The Detroit Lions delivered the biggest gift of the holiday season on Christmas Eve with a 30-24 victory over the Minnesota Vikings to secure their first division title in 30 years.
The Lions now wear the NFC North crown, clinching the franchise's first playoff berth since 2016, and playing at least one home playoff game at Ford Field.
Here's how the Lions survived at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis:
Lions vs. Vikings
Final: Lions defeat Vikings 30-24 to win NFC North
Finally, the Lions are the division champions. The defense came up with a big play with Ifeatu Melifonwu on the final possession to beat the Vikings 30-24 and clinch the NFC North for the first time since 1993. Jahmyr Gibbs led the way with 80 yards and two touchdowns, while Jared Goff completed 30 of 40 passes for 257 yards and one touchdown to Amon-Ra Saint Brown. The defense gave up 390 yards, but came up with four interceptions to help push the Lions past the finish line.
0:49, 4th quarter: Ifeatu Melifonwu secures NFC North title with interception
With the division title on the line, the Lions' defense came up with a crucial stop to secure Detroit's victory. Nick Mullins threw a duck over the middle toward Justin Jefferson, and Melifono stepped forward to record Detroit's fourth interception of the game and leave the offense on its knees on the clock. Jefferson was almost the hero who broke the heart of Lions fans, but Melifonwu came up with the biggest play of the game.
5:19, 4th quarter: Vikings add FG, cut Lions' lead to 30-24
The Vikings blew away Detroit's one-possession lead heading into the game's final five minutes. The Lions had to punt the ball immediately after the interception, and the Vikings went 76 yards in just over two minutes, but had to settle for a field goal inside the 10-yard line. Greg Joseph hit a shot from 24 yards.
9:52 4th Quarter: Kirby Joseph intercepts Mullins again
Kirby Joseph was in the right place at the right time on another deep Mullins shot and recorded his second interception of the game. On third-and-18, Mullens lofted the ball down the sideline toward Justin Jefferson, but dropped the ball hard right to Joseph, who returned the interception to the Detroit 35-yard line.
11:07, 4th quarter: Jahmir Gibbs scores second goal, Lions lead 30-21
For the second straight week, Gibbs has a pair of touchdowns to his name. This time, he ran untouched through a huge hole on the right side of the offensive line for a three-yard touchdown. The score ended a 14-play 83-yard drive that took seven minutes off the clock again. The drive began with three straight completions to Amon-Ra St. Brown to move the ball near midfield. The Lions picked up key first downs from Donovan Peoples-Jones, Sam Laporta and Gibbs to keep the drive moving. Black made the extra point this time to make it two scores.
4:38, 3rd quarter: Lions regain lead 23-21 on Amon-Ra St. Brown TD
The Lions answered the touchdown with a 13-play, 75-yard drive that took 7:18 off the clock and ended with a St. Brown touchdown. Detroit's leading receiver broke free of his defender in the back of the end zone and tip-toed to the sideline for the score. The Lions converted two fourth downs on the drive on runs from Jared Goff and Jahmyr Gibbs to keep the drive alive in Minnesota territory. It was a methodical drive, with only one play gaining more than 10 yards. Michael Bagley's extra point attempt was blocked, keeping the lead at just two points.
11:56, 3rd quarter: Vikings lead 21-17 on KJ Osborne TD
It only took five plays for the Vikings to find the end zone again. This time, the drive was concluded with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Osborne, who was Minnesota's big play driving the drive. Nick Mullens got things started with a 24-yard completion to TJ Hockenson, then followed it up with a 47-yard completion to Osborne on the next play to get the ball inside the 10-yard line.
First half: The Lions lead the Vikings 17-14
The Lions have a narrow lead over the Vikings after the first 30 minutes. The two teams traded touchdowns on the opening drives of the game, and also scored touchdowns on their final drives of the half. The Lions take the lead thanks to Michael Badgley's 37-yard field goal.
The Lions' defense is a big reason why Detroit has the lead. Brian Branch and Kirby Joseph each recorded interceptions on dropped passes from Nick Mullens, resulting in one touchdown for Detroit. The offense had a few hiccups, like the first fumble of Jahmir Gibbs' career, but managed to get 200 yards and three scores. Jared Goff is 15 of 21 for 132 yards while Gibbs and David Montgomery combined for 71 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
A late touchdown from Justin Jefferson brought the Vikings within one score just before halftime. Mullens is 11 of 16 for 182 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Detroit also recorded three sacks.
0:29, 2nd quarter: Justin Jefferson makes a diving TD, Lions lead 17-14
Jefferson's talent as one of the best receivers in the NFL was on full display in the final minute of the Vikings' halftime drive. Jefferson made a diving catch by connecting from Cam Sutton for a 26-yard touchdown. He tallied nearly all of Minnesota's yards on that drive, pulling down three catches of 20-plus yards.
1:48, 2nd quarter: Jahmir Gibbs rebounds for TD, Lions lead 17-7
Gibbs' speed was the difference on his 14-yard touchdown run to increase the lead to 10. Gibbs ran the ball up the middle but bounced it wide five yards out, outpaced a Minnesota defender at the edge and found the end zone. Detroit needed just three plays to find the end zone and capitalize on a Kirby Joseph interception. He and Sam LaPorta became the first running backs in NFL history to each score nine touchdowns in their season.
2:38, 2nd quarter: Kirby Joseph intercepts Mullens
The Lions defense came up with another big play by picking out Mullens to give the ball back to the offense. This time, safety Kirby Joseph cut in front of Jordan Addison with a deep shot and wrestled the ball out of his hands for a takeaway. He ran from his spot playing midfield and got there in time for the interception. Joseph returned the ball to the Minnesota 33-yard line.
5:05, 2nd quarter: Michael Badgley hits a FG, and the Lions lead 10-7
The Lions survived a close call to take the lead on a 37-yard field goal to restore a slim lead. On third-and-6 from the Minnesota 18, Jared Goff was hit while throwing and the ball fell to the ground. Initially, it was ruled a fumble and Minnesota returned the ball for a touchdown, but it was ruled incomplete after review. The Lions drive was 13 plays covering 60 yards and took nearly seven minutes off the clock.
0:16, 1st quarter: Brian Branch intercepts Nick Mullens
The Lions' defense responded with a turnover of their own. Brian Branch, who dropped an interception on the first possession, got redemption by cutting off a Mullens pass on fourth down. Branch jumped and snatched the ball intended for Jordan Addison to give the ball back to the offense on the Detroit 20-yard line.
2:02, 1st quarter: Jahmir Gibbs fumbles, Vikings recover
Jahmyr Gibbs was knocked down by Camryn Bynum on the third play of the Lions' second drive, and the Vikings recovered. Gibbs broke off the tackle and appeared to turn a scoreless play into a first down, but the ball was released by Bynum's helmet during the tackle. Minnesota would start the next drive right down the side of midfield at the 46-yard line.
2:51, 1st quarter: Vikings score 7 points on TD Ty Chandler
The Vikings offense featured on the first drive. Ty Chandler finished the 9-play, 75-yard drive with a 2-yard run. Nick Mullens started with a 33-yard completion to Josh Oliver, who was wide open in the flat and ran into Lions territory. He hit two more passes on first downs to move Minnesota into the red zone. The Lions had a chance to make a stop on third-and-goal, but a holding call on Brian Branch extended the drive. Branch then dropped an interception on the first and the next goal, before Chandler's touchdown.
7:13, 1st quarter: David Montgomery scores the opening TD, Lions lead 7-0
The Lions' offense picked up where it left off last week with a 14-play, 75-yard drive and ended with a 1-yard David Montgomery touchdown run. The Lions picked up six first downs on the road, three through the air and three on the ground, to take an early lead on the road. Montgomery had eight carries for 19 yards on the road. Jared Goff was 5 of 6 for 61 yards with completions from five different players.
Pre-game notes
However, the Vikings won't just roll. The Vikings remained in the hunt for a playoff spot despite losing quarterback Kirk Cousins midseason to a torn Achilles tendon and losing wide receiver Justin Jefferson for half the season. Nick Mullens will be under center for his second straight start after replacing Joshua Dobbs as Cousins' replacement.
Minnesota's defense under coordinator Brian Flores, which ranks sixth in the NFL in scoring (19.2 points allowed per game) and 12th in total defense (316 yards allowed per game), was a big reason the Vikings stayed afloat despite the injuries. The Vikings blitzed eight men into coverage at the highest rates in the league and found a groove last month, allowing just 15 ppg.
It will be a strength-to-strength matchup with the Lions' offense, which has found a scoring groove on five straight possessions against the Broncos. The 42-point explosion moved the offense back into the top three in total offense (394.4 yards per game) and fifth in scoring (27.3 points per game).
The defense is having one of its strongest performances this season. The Detroit Broncos were held to 17 points — all in the second half after the Lions took a three-point lead — and gave up 287 total yards.
Report of a black injury
Safety CJ Gardner-Johnson will have to wait at least another week to return from his pectoral tear despite his return to practice. (The Lions visit Dallas this Saturday night.) Also out were quarterback Jerry Jacobs (hamstring), tight end Brock Wright (hip) and linebacker Derek Barnes (shoulder). The offensive line is at full strength for the second week in a row.
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