The Minnesota Vikings didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard on Thursday, but one explosive play and a relentless defensive effort were more than enough to take down the Detroit Lions, 23-10, and deal a serious blow to Detroit’s postseason hopes.
The defining moment came late in the fourth quarter. With just under four minutes to play, rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison took a handoff on an end-around and turned on the jets for a 65-yard touchdown. It was the kind of play that flips a game on its head - and in this case, it gave the Vikings a 20-10 lead and all the momentum they needed to close it out.
Detroit still had time to respond, but their sixth turnover of the day sealed their fate. A high shotgun snap got away from Jared Goff, and Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel - who was everywhere on Christmas Day - pounced on it deep in Lions territory. That fumble recovery, Van Ginkel’s second of the game, all but ended Detroit’s comeback bid.
Minnesota’s offense didn’t exactly capitalize in style, but they did enough. On a crucial third-and-5, rookie quarterback Max Brosmer delivered under pressure, hitting Justin Jefferson for a first down - arguably his best throw of the game. That conversion set up kicker Will Reichard’s third field goal of the day, extending the lead to 13 and putting the game out of reach with just over a minute left.
While Addison’s touchdown was the offensive highlight, this win was all about the Vikings' defense. Van Ginkel was the tone-setter, recovering two fumbles, splitting a sack with rookie Dallas Turner, and forcing Goff into one of his two third-quarter interceptions. The Vikings defense racked up five sacks on the day and held Detroit to just 196 total yards - a dominant showing from a unit that’s quietly been one of the team’s strongest assets all season.
That defensive performance helped mask what was, frankly, a rough day for the Vikings offense. Before Addison’s game-breaking run, Minnesota had managed just 75 total yards.
And even with Jefferson’s late catch, they finished with only three net passing yards - a stat that underscores just how much the quarterback situation has held them back this year. Fixing that will be priority No. 1 heading into 2026.
As for the Lions, this one stings. The loss officially clinched a playoff spot for the Packers and dropped Detroit to 3-6 since their 5-2 start.
Injuries have certainly played a part in their second-half slide, but it’s hard to ignore the impact of losing key assistants like Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn after last season’s 15-2 campaign. The drop-off has been noticeable, and it’s clear the coaching staff will need a hard reset this offseason.
Head coach Dan Campbell, once the face of Detroit’s turnaround, now finds himself in a precarious spot. The Lions need to hit the ground running next season, or his seat could heat up quickly. That work starts after next week’s finale in Chicago.
Meanwhile, the Vikings will wrap up their season at home against the Packers - and while the playoffs may be out of reach, they’ve got a chance to finish strong and build some momentum heading into what promises to be a pivotal offseason.