Feeble and finished: Lions' playoff hopes sacked with loss to Vikings

MINNEAPOLIS — Nearly two years to the day after the Detroit Lions snapped a 30-year drought for the division title with a win at Minnesota on Christmas Eve, Detroit's 2025 playoff hopes were officially laid to rest at U.S. Bank Stadium on Christmas.

The Lions, who had eight giveaways all season entering Thursday, turned it over six times. Quarterback Jared Goff, who was under duress all game because of Minnesota's hellacious blitz, threw two interceptions, fumbled three times, all recovered by Minnesota, and was sacked five times in a 23-10 loss that officially eliminated the Lions (8-8) from the playoffs and moved Detroit to last place in the NFC North.

With their season fully on the line, the Lions' only touchdown drive was a 19-play, 80-yard slog that ended with Isaac TeSlaa hauling in a miraculous catch on fourth-and-goal at the 4.

The Vikings (8-8) weren't much better offensively, but they did make fewer mistakes.

If you wanted a stat emblematic of the Lions' season: The Vikings won despite gaining 3 net passing yards. The Lions sacked third-string Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer, making just his second career start, six times on 21 dropbacks. He threw the ball 16 times for 51 passing yards and lost 58 yards via sacks.

And Detroit still found a way to lose the football game.

And after the Lions got back in the fight with a 48-yard field goal that drew them within 3 points at 4:39 in the fourth quarter, the Vikings provided a fitting end for a Lions defense that hasn't been able to limit the explosive plays during this six-game collapse. Wide receiver Jordan Addison took an end-around on second-and-10 and raced up the sideline for a 65-yard touchdown that effectively finished the Lions' season.

The Lions' running game was once again rendered lifeless by the Vikings' defense. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs had 41 yards on 17 carries (2.4 yards per rush), and David Montgomery had 25 yards on 10 carries (2.5). Goff was 18 for 29 for 197 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Detroit's run defense actually came to play before Addison's touchdown. They held Aaron Jones to 47 yards on 16 rushes and Ty Chandler to 24 on seven. Ultimately, it didn't matter. The Lions' offense was as ineffective as we've seen it under coach Dan Campbell.

The Lions are now one loss away from securing a fourth-place schedule for next season, as well as a losing record for the first time since 2021.

The Lions made their first critical error with 3:46 left in the first quarter. After the Vikings successfully challenged to overturn a first-down pickup by Montgomery, Goff fumbled the snap from second-time starter Kingsley Eguakun, leading to a Vikings recovery at the Detroit 15. Minnesota took a 7-0 lead on a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Jones with 1:35 to go in the first.

The Lions turned it over again on their next drive as Gibbs fumbled while crossing into Minnesota territory, resulting in a recovery at the 47-yard line of Detroit.

But the Lions' defense held, and with 1:05 left in the first half, Detroit tied the game with an 80-yard, 19-play touchdown drive that took 10:08 off the clock. Goff was under heavy pressure during three third-and-long completions. Once Detroit reached the red zone, offensive tackle Penei Sewell briefly left with an injury but returned before a critical fourth-and-goal from the 4, allowing Goff's protection to hold up long enough to find TeSlaa for his sixth touchdown of the year on an incredible catch.

Detroit could have double-dipped after getting the ball to start the second half, but before a fourth-and-1 attempt near midfield, tight end Giovanni Ricci was flagged for a false start, forcing the Lions to punt.

On the Lions' next series, Goff was intercepted while trying to throw the ball deep before taking a third-down sack. The Vikings hadn't moved the ball well at all to this point, but with the solid starting field position, they picked up a trio of first downs to reach field-goal range. Will Reichard regained the Vikings' lead, 10-7, with a 52-yard field goal at 3:03 in the third quarter.

Detroit immediately turned it over again, as Goff's next attempt was intercepted by safety Harrison Smith, giving Minnesota the ball at Detroit's 42-yard line. The Vikings moved the ball 4 yards and added another field goal to go up 13-7.

Goff was strip-sacked one more time for good measure on the opening play of the fourth quarter. Before he could even fully reach the top of his drop, he was smushed by Vikings defenders Dallas Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel, giving Minnesota the ball in Detroit territory.

But a holding penalty and 4-yard loss moved the Vikings out of field-goal range in a game where points were at a premium, and the Lions eventually swung the game with special teams. A 70-yard punt by Jack Fox pinned Minnesota at the 1-yard line with 8:53 left in a 6-point game. After a three-and-out, Detroit regained the ball at its own 45-yard line, and turned the opportunity into a 48-yard field goal with 4:39 remaining to draw the Lions within a field goal, 13-10.

But just two plays from scrimmage later, Addison sent the Lions' season into the sunset with his 65-yard touchdown run. Reichard added a 42-yard field goal, his third of the game, with 1:04 remaining.

The Lions will finish their season at Chicago next weekend (date and time to be determined) for a season-ending battle with Ben Johnson's first-place Bears.