Jake Bates made a 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining for a 31-29 Lions lead, and Minnesota’s last-gasp effort ended with a sack of Sam Darnold by Trevor Nowaske as time expired.
Detroit improved to 5-1 on the season and leapfrogged Minnesota (5-1) for first place in the NFC North.
The Lions were able to drive 44 yards in 2:26 to set up the field goal thanks to a 14-yard run by Jahmyr Gibbs on second-and-6 and a 16-yard pass from Jared Goff to Gibbs on the next play.
The dagger followed with a 14-yard pass from Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown, putting the ball at the Minnesota 22-yard line and allowing the Lions to milk the clock, force Minnesota to exhaust its timeouts and settle for the field goal.
Minnesota had taken the lead with 5:50 remaining in the game on a 35-yard fumble return touchdown by Ivan Pace, Jr., who scooped up a ball knocked away from David Montgomery by Joshua Metellus and picked up a block by Andrew Van Ginkel.
The Vikings went for 2, but Sam Darnold’s pass was shy of Jordan Addison at the front of the end zone.
Minnesota forced a quick three-and-out when Van Ginkel sacked Goff for a loss of 14. Van Ginkel forced a fumble, but the ball was recovered by Detroit center Frank Ragnow at the Detroit 20-yard line.
The Vikings offense will lament the next drive.
After Aaron Jones, Sr., gained 5 on first down, the running back was limited to a gain of 1, setting up a third-and-4.
Darnold rolled to his right and fired toward Justin Jefferson, but the heater was too high and resulted in an incompletion that stopped the clock.
Goff had fumbled earlier in the fourth quarter during a sack by Jonathan Greenard but was able to recover the football at the Lions 46-yard line, which led to a punt two plays later.
The teams are scheduled to meet again in Detroit in Week 18.
Here are four more observations presented by Minnesota Eye Consultants, the Proud LASIK Partner of the Minnesota Vikings, followed by a scoring summary:
1. Momentum slips in second quarter
The Vikings opened the game impressively, forcing a quick punt by the Lions and snuffed out a fake punt the Lions tried from their own 33-yard line.
Jalen Reeves-Maybin took the direct snap but found only a yard of running room, giving the ball to Minnesota.
The Vikings scored quickly and added another field goal to finish the first quarter with a 10-0 lead. Through six games, Minnesota has outscored opponents 58-3 in first quarters this season.
But an uncharacteristically bad second quarter followed. Minnesota allowed a touchdown early in the period and followed with some unclean possessions.
The first ended with a punt, which was followed by a Lions touchdown for a 14-10 edge with 8:39 remaining in the first half. That shift marked Minnesota’s first time trailing in a game since Week 1.
The offense appeared to be responding after passes to Justin Jefferson for 15 yards and 12 more to Jones, but on second-and-8 from the Detroit 43, Darnold was picked off by Brian Branch at the Minnesota 28.
Darnold targeted Jordan Addison on the play, but Branch undercut the offering.
Instead of cutting into the lead or even reclaiming it, the turnover was followed by another touchdown drive as Detroit scored 21 unanswered points.
Darnold finished 22-of-27 passing for 259 yards with one touchdown, the pick and a passer rating of 103.5. Not a bad day, but one that could have been even better.
2. Jones offers dual threat
Jones got the party started fast for the Vikings, scoring on a 34-yard touchdown run on Minnesota’s second offensive play of the game.
The Vikings created an opportunity for Jones out of a tight formation. He quickly zoomed to the left, and no Lions had stayed to contain the run.
Jones polished off his second rushing score of 2024 and 47th of his career by executing a “Bank Vault” celebration on the wall at the west end of the stadium.
Jones had been on the injury report with a hamstring injury but had heavy involvement in the attack as a runner and receiving option. He finished with 93 yards on 14 carries and added three catches for 23 yards.
3. Goff and Gibbs tandem
Goff continued his hot streak, completing 22 of 25 passes for 28 yards with two touchdowns and a passer rating of 140.0. Goff’s day included a 35-yard touchdown pass to St. Brown as part of a 21-point second quarter and a 21-yarder to Kalif Raymond in the third quarter for a 28-17 lead.
Gibbs had himself a day, rushing 15 times for 116 yards and touchdowns of 45 and 8 yards in the second quarter.
Minnesota’s defense had only allowed one rushing touchdown and a long run of 22 yards through its first five games.
4. Strong day for kickers
Detroit was able to execute the new kickoff with success a couple of times.
Bates was able to place the ball in the landing zone just shy of the end zone on two kicks, which meant the touchbacks taken by the Vikings spotted the ball at the Minnesota 20 instead of the 30.
One such kick occurred with just 26 seconds left in the first half and helped prevent the Vikings from trying to attack and at least get a field goal.
The other was the opening kickoff of the second half, but Minnesota was able to drive 80 yards on nine plays, finishing the possession with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Darnold to Jefferson.
Vikings rookie kicker Will Reichard continued his impressive season.
Reichard was good from 57, 42 and 48 yards and added two extra points. He is 12-for-12 on field goals with four from 50-plus.