Fans of the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears and some different groups all suppose subsequent season might be simply nearly as good as this season. Probably even higher.
It’s attainable. But many of the groups that performed on Christmas will let you know, nothing within the NFL is assured from 12 months to 12 months.
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Rather less than a 12 months in the past, the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings met in one of many largest regular-season matchups in a few years. Both groups had been 14-2 with the NFC North title on the road. Watching the Lions fumble the ball round on Thursday and the Vikings working an incompetent offense with an undrafted rookie quarterback, it appeared like loads longer in the past.
Netflix paid a reported $150 million every year for Christmas NFL video games, nevertheless it could be searching for its receipt for a refund. The Vikings beat the Lions 23-10 regardless of having 3 internet passing yards. The Vikings didn’t get into constructive internet passing yardage till lower than three minutes remained within the sport.
It was shut till then, when extensive receiver Jordan Addison took a jet sweep to the suitable and broke all of it the best way down the sideline, flying over the pylon for a 65-yard landing to present Minnesota a 10-point lead.
Four of the six teams that played on Christmas had already been eliminated from the playoffs and a fifth, the Lions, had been barely hanging on. Detroit was formally eliminated with the loss. Losing to a group that couldn’t muster any semblance of a passing sport was an unceremonious means for the season to finish.
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It was an unpleasant sport between two deeply flawed groups. Both groups anticipated to be within the playoffs this season however nothing has gone to plan. It’s a cautionary story to all of the 2025 playoff groups. Enjoy the experience now as a result of by subsequent Christmas it would unexpectedly look loads worse.
It was a tough afternoon for Jared Goff (heart) and the Lions. It’s been a tough season in comparison with final too, for each them and the Vikings. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Vikings and Lions tied at halftime
Mediocre groups can nonetheless produce aggressive, enjoyable video games, however every group had its points executing within the first half.
The Lions misplaced two fumbles early on. One got here on a third-and-1 when Jared Goff mishandled a snap, and the Vikings jumped on the unfastened ball at Detroit’s 16-yard line. A couple of performs later Aaron Jones Sr. ran for a 1-yard landing.
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That 7-0 lead stood till late within the second quarter. The Lions went for it on fourth-and-goal with slightly greater than a minute remaining within the half, and Goff hit a leaping Isaac TeSlaa for a landing to tie the sport.
The Vikings merely couldn’t transfer the ball, even in opposition to a depleted Lions protection. At halftime, the Vikings had -12 internet passing yards. Max Brosmer threw loads of interceptions in his first NFL begin, and in his second he wasn’t finishing passes to both group. Minnesota had a depressing 36 yards of offense at halftime.
Sam Darnold was the Vikings’ quarterback final season. He has helped Seattle to an NFL-best 12-3 report this season. Minnesota followers in all probability had that thought undergo their minds on Christmas, as they watched their group punt on 4 of their 5 first-half possessions.
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And but, as a result of the Lions weren’t good themselves, the Vikings had been tied 7-7 at halftime.
Both offenses wrestle
Goff threw interceptions on consecutive passes within the third quarter. And on the 2 ensuing drives, the Vikings gained 27 mixed yards and settled for 2 lengthy subject targets. That was adequate to get them a 13-7 lead.
On Detroit’s subsequent possession, Goff was pressured from either side when each of his tackles whiffed on blocks, and he was hit and misplaced one other fumble. The Lions had been the highest-scoring offense within the NFL final season, the fourth-highest scoring offense in NFL historical past at 564 factors, and on Thursday they may barely handle any first downs.
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Detroit obtained a subject purpose with 4:39 left to chop Minnesota’s result in 13-10. Then Minnesota had their first massive play of the sport on offense to place it away. Receiver Jordan Addison took a jet sweep to the suitable and broke all of it the best way down the sideline, flying over the pylon for a 65-yard landing to present Minnesota a 10-point lead.
After that the Lions misplaced one other fumble when Goff couldn’t catch a shotgun snap and the Vikings recovered, a becoming option to finish a bumbling efficiency. The Lions’ had six turnovers in a sport for the primary time since 2015, in accordance with the Netflix broadcast.
The Vikings protection performed very nicely, because it has in current weeks. Both groups are 8-8 with another sport to go. Each group will in all probability be glad when the season is over. It’s onerous to imagine, after watching Thursday’s sport, that these had been two of the most effective groups in soccer final season. But issues can change sooner than you anticipate within the NFL.
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Ryan Young
With the Vikings’ win, there’s now only one playoff spot nonetheless up for grabs within the NFC.
NFC playoff standings
1. Seahawks
2. Bears
3. Eagles
4. Panthers
5. 49ers
6. Rams
7. Packers—
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers can nonetheless overtake the Panthers to win the NFC South.
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Ryan Young
The Vikings shut down the Lions, and compelled a ridiculous six turnovers, to select up the upset win. The loss formally eliminates Detroit from the playoffs for the primary time since 2022, too.
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Ryan Young
Will Reichard is sweet from 42 yards out this time, and the Vikings add three extra for good measure. They’re up by 13 factors now with 64 seconds left.
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Ryan Young
And that ought to nearly do it. Jared Goff simply bobbled one other snap, and Andrew Van Ginkel recovered it within the backfield.
Minnesota will take over and attempt to finish this sport.
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Ryan Young
The Vikings simply broke this sport extensive open. Jordan Addison took the reverse and ran it 65 yards all the best way to the top zone.
Minnesota leads by 10 now with 3:43 to go within the sport. That was the Vikings’ longest rush of the season.
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Ryan Young
The Lions simply had back-to-back throws blocked on the line to power fourth down. Detroit is struggling on the line in the present day, and must accept a 48-yard subject purpose.
The Vikings lead 13-10 now with 4:39 left.
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Ryan Young
That was good for Detroit. They practically compelled a turnover and a landing there on third down, too, however Max Brosmer simply barely obtained it away after having his jersey utterly ripped.
The Lions will get it again close to midfield now in nice place to take the lead.
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Ryan Young
Nothing going for the Lions both, however Fox simply caught his punt on the 1-yard line. That was the proper punt to pin the Vikings deep.
They’ll need to get a fast cease right here with nearly 9 minutes left within the sport.
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Ryan Young
Once once more, the Vikings fail to take benefit. Three fast performs later, and a fumble that Max Brosmer recovered himself, the Lions will get the ball again.
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Ryan Young
Van Ginkel and Turner simply introduced down Jared Goff within the backfield and knocked the ball unfastened, resulting in a fifth turnover from the Lions tonight.
Remember, the Lions entered in the present day’s sport with simply eight whole turnovers this season.
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Ryan Young
Thankfully for the Lions, the Vikings could not make something occur after the interception. That’s three fast performs, and one other subject purpose try — this time from 56 yards out.
The Vikings lead 13-7 now with 1:57 left within the third.
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Ryan Young
The Vikings have performed it once more! Jared Goff tried to search out Amon-Ra St. Brown simply now, however Harrison Smith reduce proper in entrance and pulled off a second straight interception.
Goff was not glad within the backfield.
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Ryan Young
Another third and lengthy, one other deep Max Brosmer sack. This Lions move rush is dominating to this point this afternoon.
But Will Reichard drilled a 52-yarder, so the Vikings have taken the lead late within the third quarter.
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Ryan Young
Jared Goff simply threw one up deep there on third and lengthy, which led to a simple decide from Byron Murphy. The Lions offense is struggling in the present day. We’ll see if the Vikings can take benefit right here.
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Ryan Young
That’s a simple three-and-out for the Lions, in order that they’ll get the ball again now in first rate subject place right here after a fast cease.
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Ryan Young
The Lions obtained it to fourth and one at midfield, however a false begin once more pushed them again. So they’re going to need to punt it away. An opportunity for back-to-back scores is wasted right here to start out the second half.
The Vikings will take over simply inside their very own 15.
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Ryan Young
The Snoop Dogg halftime present is over, and the Detroit Lions are again out on the sphere to start out the second half.
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Ryan Young
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Ryan Young
We’re all locked up at halftime in Minneapolis. The Lions will get the ball again after the break, too.
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Ryan Young
The Lions lastly punched it in. After taking all of it the best way to fourth down, Jared Goff discovered Isaac TeSlaa up in the midst of the top zone for the landing.
We’re tied up now with 65 seconds left within the half.
