Jordan Addison broke free for a 65-yard rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter as the Minnesota Vikings pulled away for a 23-10 win over the Detroit Lions on Thursday afternoon in Minneapolis.
Aaron Jones Sr. also rushed for a touchdown for Minnesota (8-8), which won its fourth game in a row while eliminating the Lions (8-8) from playoff contention and handing the Green Bay Packers a postseason berth.
Max Brosmer completed 9 of 16 passes for 51 yards in place of No. 1 quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who missed the game because of a hairline fracture in his right hand. Brosmer was sacked seven times for 48 yards, which left the Vikings with 3 net passing yards. The last time an NFL team won with so few passing yards, the Houston Texans beat the Oakland Raiders 23-14 in 2006.
Jared Goff completed 18 of 29 passes for 197 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions as the Vikings forced a season-high six turnovers. Minnesota also racked up a season-high-tying five sacks for the second time in five days.
Lions players watched despondently from the sideline as the final minutes ticked down. Detroit reached the NFC Championship game two seasons ago and lost in the divisional round as the No. 1 seed last season. Dan Campbell’s team was considered a Super Bowl contender this season before encountering a bevy of injuries and narrow losses.
Addison gave the Vikings their first double-digit lead with 3:43 remaining. He took a handoff and outraced the Lions’ secondary down the right sideline before diving and placing the ball over the front pylon for the touchdown.
Will Reichard made a 42-yard field goal to finish the scoring for Minnesota with 1:04 left.
The Vikings got on the board first with 1:35 remaining in the first quarter. On third-and-goal from the 1, Jones barreled into the end zone to steer Minnesota to a 7-0 lead.
Detroit pulled even at 7-all with 1:05 to go before halftime. Goff fired a high pass for wideout Isaac TeSlaa, who made a leaping grab and held on to the ball as he crashed to the turf. It marked the Vikings’ first passing touchdown allowed in seven games.
Minnesota regained a 10-7 lead when Reichard drilled a 52-yard field goal with 3:03 left in the third quarter.
Reichard struck again, this time from 56 yards, to increase the Vikings’ lead to 13-7 with 1:57 to go in the third. An interception by Minnesota safety Harrison Smith set up the scoring opportunity.
The Lions pulled within 13-10 on a 48-yard field goal by Jake Bates with 4:39 remaining.
–Field Level Media
