It was a story of streaky runs between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings jumped to a quick 10-0 lead, but the Lions responded with a three-touchdown second quarter to move it to 28-10 at the half.
Detroit would hold the lead for most of the game, but a huge mistake from David Montgomery shifted the entire game. With Detroit up five points late, Montgomery fumbled and it was returned for a touchdown.
But the Lions got a couple opportunities to win the game back, and they eventually did with a 44-yard game-winning field goal with just 15 seconds left.
First quarter
The Vikings won the kickoff and deferred, giving Detroit the first opportunity to put points on the board. They failed to do so, though, as a holding penalty on Kayode Awosika—who was filling in for Kevin Zeitler—put Detroit behind the sticks, and a sack ensured Detroit would go three-and-out. The Lions made a bad situation worse by faking a punt, and the Vikings were all over it.
It only took two plays for the Vikings to capitalize, with Aaron Jones breaking a 34-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0 Vikings just over three minutes into the game.
Detroit failed to respond, as they went three-and-out again. Jared Goff failed to find anyone open on third-and-4, and scrambled for just a yard gain.
The Vikings responded by adding to their lead. Minnesota’s drive got off to a good start thanks to a third-and-1 diving catch by Justin Jefferson for 18 yards.
A defensive holding call on Carlton Davis moved Minnesota onto the Lions’ side of the field. Then, facing a third-and-8, Sam Darnold was forced to check down. The Vikings would settle for a 57-yard field goal attempt, which Will Reichard drilled. 10-0 Vikings.
Things nearly got even worse for the Lions, as receiver Tim Patrick had the ball ripped from him on the very first play of the next drive, but he was ruled down and that was upheld upon review.
The Lions, still without a first down, were stopped short on third-and-inches, and even worse, David Montgomery was injured on the play. He was helped off the field with heavy assistance from trainers. He was initially listed as questionable to return with a knee injury. However, he would eventually return after taking off a series.
Detroit would punt after Kayode Awosika jumped on a fourth-down attempt. However, the Lions would get the ball back quickly after a couple of Vikings holding penalties helped Detroit’s defense force a three-and-out.
Second quarter
Detroit offense a pair of first downs, and then struck gold with a run to Gibbs in which he made a man miss and turned it up field for a 45-yard touchdown. 10-7 Vikings.
The Lions defense held up nicely on the ensuing drive. While Darnold kicked the drive off with a 19-yard scramble, Detroit stood tall after that. Brian Branch had a picture-perfect pass breakup on third down to force a Vikings punt and give the Lions the ball back.
Detroit almost immediately got to midfield thanks to a 17-yard pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown with a roughing the passer penalty tacked on. Another pass to St. Brown got Detroit inside the 30-yard line and moved the chains. Then Goff went right back to him for a 35-yard touchdown catch and a 14-10 Lions lead.
Minnesota was looking to respon. A couple big plays from Jefferson and Aaron Jones moved the Vikes into Lions territory, but Branch put an end to the drive with this impressive diving interception.
Three straight plays to Gibbs—two run, one pass—earned a collective 34 yards to start Detroit’s ensuing drive. Then Goff found Sam LaPorta for a 25-yard gain down inside the Vikings’ 15-yard line. With no timeouts from Minnesota left, Detroit opted to play a little conservative in the red zone in order to bleed clock. But on third-and-7, the Lions caught Minnesota off-guard and Gibbs scampered in for a the 8-yard touchdown run and a 21-10 Lions lead.
Minnesota didn’t have enough time to produce anything on offense so the half would end with that score.
Third quarter
Minnesota started with the ball and immediately got Jefferson involved with a 14-yard gain to kick off the half. The Vikings then converted a third-and-2, to Jalen Nailor. The ball did get ripped from Nailor’s hands and Branch returned for a touchdown, but replay confirmed he still had grasp of the football when he stepped out of bounds. A couple decent runs from Jones moved the Vikings into field goal range. Then on third-and-8, Darnold found Jefferson for 25-yard touchdown. 21-17 Lions.
The Lions picked up a quick 20 yards on the next drive thanks to a one-handed grab from Montgomery and a 6-yard run from him on the next play. Another holding penalty on the Lions offensive line pushed them into a second-and-14 situation, but Detroit recovered with a 13-yard catch from Kalif Raymond on third down. Then Goff narrowly escaped a sack and hit Tim Patrick for 22 yards. On a third-and-6, Goff connected with Raymond again, who found daylight for a 21-yard touchdown catch. 28-17 Lions.
A holding penalty initially set the Vikings back on their opening set of downs, but Darnold connected with Nailor for a 33-yard gain to erase the deficit and move into Lions territory. Detroit’s defense got into a third-and-9, but, again, Darnold struck downfield, hitting Jones for 17 yards and into the red zone. On the last play of the third quarter, Josh Paschal picked up a big sack, forcing a third-and-15 on the other end of the break.
Fourth quarter
Detroit’s defense held on the third down play, forcing a Darnold scramble that was well short. A chip-shot field goal made it a one-score game. 28-20 Lions.
The Lions offense faced an immediate third-and-2, but avoided the quick punt with a 16-yard pass to St. Brown. But that would be all they get. Jonathan Greenard picked up a sack on second down, and Detroit came nowhere near converting the third-and-18 and punted for the first time since the first quarter.
Despite poor field position, the Vikings struck on a big play to start the drive. Darnold heaved a deep shot to Jordan Addison for a 51-yard gain.
An illegal contact penalty on Detroit dug the Vikings out of a second-and-16 situation. Facing a key third-and-7 with seven minutes remaining, Malcolm Rodriguez picked up a sack and forced the Vikings to settle for three. 28-23 Lions.
With only six minutes remaining, the Lions offense had the opportunity to put the game away, but they did just the opposite. David Montgomery fumbled the ball and it was returned for a touchdown. 29-28 Vikings. (failed two-point conversion)
Detroit’s offense had no answer. Goff nearly connected with Raymond on a deep shot, but overshot him. Then on third down, Taylor Decker got beat and ceded another sack. A three-and-out gave the Vikings the ball back with the lead and 4:16 left.
The Lions were able to get a three-and-out defensive, giving the ball back to the offense with 2:32 left from their own 30-yard line.
A couple runs from Gibbs moved Detroit to midfield. Then a pass to Gibbs moved Detroit all the way down to the 36-yard line. A strike to St. Brown moved Detroit down to the 21-yard line with 1:07 left. Detroit then just ran the ball three times to run clock and give Jake Bates a chance to win the game with a 44-yard field goal, and he delivered with 15 seconds left. 31-29 Lions.
With 15 seconds left and no timeouts, the Vikings needed to gain 30 yards to give their big field goal kicker an opportunity to win it back for Minnesota. But it wasn’t enough, and the Lions walked away with the win.