the game.
“Our guys didn’t bat an eye,” head coach Dan Campbell said. “They line up, they compete, they play to win, and we knew what was at stake. But our guys just came out and played. Our players will show up and make plays because the core of this group has been doing it for four years… and our guys did it again.”
