Recap: Lions beat Vikings, 30-24, to capture NFC North crown

Detroit fended off the Minnesota Vikings for a 30-24 road win Sunday to capture the NFC North crown, ending the organization's 30-year drought without a division title. Defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu officially iced the game for the Lions, picking off quarterback Nick Mullens in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter.

That interception was not the first thrown by Minnesota's quarterback on the afternoon. Though Mullens racked up over 400 passing yards and a couple of touchdowns, he was picked off four times by Detroit's secondary — two of those courtesy of safety Kerby Joseph. Star wide receiver Justin Jefferson had himself a day, collecting 141 yards and a touchdown on six receptions, but it was not nearly enough to overcome the turnovers and a paltry rushing attack. The Vikings finished with just 17 rushing yards on 11 carries.

The Lions had an efficient day on offense, headlined by wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs. The ever-reliable St. Brown made clutch catches all day, finishing with 106 receiving yards and a touchdown on 12 receptions. Detroit's rookie running back illustrated his speed and shiftiness with 80 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns. The only blemish on the afternoon for Gibbs was a first-half fumble.

Quarterback Jared Goff didn't have an especially eye-popping stat line when all was said and done, but he played a clean game and ran the offense like a well-oiled machine. The veteran quarterback finished with 257 passing yards and a touchdown.

Detroit enters the final two weeks of the regular season with a 11-4 record, still in the mix for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The win over Minnesota gives the Lions their first division title since 1993, when it was still called the NFC Central.

Melifonwu calls game with INT, Detroit wins

Drive starts: DET 25 (5:19 4th)

Detroit is looking to drain out the clock and lock up a win. Montgomery moves the chains on a pair of carries, picking up seven yards on first and four yards on second. He gets another first down carry, this one good for three yards, followed up by an incompletion. It's third-and-7. Goff can't connect with Reynolds, but an illegal contact penalty on the Vikings hands the Lions a free first down.

Montgomery rumbles ahead for a three yards on first with just over four minutes left in the game. A false start and a delay of game backs up the Lions 10 yards on second down, though, making it 2-and-and-17. Gibbs picks up just a yard and it's third-and-long. It's a delayed handoff to Gibbs and he gets just three, forcing Detroit to punt it away.

Drive starts: MIN 12 (2:36 4th)

A pass intended for Osborn is broken up by Branch on first down, but Mullens connects with Powell for a 21-yard gain. Defensive end Romeo Okwara gets to Mullens after an incompletion and forces a fumble, though it's recovered by Minnesota for a loss of 17.

However, perhaps the best receiver in the NFL, Justin Jefferson, keeps the drive alive with a stellar 28-yard reception. Mullens goes right back to the air a play later, finding Powell for 26 yards to put the offense just outside the red zone.

Melifonwu calls game, though. Mullens throws a pick to the defensive back and Detroit ices the win.

Vikings settle for field goal, trail 30-24

Drive starts: MIN 25 (11:07 4th)

Mattison gets just a yard on first down and an unnecessary roughness penalty on the offense on second backs the offense up to third-and-18. Mullens heaves a deep ball to Jefferson, but Joseph notches his second pick of the day and Detroit's offense takes the field.

Drive starts: DET 35 (9:52 4th)

Montgomery grabs a pass out of the backfield and rushes ahead for five yards, but he loses a couple on a handoff a play later. St. Brown notches four yards, not quite enough for the first, and the Lions punt it away.

Drive starts: MIN 15 (7:31 4th)

Osborn gets a quick 14-yard catch to kick off Minnesota's drive. Mullens tosses an incompletion on first down and a too-many-men penalty on second backs up the offense an additional five yards. Jefferson hauls in a 28-yard reception and an unnecessary roughness penalty on Joseph tacks on another 15 on the play. A trick play just a play later results in another chunk play, this one for 23 yards courtesy of a catch from Mundt.

Inside the 10-yard line, Mullens throws a pair of incompletions and just like that, it's third down. He scrambles just a gain of one and the offense settles for a field goal.

Lions 30, Vikings 24 (5:19 4th)

Lions take 30-21 lead in fourth

Drive starts: MIN 25 (4:38 3rd)

Chandler gets a couple yards with a first down carry and Mullens throws an incompletion on second down. Minnesota's offense is already facing a third-and-long. A 6-yard catch on third makes it fourth-and-short, forcing the Vikings to send out the punting unit.

Drive starts: DET 17 (3:01 3rd)

St. brown grabs a 4-yard pass and Gibbs churns for a couple. Detroit faces a quick third down. Goff goes to old reliable on third, finding St. Brown wide open for a 25-yard gain. The duo makes another connection just a couple plays later, this one good for 15-yard. A 4-yard rush from Gibbs and 6-yard catch from LaPorta moves the chains again for Detroit.

A meager rushing attempt and a short pass sets up the second third-down of the drive for the Lions. Goff slings a quick pass to a slanting Donovan Peoples-Jones, picking up 11-yard to keep the bruising drive moving.

Gibbs gains six on a catch out of the backfield, but St. Brown can't quite haul in a pass on second. Again, it's third down for Detroit's offense. This time, Goff keeps things moving with a dump off to Gibbs, who makes a few defenders miss to earn five yards and a first down. Gibbs notches his second touchdown of the afternoon on first-and-goal, bursting through the defense to make it a two-score game.

Lions 30, Vikings 21 (11:07 4th)

Lions recapture lead

Drive starts: DET 25 (11:56 3rd)

Detroit looks intent on responding. Raymond hauls in a 18-yard pass to kick off the drive, quickly putting Detroit near the middle of the field. Gibbs churns up the middle of the defense for a gain of six yards on the next play and St. Brown grabs an 8-yard catch to put the Lions into Vikings territory.

An incompletion and speedy 8-yard rush from Gibbs sets up a third-and-short for Detroit's offense, but a false start backs it up to third-and-7. LaPorta grabs a 6-yard catch to make it fourth-and-1, and naturally, head coach Dan Campbell goes for it. Gibbs gets the handoff and bursts through the defense for a 18 yard rush, and Detroit is in the redzone. A 8-yard catch from Williams and rush for no gain from Gibbs puts the Lions in another third-down situation, but Gibbs picks up just a yard. It's yet another fourth-and-1 for Detroit. Goff keeps it for a sneak, gets a first down and it's first-and-goal. After a 4-yard rush from Gibbs, Goff finds St. Brown in the endzone for a 1-yard touchdown and Detroit has the lead again. The extra point is blocked and Detroit leads by two.

Lions 23, Vikings 21 (4:38 3rd)

Minnesota scores out of the half, leads 21-17

Drive starts: MIN 19 (14:55 3rd)

Chandler notches just a yard on first down, but Hockenson grabs a 24-yard pass on the ensuing play to put the offense near midfield. After a short 3-yard rush from Chandler, it's another explosive play for Minnesota's offense. Mullens launches a 47-yard bomb to Osborn and connects with the same receiver on the very next play for a 6-yard touchdown pass.

Vikings 21, Lions 17 (11:56 3rd)

Detroit Lions lead Minnesota Vikings 17-14 at the half

Drive starts: MIN 10 (4:59 2nd)

An illegal contact penalty on first down wipes off a Alex Anzalone sack and hands Minnesota free yards. Alexander Mattison loses a couple yards on first down and couple false starts quickly makes it 2nd-and-21 for the Vikings offense. A 14-yard catch from Hockenson makes up for the loss yardage and it's third-and-8. Safety Kerby Joseph comes up with an interception on a deep-ball attempt and the Lions take over in Vikings territory.

Drive starts: MIN 33 (2:38 2nd)

It doesn't take long to Reynolds grabs a 8-yard catch on first down and an encroachment penalty on the Vikings gives the Lions a free first down. On the first play in the red zone, Williams snags six yards on a screen pass. On the very next play, Gibbs takes a handoff and slips between defenders, bursting to the right to the endzone for a 14-yard touchdown.

Lions 17, Vikings 7 (1:48 2nd)

Drive starts: MIN 25 (1:48 2nd)

Mullens completes a pair of passes to start the two-minute drill, connecting with Hockenson for seven yards and Jefferson for 22 yards. The Vikings are already in Lions territory. Mullens throws an incompletion on first down and Melifonwu slams into the quarterback for a crushing -9-yard sack, forcing the offense into third-and-19. However, Mullens keeps the drive going with a deep 29-yard pass to Jefferson. Just a play later, the star receiver snags a 26-yard touchdown reception in the endzone to cut into Detroit's lead.

Lions 17, Vikings 14 (0:29 2nd)

Drive starts: DET 25 (0:29 2nd)

The Lions face a two-minute drill with less than 30 seconds left and just one timeout. St. Brown brings in an 11-yard catch on first down, but an incompletion and 1-yard pass to Gibbs runs out the clock.

Lions settle for FG, take 10-7 lead

Drive starts: DET 25 (2:51 1st)

Detroit's next drive ends in disaster. Williams notches an 11-yard reception following a Goff incompletion, but Gibbs fumbles after a 14-yard rushes to hand possession right back to the Vikings.

Drive starts: DET 48 (2:02 1st)

Chandler rushes ahead for six yards on first down, but Mullens is sacked by Ifeatu Melifonwu on second down to make it third-and-15. Tight end T.J. Hockenson picks up 13 yards to make it fourth-and-short and the Vikings elect to attempt the conversion. However, Mullens throws an interception to Branch on fourth down and the Lions take over at their own 20.

Drive starts: DET 20 (0:16 1st)

St. Brown opens the drive with a 3-yard reception in the backfield. Montgomery rumbles ahead for 3-yard and it's quickly third-and-4. Goff throws an incompletion on third down and the offense is quickly punting it away.

Drives starts: MIN (14:05 2nd)

Chandler gets wrapped up quickly, rushing for just a yard on first down. A short completion on second down quickly makes it third-and-7. Mullens faces plenty of pressure and barely gets it off for an incompletion. The punting unit is already taking the field.

Drive starts: DET 22 (12:52 2nd)

Goff kicks off the drive with a 15-yard pass to St. Brown. Montgomery follows it up with a 4-yard rush and snags a 9-yard pass a play later to put the offense at midfield. However, Goff is sacked for a loss of 11 yards to open the next set of downs and a delay of game tacks on another five yards, making in 2nd-and-26. A roughing the passer penalty on the Vikings bails out the Lions offense, though, and the offense is gifted with a first down at the Detroit 39.

Montgomery gets a couple of carries after the penalty, collecting a total of 14 yards and putting the offense in Vikings territory. Williams and St. Brown each notch 5-yard catches to put the Lions just outside the red zone. An incompletion and 4-yard rush from Gibbs sets up third-and-6 for Detroit's offense. Goff just barely gets the ball off for an incompletion on third down and the offense settles for a field goal. Kicker Michael Badgley kicks a 37-yard field goal.

Lions 10, Vikings 7 (5:05 2nd)

Vikings answer, tie game 7-7

Drive starts: MIN 25 (7:13 1st)

The Vikings open the drive with a big chunk play, as quarterback Nick Mullens connects with Josh Oliver for 33 yards. The offense keeps on marching, following up the big gain with a 14-yard pass to K.J. Osborn on play action. Justin Jefferson notches a 8-yard pass, setting up Minnesota's offense just outside the red zone. Ty Chandler rushes for no gain on second down, but Osborn notches a 14-yard catch to keep the drive alive on third.

Facing first-and-goal, Mullens faces plenty of pressure and throws an incompletions. Chandler rushes for a couple on second down to set up third-and-goal at the 4-yard line. He throws an incompletion, but defensive holding on the Lions gives the Vikings a fresh set of downs.

Mullens nearly throws a pick to Brian Branch on first-and-goal, but Chandler punches it in just a play later to tie up the game.

Lions 7, Vikings 7 (2:51 1st)

Lions score on opening drive

Drive starts: DET 25 (15:00 1st)

Detroit's offense is quickly on the move. Quarterback Jared Goff drops back to pass on the first play of the game, connecting with wide receiver Josh Reynolds for a gain of 16. Running back David Montgomery opens the next set of downs with a 1-yard rush, but follows it up with a 10-yard rush for a first down to put the Lions in Vikings territory.

Goff drops back to pass on first down again, dumping it off to running back Jahmyr Gibbs for a 8-yard gain. However, Minnesota's defense locks up Montgomery on the ensuing play for a loss of three yards. Goff keeps the drive alive with a clutch 14-yard pass to wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown on third-and-5.

The Lions get flagged for offensive offsides, but it takes just a couple plays to make up for the loss yardage. Following a 3-yard rush from Montgomery, Goff rips a 11-yard pass to Reynolds to make it third and inches. Montgomery picks up the first with a 4-yard rush.

Officially inside the red zone, Goff before connecting with wide receiver Jameson Williams. He makes a couple defenders miss and claws for a first down, notching a 13-yard catch. Facing first and goal, Montgomery rushes for three yards on a couple attempts to put the ball at the 1-yard line. The bell-cow back punches it it on third down for a 1-yard touchdown.

Lions 7, Vikings 0 (7:13 1st)

Pregame

The Lions are returning to divisional play this Christmas Eve, with a chance to end a 30-year funk.

The Lions can clinch an NFC North title Sunday, traveling to Minnesota to take on the North's second-place Vikings. The Lions, who also can clinch a playoff berth, last won a division title in 1993.

Minnesota has just one win in its last four, struggling to find consistent play from its quarterbacks. Detroit, on the other hand, reached double-digit wins with its 42-17 victory over the Denver Broncos last weekend, rebounding in a big after a stretch of lukewarm play. It was an excellent showing on both sides of the ball, headlined by a pair of rookies on offense.

Tight end Sam LaPorta and running back Jahmyr Gibbs were unstoppable against the Broncos. LaPorta racked up three touchdowns and 56 receiving yards with five receptions, while Gibbs earned 100 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, as well as a receiving touchdown.

It wasn’t just a couple of rookies propelling the offense along, thorough. Quarterback Jared Goff had a great afternoon with plenty of time in the pocket, finishing with 278 passing yards, five touchdowns and, perhaps most importantly, no turnovers. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was his top target, earning 112 receiving yards and a touchdown with seven receptions.

The defense also had a strong game, holding Denver to just 83 rushing yards on 28 attempts. That lack of a ground game often forced quarterback Russell Wilson and the offense into third-and-long situations. The seasoned quarterback was often uncomfortable in the pocket thanks to some frequent blitzing from defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.

Follow along here for live updates from Detroit News contributor Alex Faber.

Lions at Vikings

▶ Kickoff: 1 p.m. Sunday, U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis

▶ TV/radio: FOX/97.1-FM

▶ Records: Lions 10-4; Vikings 7-7

▶ Line: Lions by 3

▶ Series: Vikings lead 80-41-2 (Last game: Dec. 11, 2022 — (at) Lions, 34, Vikings 23)