Max Brosmer Makes Unlikely NFL History in Vikings’ Stunning Christmas Win Over Lions
In a season where the Minnesota Vikings have ridden a rollercoaster of quarterback injuries and unexpected turns, rookie Max Brosmer just carved out a slice of NFL history-though not in the way you might expect. In the Vikings’ 23-10 upset win over the Detroit Lions on Christmas night, Brosmer didn’t light up the stat sheet, but he did something no quarterback has ever done in the Super Bowl era.
According to OptaStats, Brosmer became the first NFL quarterback to play an entire game, throw for fewer than 70 yards, take seven or more sacks, and still walk away with a win. That’s not exactly the kind of record you dream about as a quarterback-but it speaks volumes about the chaos, grit, and resilience that defined this game.
Let’s break it down.
From Four Picks to a Win
This was Brosmer’s second career start. His first?
A rough introduction to NFL speed and pressure, throwing four interceptions in a 26-0 loss to the Seahawks back on November 30. But to his credit, the rookie showed some growth this time around.
His numbers still won’t wow anyone-9-of-16 passing for just 51 yards and two rushes for 16 more-but he took care of the ball, didn’t force anything, and let the defense and run game do the heavy lifting.
And boy, did they deliver.
Defense Leads the Charge
Minnesota’s defense came out swinging and never let up. They forced six turnovers from a Lions offense that had everything to play for-and ended up losing everything instead. With the loss, Detroit’s playoff hopes were officially crushed, and the Vikings, improbably, kept their postseason dreams alive.
The first half was a grind, with both teams locked at 7-7 heading into halftime. But the second half?
That belonged to Minnesota. The Vikings outscored Detroit 16-3 over the final two quarters, turning a tight game into a statement win.
Ground Game Gets It Done
With Brosmer playing it safe through the air, Minnesota leaned heavily on the run-and it paid off. Jordan Addison broke the game open with a 65-yard touchdown run, showing off the kind of speed and vision that makes him such a dangerous weapon. Aaron Jones Sr. added the exclamation point, grinding out 53 yards on 18 carries and punching in a touchdown of his own.
Max Brosmer is the only NFL QB in the Super Bowl era to play the entire game and finish with under 70 passing yards and 7+ sacks and yet still win. pic.twitter.com/PAJ71v695X
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) December 26, 2025
Through the air, Justin Jefferson led the way with four catches for 30 yards, while Jones chipped in with three receptions for 10 more. It wasn’t flashy, but it was efficient-and more importantly, it was enough.
Vikings Stay Hot, Eye Playoff Push
With the win, Minnesota moves to 8-8 on the season, sitting third in the NFC North behind the Packers and Bears-but crucially, ahead of the Lions. In the broader NFC playoff picture, they now hold the eighth seed, just behind the Rams and Packers, and ahead of both Detroit and Dallas.
More importantly, they’re riding a five-game winning streak at exactly the right time.
Next up? A massive Week 18 showdown at home against the Green Bay Packers on January 4. A win there could push the Vikings into the postseason, capping off what’s been one of the most unpredictable-and somehow still promising-seasons in recent memory.
Max Brosmer may not be putting up highlight-reel numbers, but he’s doing just enough. And in December football, sometimes that’s all you need.