Vikings lose to Lions 30-20, officially eliminated from playoffs
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DETROIT — Sam LaPorta had a 2-yard touchdown catch midway through the first quarter but later limped off the field with a knee injury, an ominous development for the NFC North champion Detroit Lions as they closed out the regular season with a 30-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Detroit (12-5) matched a franchise record for wins and will host a playoff game for the first time since the 1993 season when it played at the Pontiac Silverdome.
The Lions will spend the upcoming week hoping LaPorta, who set an NFL record for receptions by a rookie tight end with 86, is healthy enough to help them earn a second playoff victory since winning the 1957 league title.
Detroit coach Dan Campbell opted to play all his starters even though the best the Lions could hope for was to improve their playoff seeding from No. 3 to No. 2 in the NFC. They needed the Cowboys to lose at Washington later Sunday for that to happen.
Minnesota (7-10) was eliminated from playoff contention, losing four straight games and six of seven in a season stunted by Kirk Cousins' torn Achilles tendon and the team's inability to replace him.
READ MORE: Vikings' Danielle Hunter, Andrew DePaola to start 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games
Nick Mullens, one of three quarterbacks to start for the Vikings' over their final five games, lofted a 38-yard touchdown pass to Justin Jefferson in the final minute of the third quarter and had a 42-yard pass to Jordan Addison for another score on his next possession to keep Minnesota within a touchdown.
Jared Goff, who completed 23 of 32 passes for 320 yards without a turnover, threw his second TD pass on a 70-yard toss to Amon-Ra St. Brown in the fourth. He also set the Lions up for Michael Badgley's 39-yard field goal that gave them a 30-20 lead with 8:14 left.
Mullens threw interceptions to Cam Sutton and C.J. Gardner-Johnson late in the fourth, ending Minnesota's comeback hopes. He finished 30 of 44 for 396 yards.
As usual, Jefferson did his part for the Vikings.
He had a career-high-matching 12 catches for a season-high 192 yards and a score. Jefferson, who missed seven games with a hamstring injury, joined Wes Chandler (1982) and Jim Benton (1945) as the only players in league history to have 1,000 yards receiving in 10 or fewer games.
INJURY REPORT
Vikings: OG Ed Ingram (shoulder) was not cleared to play after being listed as questionable, joining OT Brian O'Neill (ankle) and with CBs Mekhi Blackmon (shoulder) and Byron Murphy (knee) on the inactive list.
Lions: LaPorta's injury looms large. Return specialist Kalif Ray was also ruled out during the game with a knee injury.
UP NEXT
Vikings: Missed the playoffs for third time in four years, failing to earn consecutive postseason bids for the first time since the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
Lions: Host a playoff game at Ford Field for the first time, aiming to win postseason game for the first time since beating Dallas on Jan. 5, 1992.
Vikings lose to lions 30-20, officially eliminated from playoffs
The Vikings will finish the season 7-10 after losing to the Lions 30-20 on Sunday. They will miss the playoffs.
Another interception will seal Vikings' loss
Nick Mullens throws another interception, just a minute of game time after his first one.
The pick all but seals the Vikings' loss to the Lions. They will finish 7-10 and miss the postseason.
Nick Mullens throws 1st interception late in 4th quarter
A late Nick Mullens interception has stunted, if not entirely halted, the Vikings' comeback efforts.
The Lions have a 30-20 lead with just over three minutes left.
Field goal puts Lions up 30-20
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Lions have a two-possession lead over the Vikings.
Even if they comeback and win, the Vikings' playoff odds are essentially nil with Buccaneers winning and the Saints on their way to a big victory over the Falcons.
Addison joins TD party
Rookie Jordan Addison, clearly inspired by Justin Jefferson and Amon-Ra St. Brown, has added a deep touchdown of his own.
The 42-yard score — Addison's 10th of the season — makes it 27-20 Lions early in the fourth quarter.
St. Brown's 70-yard TD puts Lions up 27-13 over Vikings
Right after Justin Jefferson's long touchdown, Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown one-upped him. Jared Goff hit St. Brown for a 70-yard score, putting the Lions up 27-13 over the Vikings.
Vikings cut Lions' lead with long Justin Jefferson TD
The Vikings' latest 4th down try was their most successful of the day, with Nick Mullens hitting a streaking Justin Jefferson for a long touchdown.
The score cuts the Lions' lead to 20-13. The catch put Jefferson over 1,000 yards for the season, despite missing seven games due to injury,
Lions take 20-6 lead after halftime
The Vikings' first offensive drive of the second half looked promising, but a 4th down try fell short, giving the Lions the ball back.
Detroit drove down the field, thanks in part to its own 4th down conversion and a defensive penalty, and running back David Montgomery punched in a score.
Vikings trail Lions 13-6 at halftime
Another Greg Joseph field goal cuts the Lions' lead to 13-6 at halftime.
The Vikings will get the ball to start the second half.
Vikings trail Lions 13-3 after Greg Joseph FG
The Vikings end a drive that featured conversions on 3rd and 30 and 4th and 6 with a field goal. They trail the Lions 13-3 midway through the second quarter.
Jordan Addison nearly had a touchdown on a flea flicker earlier in the drive, but whether he misplayed the ball or Nick Mullens overthrew him, it fell just out of reach of his hands.
Lions score again, lead 13-0
The Vikings' defense has no answers for the Lions, and Detroit is up 13-0 late in the first quarter.
A bigtime throw to Kalif Raymond — whose earlier punt return set up the Lions' first touchdown — got Detroit in scoring range again, and Jahmyr Gibbs took a handoff around the edge for six.
Lions take 7-0 lead on Sam LaPorta touchdown
The Lions have an early lead over the Vikings thanks to a touchdown from rookie tight end Sam LaPorta.
The scoring drive was set up by a huge punt return by Kalif Raymond.
We're halfway through the first quarter.
Vikings missing 2 starting offensive linemen, 2 cornerbacks
As the Vikings fight for their playoff hopes, they'll be missing two starters on the offensive line.
Right tackle Brian O'Neill and right guard Ed Ingram are both inactive for Sunday's game.
Cornerbacks Byron Murphy Jr. and Mekhi Blackmon are also inactive, along with safety Theo Jackson and defensive lineman Jaquelin Roy. Jaren Hall is the emergency third quarterback.
Wide receiver Jameson Williams is the most notable name among the Lions' inactives.