‘Sunday Night Football’ stay updates: Lions lead Vikings 10-6 at halftime

Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold accomplished 9 of his 20 passes in tonight’s first half, an effectivity that has him on tempo for his worst completion share of your complete season. Darnold’s season-low so far got here in Week 14 when he accomplished 60% of his passes.

The Vikings kicked a 31-yard subject purpose after a nine-play, 45-yard drive simply earlier than the tip of the primary half.

Minnesota couldn’t capitalize on a turnover on downs by the Lions that set the offense up close to midfield. The Vikings have solely six factors on three purple zone journeys to this point tonight.

Detroit leads 7-6.

Jared Goff threw incomplete on 4th-and-inches from the Vikings’ 42 and the Lions turned the ball over on downs.

Goff could have had a conversion open to Jameson Williams however his move was tipped on the line of scrimmage.

Minnesota takes over trailing 7-3.

Since his five-interception efficiency on Nov. 10, Lions quarterback Jared Goff had thrown just one interception in his final seven video games earlier than being picked off in tonight’s second quarter.

The Vikings needed to accept three factors regardless of beginning their most up-to-date drive solely seven yards from the tip zone.

Minnesota QB Sam Darnold threw incomplete to Justin Jefferson on three straight performs — simply barely lacking him on Third-and-goal.

After going for it on 4th-and-goal on its final drive, the Vikings opted to take the factors this time. It’s now a 7-3 Lions lead.

The Lions’ newest drive went from near-disaster to full catastrophe.

Five performs after Jared Goff was almost sacked for security, his quick move was tipped and intercepted.

The Vikings’ choice to not kick a subject purpose and as a substitute go for it on fourth-down-and-goal was atypical for the way they’ve performed this season. For one, Minnesota had tried a league-low 10 fourth-down conversions getting into Week 18. Also uncommon was how the Vikings failed to return away with factors from their red-zone journey.

In their final three video games, Minnesota had scored a landing on 70% of their drives that ended contained in the opponent’s 20-yard line (Eleventh-best within the NFL).

The Vikings tried to choose up a 4th-and-goal from three yards out however Sam Darnold couldn’t discover Justin Jefferson ultimately zone, ending the drive.

Minnesota went 47 yards in eight performs earlier than the drive’s climactic play. Jefferson caught a move for 31 yards to get the crew inside the ten to arrange the goal-to-go scenario.

Without the conversion, the Vikings nonetheless path 7-0.

Minnesota constructed its 14-2 document by routinely producing sturdy begins. Its 6.8 factors per first quarter tied for second-best within the league with Washington, and behind solely Tampa Bay. Yet towards Detroit, two of the league’s greatest offenses have struggled to get going, with the Vikings managing solely two first downs within the opening quarter.

Brutal drive for the Lions, who misplaced 21 yards in three performs and punted. A penalty, a backwards move and a sack doomed Detroit.

The Vikings will take over with good subject place, beginning at midfield trailing 7-0.

The Vikings can’t reply the Lions’ landing, punting after solely three performs. Sam Darnold was sacked on first down for a lack of 17, and Minnesota couldn’t dig out of the opening.

Darnold virtually accomplished a move for a primary on Third-and-18, however overthrew T.J. Hockenson up the left seam.

Detroit now takes over by itself 30.

One play after Jared Goff delivered an ideal move on fourth down, the Lions get ultimately zone.

Jahmyr Gibbs discovered a seam up the center for a 25-yard run and rating.

We’re scoreless after two drives following a Vikings punt. Minnesota picked up 29 yards in eight performs however couldn’t convert a 4th-and-9 from the sting of Detroit territory.

The Lions will take over on their very own 22.

The Lions’ first drive led to a punt after a Third-and-8 from their very own 36 run misplaced seven yards. Maybe Detroit was making an attempt to arrange a 4th-down try however curious playcall!

The Vikings take over for the primary time on their very own 14.

The NFC North Championship Game is underway! The Lions have the ball first and their first play from scrimmage was a two-yard run by Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Vikings wideout is in search of to affix Andre Johnson, Marvin Harrison, Antonio Brown and Julio Jones as the one receivers in NFL historical past to start their profession with three consecutive seasons with 100-plus catches and 1,500-plus yards. Jefferson has 100 catches already however wants 21 extra yards tonight to achieve 1,500.

The Lions quarterback enters Week 18 tied with Tom Brady (2007) and Kirk Cousins (2019) as the one gamers to have accomplished at the very least 75% of their passes in eight video games in a season. He can break that tie and personal the document for accuracy all to himself tonight.

If the Vikings quarterback produces a passer score over 100 tonight, he’ll be part of Aaron Rodgers in 2020 as the one QBs in league historical past to document 14 video games in a season with a score of at the very least 100, per the NFL.

Under coach Dan Campbell, the Lions have been the league’s most fearless crew in trying fourth-down conversions. Since he turned coach in 2021, Detroit is 82-147 when going for it, successful price of 55.8%; the marks are league-highs. Minnesota, with its protection below coordinator Brian Flores, is seemingly one among defenses greatest ready for the Lions’ willingness to gamble. The Vikings have allowed conversions 11 occasions out of 31 makes an attempt this season, a stop-rate of 64.5% that leads the NFL.

Both Minnesota and Detroit locked up their playoff berths week in the past, however as for his or her seed, all of it comes down to 1, remaining recreation. The stakes are easy, but important: Whoever wins this recreation claims the NFC’s prime seed within the playoffs and with it, a first-round bye and home-field benefit.

The loser, nevertheless, faces penalties — particularly, one additional recreation. The loser would grow to be the NFC’s No. 5 seed and open the playoffs with a assured highway recreation through the wild-card spherical, dealing with the division winner with the worst document. Being the No. 5 seed may imply three consecutive highway video games simply to make the Super Bowl. Only the 1985 Bears, 2005 Steelers, 2007 Giants, 2010 Packers and 2020 Bucs have received three highway postseason video games and gone on to win the Super Bowl. Detroit this season is 8-0 on the highway.

It must be famous that Detroit has by no means been a No. 1 seed in its lengthy historical past.

This is the primary recreation in NFL historical past between two groups with at the very least 13 victories. The Vikings and Lions are each 14-2.

This is partly a quirk of the 2021 rule change that added a seventeenth regular-season recreation. But additionally, it’s a outstanding testomony to how sturdy the NFC North has been this season whereas turning into probably the most aggressive division within the league. Minnesota, Detroit and Green Bay all entered Week 18 having outscored their opponents by at the very least 122 factors within the mixture this season. Meanwhile, solely 4 different groups in your complete league had some extent differential of plus-100 or larger.

Another signal of the North’s energy? Entering Week 18, an 11-5 document was solely adequate for third within the division (Green Bay). That similar document, in the meantime, would have led three of the league’s seven different divisions.

A preseason prediction that Detroit quarterback Jared Goff would make the Pro Bowl wouldn’t have been outlandish; coming off final season’s deep postseason run, the Lions appeared primed for Super Bowl competition. But maybe nobody would have predicted Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold would earn a Pro Bowl nod, as he did this week.

Darnold, set to be the Vikings backup till a preseason damage sidelined Minnesota’s first-round draft choose J.J. McCarthy, has led the Vikings to 9 consecutive wins for the primary time within the franchise’s historical past since 1975. And in his final seven video games, Darnold has thrown for 18 touchdowns towards simply two interceptions.

Statistically, Goff has been even higher over that very same seven-game span, having thrown for 20 touchdowns and only one interception. It’s helped Goff already throw for a career-high 36 move touchdowns with one recreation to go.

Befitting these groups’ success this season, every was rewarded with loads of Pro Bowl recognition.

Seven Lions and 6 Vikings have been named to the roster for the league’s de facto all-star roster, which can play a flag football-style recreation Feb. 2 in Orlando.