With their playoff lives on the line, the Detroit Lions produced an absolute dud, turning the ball over six times, forcing zero turnovers and falling to the Minnesota Vikings 23-10.
That makes it a Merry Christmas for the Green Bay Packers, who clinch a playoff berth with Detroit’s loss.
Jared Goff threw two interceptions, lost a fumble and played a role in two other turnovers, both aborted snaps.
With third-string quarterback Max Brosmer under center — J.J. McCarthy (hairline fracture in hand) was out, and Carson Wentz (shoulder) is out for the year — and the team out of the playoff race, Minnesota went with a very vanilla attack. But it was a bit of trickery that put the game away: Jordan Addison took a jet sweep 65 yards to put the hosts up 10 with under four minutes to go.
But most importantly, the Vikings’ offense didn’t defeat itself, something the Lions did over and over again. The Lions gave the Vikings a very generous Christmas gift late in the first quarter when Goff couldn’t handle a snap in his own territory. Andrew Van Ginkel jumped on the ball to give the hosts possession at the Lions’ 16 yards, and five plays later, Aaron Jones barreled in from 1 yard away.
The Lions coughed up the ball on their next drive, this time Jahmyr Gibbs losing the handle amid a bunch of Vikings defenders. Goff managed to put together a terrific drive just before halftime to tie the game at 7-7 with a touchdown pass to Isaac TeSlaa.
That was essentially the only bright spot on an otherwise dreary performance. Goff threw interceptions on consecutive drives in the third quarter, the second of which was a dreadful pass over the middle intended for Amon-Ra St. Brown that Harrison Smith stepped in front of. Both interceptions resulted in Vikings field goals.
Goff made it three turnovers in three drives when he got sandwiched between Dallas Turner and Van Ginkel early in the fourth quarter and coughed up the ball. Jalen Redmond recovered.
After Addison’s touchdown sprint, the Lions committed one final turnover, yet another botched snap — this one out of the shotgun. Van Ginkel wrestled not only the ball away from the Goff but also any faint playoff hopes away from Detroit.
Brosmer finished with 51 passing yards and 48 yards lost on seven sacks taken. The 3 net passing yards are fewest in a win by any team since 2006. Unlike his first career start — a 26-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks — though, he had zero turnovers. The Vikings pounded out 158 yards on the ground.
Minnesota (8-8) has now won four straight, a defense-fueled late-season surge. Minnesota sacked Goff five times, and ahead of an offseason full of offensive questions, the defense is an encouraging sign. Detroit (8-8) has lost three straight and will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2022.