The anticipated clash between the top two teams of the NFC North did not disappoint, with Detroit Lions beating the Minnesota Vikings 31-29 in a thrilling back-and-forth victory.
Detroit moves into first place in the division with the win, owning the tiebreaker over the previously unbeaten Vikings. There was nothing easy about its win, though. The Lions fell into an early 10-0 hole on the road, and things were looking sloppy and lost off the bat. But they stormed back quickly, with Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs leading the way.
The Lions went into halftime with an 11-point lead, then let the Vikings crawl back into the game, eventually falling behind after David Montgomery’s fumble was returned for a touchdown with a little more than five minutes to go. But Goff, Gibbs and St. Brown had another swing up their sleeve, getting into position for Jake Bates to put the game on ice. Bates nailed the game-winning field goal from 44 yards out with less than 20 seconds left.
Related: Instant observations: Lions take NFC North lead in huge comeback win vs. Vikings
Related: Lions win thriller over Vikings in NFC North showdown: Live updates recap
See below for headlines and reactions from around the country after Detroit’s victory:
Lions top previously unbeaten Vikings 31-29 on late FG to cap NFC North thriller — Associated Press
Lions beat Vikings 31-29 as field goal in final seconds hands Minnesota its first loss — The Minneapolis Star Tribune
Vikings fall to Lions 31-29 in first loss of season — Twin Cities — Pioneer Press
Recap: How Lions edged Vikings 31-29 in matchup of NFC’s best — The Minneapolis Star Tribune
NFL Week 7 scores: Lions hand Vikings first defeat of 2024 on last-minute field goal — Yahoo Sports
Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs rips off an AMAZING 45-yard TD against Vikings — Fox Sports
David Montgomery returns to Lions-Vikings game after leaving with knee injury — Yahoo Sports
Vikings vs. Lions Game Observations: Final Stop Elusive in 31-29 Loss — Minnesota Vikings
NFL Week 7 questions, takeaways: Saquon Barkley gets revenge on Giants, Lions and Packers win in final minute — ESPN
What We Learned: Top takeaways from Week 7’s Sunday games — NFL.com
ESPN’s Mina Kimes: “Jared Goff putting up yet another great performance vs a Brian Flores defense that’s stymied the rest of the NFL is so, so impressive.”
Detroit Lions PR: “The Lions have started at least 5-1 in consecutive seasons for the first time since relocating to Detroit in 1934.”
Football Zebras on the Vikings getting one more snap to end the game: “Illegal formation is not a snap-killing foul, so it’s not in the group of fouls considered for a run-10. Yes, the Vikings may have found a hack, because what’s to say that you don’t line up a center and a QB, and everyone else set where they are?”
- BETTING: Check out our guide to the best Michigan sportsbooks, where our team of sports betting experts has reviewed the experience, payout speed, parlay options and quality of odds for multiple sportsbooks.