Lions Hammer Vikings, Secure 1st Round Bye in NFL Playoffs

Jaymyr Gibbs rushed for 139 yards and three touchdowns, and had one receiving touchdown as the Detroit Lions closed out the regular NFL season with a 31-9 win over the Minnesota Vikings. The victory for Detroit (15-2) clinched the NFC North title. The Lions finished the regular season with the best record in the NFC and the conference’s bye in the first round of the playoffs. The Vikings (14-3) are a Wild Card and the #5 seed in the NFC playoff bracket.

The Lions have had a tremendous season. The Vikings were in hot pursuit all year, and it all came down to the final game. The Lions’ only losses were to Tampa Bay and Buffalo; both of those teams were division winners. Detroit averaged 33.2 points per game, best in the NFL, and allowed just 20.1, seventh best in the league. The defense probably hasn’t gotten as much credit as it should have for its contributions to Detroit’s success this season, but it held the Vikings to just three field goals and no touchdowns in this game, and it’s been solid all year, Minnesota made it close at 10-9 in the third quarter, but Detroit—meaning Jahmyr Gibbs—scored three unanswered touchdowns after that for a 31-9 final.

Highlights

The Vikings will play the fourth seeded Rams in Los Angeles in the Wild Card round. The Lions will host the lowest remaining seed in the Divisional Round the following weekend. If Minnesota wins, and the #6 Washington Commanders and #7 Green Bay Packers lose their games, we will have a Detroit vs. Minnesota rematch.