Lions Collapse in Christmas Day Loss, Eliminated from Playoff Contention After Turnover-Filled Defeat to Vikings
MINNEAPOLIS - With the season hanging by a thread, the Detroit Lions walked into U.S. Bank Stadium on Christmas Day needing one thing above all else: protect the football. Facing a Vikings team starting an undrafted rookie quarterback making just his second career start, this was a game Detroit had to control.
Instead, they gave it away-again and again.
The Lions committed a season-high six turnovers and allowed five sacks in a 23-10 loss that not only knocked them out of playoff contention, but also dropped them to last place in the NFC North at 8-8. Minnesota, now also 8-8, completed a season sweep of the Lions-a year after Detroit flipped the script with two wins en route to a 15-2 season and the NFC’s top seed.
Let’s break down what went wrong for Detroit-and where they go from here.
A Season Spiraling in the Wrong Direction
It’s hard to believe this is the same Lions team that opened the season with so much promise. Coming off back-to-back strong years, Detroit looked ready to contend again. But after three straight losses and a sputtering offense that’s lost its edge, the conversation has shifted: not about how far they’ll go in the playoffs, but how much of a reset they need heading into 2026.
Thursday was another low point. Detroit’s offense managed just 231 total yards-its lowest output of the season-and scored only 10 points for the second time in six weeks.
The run game has all but disappeared, and injuries have taken a toll. Sam LaPorta has been banged up, Taylor Decker missed the game with an illness, and the offensive line hasn’t looked the same.
But the issues go deeper than health. The offensive line needs a retool.
Dan Campbell may need to rethink the offensive staff. And Jared Goff, in a must-win game, turned in one of his worst performances of the year.
Goff threw two interceptions and lost three fumbles-two of which came on botched exchanges with his center. While he’s far from the Lions’ biggest problem, Thursday was a reminder that when the stakes are highest, your quarterback has to deliver. Goff didn’t.
His first pick was a desperation heave on third-and-long. The second?
A mistimed route with Amon-Ra St. Brown that left the door open for a Vikings takeaway.
Minnesota turned those mistakes into 16 points-more than enough on a day when their offense was otherwise stuck in neutral.
Center of the Problem
Kingsley Eguakun got the start at center, and it was a rough outing for the rookie. With Graham Glasgow dealing with injuries and inconsistent play, Detroit gave Eguakun another look after a shaky performance last week against Pittsburgh. But against a deceptive Vikings front, he struggled again.
The first major miscue came on a fumbled snap that set up Minnesota’s first-half touchdown. Later, a questionable false start on Eguakun forced Detroit to punt on a fourth-and-short they had planned to go for. He gave up a sack to end the first half and had another errant snap late that led to a fumble.
On that early fumble, it looked like Eguakun snapped the ball before Goff was ready. That’s a chemistry issue, yes-but also a timing one, and in the NFL, those mistakes cost you games.
The Lions had two penalties on fourth-and-short-Eguakun’s false start and another by tight end Giovanni Ricci-that killed drives and flipped momentum. And while Eguakun has shown flashes of potential, he hasn’t done enough to lock down the job long-term.
Detroit will be looking for a replacement for Frank Ragnow this offseason. Eguakun may be part of that conversation, but based on the last two weeks, the Lions would be wise to keep their options open. If Glasgow is healthy next week, he likely gives them the better chance to win-and right now, that’s still the priority.
Special Teams Still Special
It didn’t change the outcome, but Jack Fox continues to prove why he’s one of the best punters in the league.
With just under nine minutes left and the Lions backed up at their own 29, Fox launched a 70-yard punt that bounced out of bounds at the Vikings’ 1-yard line. It was a thing of beauty-perfect hang time, perfect placement, and the kind of field-flipping play that elite punters make look routine.
Minnesota couldn’t move the ball and punted it back, giving the Lions solid field position. Detroit turned that into a field goal, thanks to a couple of solid plays from David Montgomery, but the offense stalled again in the red zone. Goff had two passes batted down on third and fourth down, and that was that.
Still, Fox’s punt gave Detroit a sliver of hope in a game where very little went right. On a team that’s struggling to find consistency, Fox remains a steady force-and a reminder that even in a loss, individual performances can still shine.
What’s Next?
The Lions close out the season next week against the Bears, but the bigger picture is already coming into focus. This team has questions to answer-on the offensive line, at center, in the coaching staff, and yes, at quarterback.
After two years of building momentum, Detroit has hit a wall. Thursday’s loss wasn’t just a bad game-it was a culmination of weeks of regression, capped by turnovers, penalties, and missed opportunities. The Lions didn’t just lose to a third-string quarterback-they beat themselves.
Now, the focus shifts to what comes next. Because for a franchise that looked ready to take the next step, this December collapse raises a tough question:
How far away are the Lions, really?