MINNEAPOLIS – The Detroit Lions won a thrilling battle over the Minnesota Vikings to vault themselves back into first place in the NFC North.
Jared Goff shined once again, completing 22 of 25 pass attempts for 280 yards and two scores.
But it was Jake Bates who played hero, drilling a 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining to turn a one-point deficit into a two-point victory.
Slow start
The Lions got off to a rough start. Kayode Awosika, filling in at right guard for Kevin Zeitler, was called for two holding penalties and also allowed a sack on the opening drive.
Those mistakes were compounded when Dan Campbell dialed up a fake punt on fourth and 7 from Detroit‘s own 33-yard line. Minnesota wasn’t fooled, and the ball was turned over on downs.
The Vikings scored two plays later, when the Lions lost contain and allowed Aaron Jones to scamper 34 yards untouched into the end zone.
Detroit went three-and-out again on its second drive, and the Vikings drove nine plays and 41 yards to set up a field goal to stretch their lead to 10-0.
The offense still couldn’t get going on the third drive, as a false start by Awosika dissuaded Campbell from attempting a fourth and 1 from his own 39.
Fortunately, the defense got a three-and-out, thanks to a pair of holding calls and a false start against the Vikings. That’s when the tide turned.
Offense catches fire
This Lions' offense is never held down for long, and it really exploded in the second quarter.
It began with a five-play, 69-yard touchdown drive capped by a Jahmyr Gibbs score from 45 yards out. Gibbs made a nice move to get to the second level and then left the last Minnesota defender grasping at air with a cut back to the middle of the field.
The defense forced another three-and-out, and the Lions needed just 2:45 to march 83 yards down the field for another score. Amon-Ra St. Brown had three catches for 64 yards on the drive, including a 35-yard touchdown grab.
Brian Branch gave the Lions the ball back with an incredible diving interception, and this time, the offensive march was a bit more methodical, as Gibbs rushed the ball four times for 26 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown on third and 7.
Sam LaPorta made a key 25-yard catch on the drive to get the Lions down to the 11-yard line.
The Lions went into halftime with an impressive 21-10 lead.
Minnesota answers after halftime
The Vikings answered after halftime with a much-needed nine-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. On third and 8 from the 25-yard line, Sam Darnold hit Justin Jefferson in the end zone.
Goff, who was a perfect 12-for-12 for 156 yards and a touchdown at the break, stayed hot, though. He completed passes to David Montgomery, Tim Patrick, and Kalif Raymond on the ensuing drive to get the Lions back up 11.
Raymond caught a key 13-yard pass to move the chains on third and 9 and then scored on third and 6 from the 21.
But the Vikings kept applying pressure. Darnold led a nine-play, 46-yard field goal drive that ended thanks to a Josh Paschal sack -- Detroit’s first of the game without Aidan Hutchinson.
After a Lions punt, the Vikings kicked another field goal to get within five, 28-23.
Critical turnover
The Lions had a chance to put the nail in the coffin when they took over with a five-point lead and under six minutes to go.
But after an incomplete pass on first down, Montgomery took a handoff up the middle and fumbled the ball. Ivan Pace Jr. picked it up for the Vikings and returned it for a touchdown.
It was the first lost fumble of the season for the Lions, and it proved costly.
Lions defense gives them 1 more chance
Even after the scoop and score, the Lions only trained Minnesota by one point. But Goff made his first mistake on the next drive.
Facing a second and 6 at the 34-yard line, Raymond broke wide open downfield for what should have been a walk-in touchdown.
But Goff’s pass sailed deep and over the wrong shoulder, forcing Raymond to dive out of bounds while trying to make the grab.
Goff fumbled on a third-down sack, but it was recovered by the Lions, who punted the ball away.
The defense quickly forced a third and 4 from the 28-yard line, and Darnold missed Jefferson with a high throw to give the Lions one last possession.
Jake Bates hits game-winner
Goff took over at his own 30 with 2:32 remaining, needing only a field goal to retake the lead.
Gibbs rushed for four and 14 yards on the first two plays, and then caught a dump-off pass for 16 yards. With the Lions already in field goal range, Ben Johnson dialed up a play-action pass, and Goff hit St. Brown for 14 yards down to the 22.
From there, the Lions were content to settle for a Bates field goal attempt, kneeling the ball to force the Vikings to use their timeouts and running the clock down below 20 seconds.
Bates lined up for a 44-yard attempt and drilled it, giving the Lions a 31-29 lead with 15 seconds left on the clock.
Without any timeouts, the Vikings could only complete one pass to midfield before a Trevor Nowaske sack officially put the Lions back in first place.
