Lions 31-29 Vikings, summary: score, stats, highlights | NFL Week 7
Lions @ Vikings LIVE
Lions ruin Vikings' undefeated streak
Wow, what a game! This NFC North showdown was just that. The undefeated Vikings were given their first loss of the season by rivals Lions in a back-and-forth thriller between two talented teams.
The Vikings took an early 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, but the Lions turned it around with three touchdowns in the second quarter. By halftime, they had a 21-10 lead over the Vikings.
In the second half, the Vikings and Lions traded touchdowns before the Vikings came back with two field goals and a defensive touchdown to take a 29-28 lead in the final quarter. They went for two after the touchdown, but didn't get it.
The Lions were able to hold them off from scoring again and were able to get the game-winning 44-yard field goal with just 15 seconds left in the game to improve to 5-1 on the season.
Stats
Lions QB Jared Goff finished the game 22-of-25 for 280 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions but two fumbles. Jahmyr Gibbs led the running backs with 15 carries for 116 yards and two touchdowns. He added four catches for 44 receiving yards on top. Amon-Ra St. Brown led the receivers, making all eight catches thrown his way for 112 yards and one touchdown. Kalif Raymond had three receptions for 39 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown.
With Aidan Hutchinson out, Alex Anzalone led the defense with eight total tackles, seven solos, and one tackle for a loss. Brian Branch had one interception. Kicker Jake Bates made just one field goal, but it was the most important one - the 44-yard game-winner.
Vikings QB Sam Darnold finished 22-of-27 for 259 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Running back Aaron Jones led with 14 carries for 93 yards and a touchdown. Justin Jefferson led the receivers with seven receptions on eight targets for 81 yards and one touchdown. Kicker Will Reichard made all three of his field goal attempts including his longest from 57 yards.
Ivan Pace Jr. led the defense with 10 total tackles, three solos, one sack, one QB hit, and one touchdown on a fumble recovery.
Up next
The Vikings fall to 5-1 after having won their first five games of the season. They will face the Los Angeles Rams for Thursday Night Football on a short week and the Lions will face the Tennessee Titans next Sunday.
Bates' game-winning FG
Lions kicker Jake Bates' 44-yard field goal won the game for Detroit with 15 seconds left
Pace's defensive TD
Ivan Pace gave the Vikings back the lead with 6 minutes to go in the game with this defensive TD
Raymond's 22-yard TD
Lions WR Kalif Raymond made his first TD of the season to extend the Lions lead in the 3rd quarter.
Jefferson's 25-yard TD
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson made this field goal to help cut the deficit in the second half
Here's some second-half highlights...
END GAME
Darnold SACKED by Nowaske for a loss of 6 yards and to GIVE THE LIONS THE WIN!
The Vikings get one more play with one second on the clock - 1st and 15
Illegal Formation on Vikings' Darrisaw - ball hit the ground with 1 second on the clock....
Darnold pass to Nailor for 20 yards and they try to get set quickly as the clock runs to ZERO but there's a flag...
Bates kicks to the end zone - Touchback to the Vikings 30
Bates has MADE the 44-yard field goal try to put the Lions in front with just 15 seconds left!
LIONS FIELD GOAL!
Goff up the middle for a loss of 1 to bring it to 4th down and letting the clock keep running and now they'll bring on Bates for the field goal try.
Vikings take final timeout
Goff kneels to run the clock and force another timeout
Vikings take second timeout
Gibbs gets nowhere - 2nd and 11
Vikings take first timeout
Goff's pass complete to St. Brown for 14 yards to the Vikings 22 - 1st down
Gibbs picks up another big gain of 16 yards to the Vikings 36 - 1st down
Gibbs picks up 14 yards to the Lions 48 - 1st down
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
The Lions let the clock run down to the 2-minute warning on that play. They're hoping for a game-winning drive here as they trail by 1 point. They're at their own 34 at 2nd down and 6.
Gibbs picks up 4 yards - 2nd and 6
Wright punts 51 yards to the Lions 21 and Raymond takes it up 9 yards to the 30
Darnold's pass is too high and incomplete - 4th and 4 at the Vikings 28 and the clock stops
Jones picks up just a yard but he's tackled in bounds and the clock keeps ticking down with around 3 minutes - 3rd and 4
Jones picks up 5 yards - 2nd and 5
Fox punts 64 yards to the Vikings 16 and Powell runs it up 6 yards to the Vikings 22
Goff SACKED by Van Ginkel and he FUMBLES the ball but Lions recover it at the 20
They punt it away at 4th and 20
Goff passes deep to Raymond but he catches it out of bounds - incomplete - 3rd and 6
Gibbs picks up 4 yards - 2nd and 6
Montgomery picked up 5 yards for the Lions, but Metellus punched it away from him for a FUMBLE and Pace picked it up and took it 35 yards into the end zone for the defensive Vikings TD.
The penalty flag was on Lions' Glasgow for Holding - declined
The Vikings went for two but failed - Darnold's pass to Addison was incomplete.
It's a one-point game and a Vikings lead with just under 6 minutes to go in the game.
VIKINGS TOUCHDOWN!
Pending a penalty flag......
Goff pass to Montgomery incomplete - 2nd and 10
Reichard kicks to the end zone - Touchback to the Lions 30
Reichard makes his third field goal of the day, from 48yards. The Lions cut the deficit to just 5 points with just over 6 minutes left in the game.
VIKINGS FIELD GOAL!
Darnold SACKED again, this time by Rodriguez for a loss of 1 - 4th and 8
Darnold SACKED by Campbell for no gain - 3rd and 7
Darnold passed it backwards to Jefferson and he looks to pass it back to Darnold but ends up scrambling 3 yards - 2nd and 7
Darnold scrambles for 9 yards
Illegal Contact on Lions' Davis - automatic first down
Jones loses 6 yards after a tackle by Anzelone - 2nd and 16
Darnold's pass 51 YARDS is CAUGHT by Addison! All the way to the Lions 40
Fox punts 39 yards to the Vikings 9, downed by Lions' Vildor
Goff pass complete to St. Brown for 6 yards - 4th and 12
Goff SACKED by Greenard, he FUMBLES it but recovers it again, loss of 10 yards - 3rd and 18
Gibbs picks up 2 - 2nd and 8
Goff pass complete to St. Brown for 16 yards and the 1st down in Vikings territory
It's Gibbs again for 3 yards - 3rd and 2
Gibbs picks up 5 yards - 2nd and 5
Reichard kicks to the end zone - Touchback to the Lions 30
The Vikings make it a one-score game with Reichard's 42-yard field goal and 14:24 still to go in the final quarter.
VIKINGS FIELD GOAL!
Darnold scrambles for 4 yards - 4th and 11
END THIRD QUARTER
Just as the third quarter was coming to an end, the Lions defense was able to get to the QB for the first time without Aidan Hutchinson in the game. It was Joshua Paschal who made the sack after two injury scares this game. The Vikings have the ball at 3rd and 15 at the Lions 29.
Darnold SACKED by Paschal for his first sack of the year - a loss of 8 yards - 3rd and 15
Jones picks up 3 yards - 2nd and 7
Darnold pass complete to Jones for 17 yards and the 1st down
Darnold pass complete to Mundt for a gain of just 3 - 3rd and 9
Chandler picks up just 3 yards - 2nd and 12
Darnold scrambles for 7 yards
Offsides on Vikings' Addison - 5 yards
1st and 15 at the Lions 47
Darnold pass complete to Nailor for a huge gain of 33yards despite having two defenders on him - 1st down at the Lions 42
Darnold pass complete to Oliver for 5 yards - 2nd and 15
Darnold pass complete to Mundt for a big gain of 30 yards, but Vikings' Chandler is called for Holding - 10 yards, 1st and 20 at the Vikings 20
Bates kicks to the end zone - Touchback to the Vikings 30
Goff makes a short pass to Raymond and he takes off for 21yards to the end zone for the touchdown. Bates' PAT is good and the Lions make it an 11-point game with 5:43 to go in the third quarter.
LIONS TOUCHDOWN!
Montgomery takes it up 8 yards - 3rd and 6
Goff gets it to Williams but Van Ginkel takes him back for a loss of 4 yards - 2nd and 14
Goff pass caught by Patrick as he leapt in the air for 22yards and the 1st down at the Vikings 25
False Start on Lions' Sewell - 5 yards, 2nd and 15
Lions takes first timeout
Goff pass batted away by Jones II for an incomplete pass - 2nd and 10
Goff pass complete to Raymond for 13 yards and the 1st down at the Vikings 42
Goff pass to Raymond complete for 5 yards - 3rd and 9
Montgomery takes it again, but this time he's stopped by Greenard and Metellus for no gain
Holding on Lions' Glasgow puts them back another 10 yards - 2nd and 14
Montgomery picks up 6 this time - 2nd and 4
Goff's pass to Montgomery is caught with one hand and he picks up 14 yards - 1st down
Reichard kicks to the end zone - Touchback to the Lions 30
At 3rd and 8, Darnold made a 25-yard touchdown pass to Justin Jefferson - Reichad's PAT is good to cut the deficit to 4 points with 10:42 left in the 3rd quarter.
VIKINGS TOUCHDOWN!
Darnold pass incomplete - 3rd and 8
Darnold to Mundt for 2 yards - 2nd and 8
Jones picks up another 10 yards for another 1st down and then some to the Lions 27
Jones picks up 9 yards - 2nd and 1
The play was REVERSED - runner was out of bounds before the ball came loose - 1st down Vikings at the Lions 46
The play is under review as Nailor stepped out of bounds before dropping the ball
LIONS TOUCHDOWN!
Davis knocked it away from Nailor and Branch ran it back for a touchdown
Lions' Paschal is injured for the second time after that play
Darnold pass complete to Jefferson for 8 yards - 3rd and 2
Darnold under pressure, throws it away down the sideline, but multiple flags are on the play
Holding on Vikings' Mundt
Holding on Lions' Robertson
Penalties offset - 2nd and 10
Darnold pass to Jefferson complete but Rodriguez stops him before he can get anywhere - 2nd and 10
Darnold pass to Jefferson for 14 yards and a 1st down
And we're back!
Bates kicks 65 yards from Lions 35 to landing zone to the end zone - Touchback to the Vikings 20
Gibbs TD 2/2
Gibbs made this 8-yard TD, his second of the day with just 26 seconds left in the half to extend the Lions' lead before the half
Branch interception
The Vikings couldn't stop the Lions and Brian Branch made this interception from Goff to make life even harder for Minnesota.
St. Brown's TD
Amon-Ra St. Brown gave the Lions their second TD and their first lead with this 35-yard TD run.
Gibbs TD 1/2
Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs gave the Lions their first TD of the day with this 45-yard run in the second quarter to start the Lions' comeback
Aaron Jones TD
After the Lions failed a faked punt in the first quarter, the Vikings were able to take over in their territory and Jones took off for 34 yards and a TD to give Minnesota an early lead.
Let's get to some first-half highlights...
END FIRST HALF
And that brings us to the first half. The Lions were down 10-0 after the first quarter, but the Lions came back to take a 21-10 lead after two touchdowns by Jahmyr Gibbs and one by Amon-Ra St. Brown in the second quarter.
Jones takes off for a big run of 17 yards, but that will run out the clock
Darnold pass is dropped by Mundt
Bates kicks 65 yards to the landing zone to the end zone - Touchback to the Vikings 20
The Lions get another touchdown before halftime and it's Jahmyr Gibbs again for his second TD of the day, an 8-yard run into the end zone. Bates' PAT is good and the Lions extend the lead with just 26 seconds left in the first hald.
LIONS TOUCHDOWN!
Lions take second timeout
Montgomery picks up just a yard - 3rd and 7
Gibbs picks up just 2 - 2nd and 8
Clock keeps ticking as Vikings are out of timeouts
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
That takes us to the two-minute warning in the first half.
The Lions took back the lead in five minutes' time and now have the ball after Branch intercepted Darnold's throw. They're in the red zone at first down.
Goff pass complete to LaPorta for 25 yards and another first down at the Vikings 11
Bullard takes Montgomery back a yard - 2nd and 11
Goff pass complete to St. Brown for 3 yards and the 1st down
Gibbs pushes through for a 9-yard gain - 2nd and 1
Goff passes to Gibbs and he picks up a big gain of 18 - 1st down at the Vikings 46
Gibbs picks up 8 yards - 2nd and 2
Darnold's pass INTERCEPTED by Branch at the Lions 28
Jones picks up 2 - 2nd and 8
Darnold tosses it up to Jones and he makes the catch and takes off for 12 yards - 1st down
Jones picks up 4 - 2nd and 6
Darnold pass complete to Jefferson for 15yards and the 1st down
Bates kicks 65 yards to the Lions 0 and Akers takes it up 25 yards
Goff's pass to St. Brown was good for a 35-yard touchdown. Bates' PAT was good and suddenly the Lions have taken back the lead from the Vikings with 8:29 to go in the first half.
LIONS TOUCHDOWN!
Montgomery just gets 4, wrapped up by Metellus - 2nd and 11
False Start on Lions' Montgomery - 5 yards, 1st and 15
Goff pass to St. Brown is good for 12 yards and another 1st down
Montgomery picks up 6
Goff's pass to St. Brown was good for 17 yards and a Roughing the Passer call on Vikings' Pace gives them another 15 - 1st down at the Lions 49
Montgomery is back on the field for the Lions
Wright punts 33 yards to the Lions 17 and Raymond calls for the fair catch
Darnold pass to Nailor is broken up by Branch - incomplete, 4th and 9
Darnold pass complete to Addison for 5 yards - 3rd and 9
Darnold pass to Jefferson incomplete
Illegal Formation on Vikings' Addison, 5 yards - 2nd and 15
Lions' Paschal was injured on the play, but he's able to jog off the field
Darnold gives it to Jones, but he doesn't get far - 2nd and 10
Darnold scrambles for 19 yards and the 1st down
Bates kicks 67 yards to Vikings -2 and Akers takes it up 26 yards to the Vikings 24
An Illegal Formation call on Detroit gives them another 5 yards - 1st down at the Vikings 29
Gibbs exploded for a 45-YARD touchdown to give the Lions their first points on the board. That's the FIRST touchdown from outside the red zone that the Vikings have allowed all season. Bates' PAT is good and the Lions trail by 3 with 13:42 to go in the first half.
LIONS TOUCHDOWN!
Gibbs takes off again, picks up 8 yards for the 1st down
Gibbs picks up 4 yards - 2nd and 6
END FIRST QUARTER
That takes us to the end of the first quarter.
The Vikings are up 10 to nothing over the Lions. Lions have the ball on 1st down at their own 43 when the second quarter begins...
St. Brown takes it up 8 yards for the first down
Gibbs takes it up 4 yards - 2nd and 6
Reichard punts 60 yards to the Lions 17 and Raymond takes it up 14 yards to the 31
Darnold under pressure, gets it away to Addison for 10 yards but they're at 4th and 7 at their own 23 - Vikings punt it away
False Start on Vikings' Bradbury, 5 yards - 3rd and 17
Darnold pass to Nailor complete for 12 yards - 3rd and 13
Darnold passes to Jefferson on the sideline for 10 yards, but Vikings are called for Holding on Ingram - 2nd and 24
Chandler picks up a yard, tackled by Anzalone - 2nd and 19
Chandler picks up a yard but Vikings' Mundt is called for Holding, 10 yards - 2nd and 20
Fox punts 55 yards to the Vikings 10 and Powell runs it 10 yards to the 20
Lions were going for it on 4th and inches and Vikings force them to jump - False Start on Lions' Awosika, 5 yards - they'll punt after all
Montgomery had to be helped off the field
Lions' Montgomery was injured on the play
Montgomery was STOPPED by Phillips short of the down - 4th and 1
Montgomery picks up 6 and Lions are at 3rd down again
The ruling on the field stands - Montgomery down by contact
Vikings lose their last timeout
2nd and 7
Montgomery ran the ball a few yards, but it looks like Phillips stripped him of it - the play is under review after the officials ruled the runner down by contact and O'Connell challenged the ruling (with just one timeout left for the Vikings)
Reichard kicks to the end zone - Touchback to the Lions 30
Reichard made the 57-yard field goal try and the Vikings extend their lead over the Lions with 5:34 to play in the first quarter.
VIKINGS FIELD GOAL!
Darnold scrambles away to toss it to Mundt again but Nowaske stops him to put the Vikings at 4th and 7 and they'll try for a field goal
Darnold pass to Mundt is caught but Anzalone is all over him for a gain of just 2 - 3rd and 8
Jones tripped up by Campbell, no gain - 2nd and 10 at the Lions 42
Darnold scrambles away for 6 yards
Holding on Lions' Davis - 5 yards, automatic first down for Vikings
Jones stopped by Campbell for no gain - 2nd and 10
Vikings take second timeout
Darnold's lob is CAUGHT by Jefferson for 18 yards - 1st down
Rodriguez stops Jones this time after just a yard - 3rd and 1
Jones picks up 8 yards - 2nd and 2
Fox punts to the end zone - Touchback to the Vikings 20
Goff scrambles but gets nowhere and the Lions are called for Holding on Decker - 4th and 3
Vikings take first timeout
Gibbs pushes through for 4 yards - 3rd and 4
Goff fakes it to Gibbs, then passes it to him for a pickup of 2 yards - 2nd and 8
It's LOUD here at U.S. Bank Stadium. Goff is struggling to communicate with his teammates...
Lions take first timeout
Reichard kicks to the end zone - Touchback to the Lions 30
The Lions faked the punt on 4th and 7 but it didn't play out. Vikings took over in Lions territory and immediately maximized on the opportunity. On just the second play, running back Aaron Jones took off for a 34-yard touchdown. Reichard's PAT was good and the Vikings take an early lead with 11:43 still to go in the first quarter.
VIKINGS TOUCHDOWN!
Darnold's pass to Jefferson is caught but there's no gain
Lions faked the punt with a snap to Reeves-Maybin, but he's stopped after a yard by Metellus and the Vikings will take over in Lions territory
Goff passes to Montgomery and he picks up a good 19yards, but they're still at 4th and 7 at their own 33
Goff is SACKED by Van Ginkel for a loss of 9 yards
Awosika gets ANOTHER Holding call on the play - Vikings at 3rd and 26 already - ouch!
Montgomery gets it again for another 4 yards, but there's a Holding call on Lions' Awosika for 10 yards - 2nd and 17
Goff hands it off to Montgomery for a pickup of 3 to start off the game
Reichard kicks to the end zone - Touchback to Lions 30
Game time!
And we're off! The stadium is very purple and very loud!
The Vikings won the toss and elected to defer so the Lions start us off on offense.
Just how great is the loss of Aidan Hutchinson?
The Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was no doubt their best defensive weapon. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken left tibia and fibula in their win over the Cowboys last week and will be out for four to six months. He was placed on Injured Reserve and is expected to miss the rest of the season, although there is a chance he could be back for the Super Bowl on February 9 if the Lions make it that far and if all goes smoothly with his recovery.
But that doesn't help Detroit much today, now does it? And just how great a loss is Hutchinson for the Lions? Let's take a look...
Hutchinson accounts for nearly half of Detroit's defensive success
As the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year, Hutchinson accounted for 48% of Detroit's pressures, 41% of their QB hits, 50% of their hurries, and 47.6% of their sack production.
That hurts.
The Lions defense will have a challenge without him as they face Kevin O'Connell's offense.
Vikings vs Lions: INACTIVES
Minnesota Vikings: Inactives vs Lions
QB Brett Rypien (third quarterback)
CB Akayleb Evans
CB Dwight McGlothern
RB Myles Gaskin
DE Levi Drake Rodriguez
LB Blake Cashman
OT Walter Rouse
Detroit Lions: Inactives vs Vikings
S Loren Strickland
DE Isaiah Thomas
TE Parker Hesse
OT Giovanni Manu
G Kevin Zeitler
WR Isaiah Williams
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones is listed as questionable for his team’s Week 7 clash with the Detroit Lions today, but is reportedly in line to face the Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Divisional matchup of the season
This game is easily the most exciting of the week. The NFC North is the best division in the league this season, with all four teams having at least four wins through the first six weeks. The Vikings are in the lead at 5-0, the Lions are just behind them at 4-1, and the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears are both at 4-2.
The Vikings are undefeated and coming into this week fresh off a bye week. Their defense has been one of the best in the league, blitzing more than any other team so far. They also lead the league in pressures (84) and are third in sacks (20). Their offense is led by quarterback Sam Darnold, who's been a weapon with deep passes.
The Lions are coming off of a 47-9 beatdown of the Dallas Cowboys last week. They are at 4-1, their only loss a 4-point defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2. Minnesota's dominant defense will be a perfect match for Detroit's offense, led by one of the best o-lines in the league. Quarterback Jared Goff has been on fire in the last three games, completing 54 of 66 passes for 806 yards and seven touchdowns to just one interception. They also have a defense to brag about, as they have 10 forced takeaways and just four giveaways, plus they are the only ream who has not lost a fumble yet this season. Unfortunately, they lost their best defender, DE Aidan Hutchinson to a serious injury last week.
Welcome!
Good afternoon! And welcome to our LIVE text coverage of the Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings game!
The NFC North is the powerhouse of the NFL at the moment and it's currently led by the undefeated Minnesota Vikings with the 4-1 Detroit Lions just behind them. The Lions will look to take first place back from the Vikings as they face them in Minnesota today.
The game kicks off at 1:00 p.m. ET from U.S. Bank Stadium. It's Jen here bringing you all the live updates, scores, highlights, and commentary starting from an hour before kickoff.
Today's game promises to be a juicy one so let's dive in.