Lions vs. Vikings: Live score updates, highlights, news

Live score updates, highlights, and drive-by-drive analysis for Detroit Lions vs. MInnesota Vikings.

The rest of the NFL is waiting. The playoff brackets are nearly set. But there’s one more piece of business to take care of and it’s a big one.

The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings are set to face off on “Sunday Night Football” in a game that has huge implications for the NFC playoffs. In short:

• The winner will earn the NFC’s top seed and get a first-round bye in the postseason.
• The loser will drop all the way down to the five seed and have to play the Rams in Los Angeles in the Wild Card round.

Here’s a look at the NFC playoff standings heading into this regular season finale:

1. Lions: 14-2
2. Eagles: 14-3
3. Buccaneers: 10-7
4. Rams: 10-7
5. Vikings: 14-2
6. Commanders: 12-5
7. Packers: 11-6

As of right now, two of the three Wild Card round playoff games are set in stone:

• Packers at Eagles
• Commanders at Buccaneers

And the third game will be:

• Lions or Vikings at Rams

When these two teams previously faced, the Lions barely edged out the Vikings in Minnesota in a 31-29 thriller. In fact, the Lions have won the previous four matchups in this rivalry. However, Detroit has hit a bit of a rough patch recently, with a string of injuries on the defense leaving the Lions vulnerable on that side of the ball. Detroit has allowed an average of 32.5 points over the past four games. Of course, their electric offense has carried them to a 3-1 record over that stretch anyways.

Will the Lions have the right formula to make it five in a row vs. the Vikings? Stick right here to find out. We’ll be providing live updates, including scoring drive recaps and highlights, on this page. Just hit the refresh button after the game kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET!

See you at kickoff!

First quarter

The Vikings won the toss and deferred, putting the Lions offense on the field first. Detroit converted an early third-and-5 thanks to Jahmyr Gibbs breaking a tackle on a reception and turning it upfield for 6 yards.

But that would be the lone first down on the opening drive. The Lions tried to catch the Vikings sleeping on a third-and-8 with a run, but Gibbs lost 7 yards on the play.

Minnesota had less issues moving the ball early. A trio of first downs moved them to midfield. But after a Ford Field-induced false start, the Vikings found themselves in a third-and-9, and Sam Darnold overshot T.J. Hockenson for the incompletion and a subsequent punt.

Detroit’s offense hit on the game’s first big play with a play-action shot to Amon-Ra St. Brown for 23 yards. But on a third-and-2, Kevin Zeitler was called for a holding on what would’ve been a conversion. Detroit failed to convert, but opted to go for it on third-and-5 on the Vikings’ 39-yard line—passing on a 57-yard attempt. Under duress, Jared Goff found Jameson Williams for a 13-yard gain down to the 25-yard line.

On the very next play, Gibbs ran it up the middle for a 25-yard touchdown. 7-0 Lions.

The Lions defense got a quick three-and-out thanks to a first down sack from Za’Darius Smith that lost the Vikings 17 yards.

On third down, Darnold overshot Hockenson again, and Minnesota punted on the last play of the first quarter.

Second quarter

Detroit would only go backward on their next possession. A false start, tackle for loss, and third down sack moved the Lions into an ugly fourth-and-31. On second down, Andrew Van Ginkel laid a huge hit on Gibbs.

The Vikings took over at midfield in a field-position swapping possession.