The Detroit Lions beat the Minnesota Vikings 31-9 within the closing sport of the NFL’s common season Sunday, clinching each the NFC North title and the convention’s high seed.
Detroit can have home-field benefit all through the playoffs after an opening-round bye.
Running again Jahmyr Gibbs starred for the Lions on Sunday. He had 139 yards and three touchdowns on the bottom to go together with 31 yards receiving and one other rating within the air.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff, in the meantime, accomplished 27 of 33 passes for 231 yards and a rating, plus two interceptions.
Vikings sign caller Sam Darnold struggled. He accomplished solely 18 of his 41 makes an attempt, throwing for less than 166 yards with no touchdowns.
‘SNF’ blog: Look back at how the game unfolded
Minnesota’s offense particularly struggled within the crimson zone. In 4 journeys inside Detroit’s 20-yard line, the Vikings scored simply six factors. Twice they did not convert on 4th-and-goal from contained in the 5.
The sport was a defensive battle within the first half, with the groups combining for just one landing. After Gibbs scored within the first quarter, the Vikings lower the result in 7-6 with two second-quarter area targets. The Lions made it 10-6 as the primary half expired with a area purpose of their very own.
The second half was all Detroit. After an interception by Goff on the staff’s first drive of the second quarter, he led the Lion to a landing on three straight possessions. In that point, Minnesota made one area purpose, missed one other and punted whereas down two scores.
The Lions completed the common season 15-2, a three-win enchancment from final yr’s 12-5 marketing campaign. Detroit made it to the NFC championship sport a season in the past however misplaced on the street to the San Francisco 49ers. This yr, the Lions is not going to should play away from house within the playoffs except they make the Super Bowl.
The loss is a bitter one for the Vikings. Despite bettering its document by seven wins from final season — going from 7-10 to 14-3 — Minnesota must open the postseason on the street. Darnold, regardless of his struggles Sunday, was a revelation. Starting rather than injured rookie J.J. McCarthy, he threw for 35 touchdowns.
The Vikings will open their playoff schedule Jan. 13 towards the Los Angeles Rams.
Detroit can have per week to relaxation because it awaits its opponent.
Around the NFL The wild-card spherical is official for subsequent weekend:
- No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers at No. 4 Houston Texans (4:30 p.m. ET Saturday)
- No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 3 Baltimore Ravens (8 p.m. ET Saturday)
- No. 7 Denver Broncos at 2. Buffalo Bills (1 p.m. ET Sunday)
- No. 7 Green Bay Packers at No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (4:30 p.m. ET Sunday)
- No. 6 Washington Commanders at No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8 p.m. ET Sunday)
- No. 5 Minnesota Vikings at No. 4 Los Angeles Rams (8 p.m. ET Jan. 13)
The Lions and the Kansas City Chiefs, No. 1 seeds within the NFC and the AFC, respectively, can have first-round byes.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers received the AFC South with a 27-19 win towards the New Orleans Saints. They obtained an enormous efficiency from receiver Mike Evans, who completed with 9 receptions for 89 yards. It was his eleventh straight season with a minimum of 1,000 receiving yards, tying the legendary wideout Jerry Rice.
The Denver Broncos obtained into the playoffs after a 38-0 win over the Kansas City Chiefs (who had been resting most starters with the No. 1 seed secured). Rookie quarterback Bo Nix was spectacular with 321 yards passing with 4 touchdowns and no interceptions. He grew to become the primary rookie quarterback ever with a number of video games of a minimum of 300 yards passing, 4 landing passes and a passer score of 140 or increased.
The New York Jets defeated the Miami Dolphins 32-20 in what might have been Aaron Rodgers’ closing sport. He went out with a bang, throwing 4 touchdowns, for 503 common season landing passes in his profession. He grew to become the fifth participant in NFL historical past with greater than 500 common season landing passes, becoming a member of Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre.
