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Fans react to the Lions first-ever NFC North division title on social media
The Detroit Lions brought good tidings and great joy to fans everywhere on Christmas Eve with a 30-26 win in Minnesota over the Vikings. The victory clinched Detroit’s first division title in 30 years and the first one since the NFL realigned into four divisions in each conference.
Fans are understandably excited. Many took to social media right after the game to share their glee over the Lions being the champions of the NFC North!
Quick takeaways from the Lions harrowing road win over the Vikings that seals Detroit’s first-ever NFC North title
The Detroit Lions are the NFC North champions. I repeat: the Detroit Lions are NFC North champions!
It took a harrowing, exciting win over the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Eve to seal the franchise’s first division title in 30 years. Detroit held on for a 30-24 win when Ifeatu Melifonwu picked off Vikings QB Nick Mullens near the goal line to end a very scary threat by the home team to ruin the holiday spirit for millions of Lions fans everywhere.
Here are my quick takeaways from watching the Week 16 triumph in real time.
Lions beat the Vikings and win the NFC North
It was not an easy win. Divisional road wins rarely are. But the Detroit Lions gritted out a hard-fought win over the Vikings in Minnesota.
The win elevates the Lions to 11-4 and clinches the NFC North division for the first time in franchise history. The second-place Vikings will now compete for a wild-card berth as they fall to 7-8 with two weeks left.
Detroit led 17-14 at the half after trading scores with their hosts. Minnesota closed the gap late with a too-easy touchdown pass from Nick Mullens to K.J. Osborn with less than a minute to play in the half.
Dan Campbell’s Lions responded after the Vikings took a lead, with Jared Goff and Jahmyr Gibbs leading two touchdown drives to go on top 30-21. The Vikings weren’t done, however.
Mullens led a drive that resulted in a field goal, a series where the Lions defense stiffened in the red zone. After a ponderously designed offensive drive from Detroit, the Vikings had a last shot. Detroit’s defense came up with its fourth interception of the game, with Ifea Melifonwu stepping in front of Jstin Jefferson near the goal line to seal the game and the division title.
Gibbs gained exactly 100 yards (80 rushing, 20 receiving) and scored twice, along with an early lost fumble. Goff played mistake-free, completing 30 of his 40 passes for 257 yards and a touchdown. The Lions defense had four sacks to go with the INTs, two from Kerby Joseph.
The Lions will be at least the No. 3 seed and will host a playoff game in Ford Field for the first time.
The Detroit Lions inactive players list for Week 16 vs. Vikings is loaded with injured players and rookies
The Lions have released the inactive players list for the Week 16 visit to the Minnesota Vikings. It’s a fairly predictable list given the injuries and current construction of the 53-man roster.
With CB Jerry Jacobs and TE Brock Wright previously ruled out due to injury and LB Derrick Barnes listed as doubtful with a shoulder injury, half the list was predetermined.
Quarterback Hendon Hooker will be inactive for his first game on the active roster. Hooker is listed as the No. 3 and emergency QB. Rookies Antoine Green, Brodric Martin and Steven Gilmore round out the inactive players.
Lions vs. Vikings: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction from Lions Wire’s Jeff Risdon
It’s Christmas Eve! The stockings are not yet hung by the chimney because there is Detroit Lions football today.
The return to the traditional 1 p.m. kickoff on a Sunday afternoon brings some normalcy back to the schedule. But as I sip the morning pot of coffee, I wonder if normalcy is so desirable? After all, normalcy for the Lions franchise means not winning the division, not capitalizing on the edge of glory. Today’s game can mean so much more than that.
Earlier in the week, I was pretty confident in the Lions to pull this divisional road win off. But the simple reality of the concept of Detroit winning the division on the road against a team that, in theory, matches up well with them is weighing heavily. The Lions can do it, no question. They probably should do it. But will they do it? I need to see it first. Vikings 26, Lions 24.
Lions vs. Vikings: How to watch, listen or stream the Week 16 matchup
Sunday, December 24th
U.S. Bank Stadium, 1 p.m. ET
The game will be broadcast on FOX. Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma will have the call.
On the broadcast map below, the markets in red will get the Lions-Vikings game on their local FOX affiliates.
The game will be broadcast over the Detroit Lions radio affiliate network. Dan Miller handles the play-by-play, with Lomas Brown as the color analyst and T.J. Lang reporting from the sidelines.
The flagship station is 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit. The full list of affiliates can be found here.
On Sirius XM, the Lions broadcast feed is available on channel 812.
The NFL+ app (subscription required) is the league’s own network to view the game via a streaming device.
FUBO TV (subscription required) is another option.
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Behind Enemy Lines: Breaking down Week 16 vs. Minnesota with Vikings Wire
The NFC North crown is on the line in Minnesota when the Detroit Lions visit the Vikings on Sunday. The Lions wrap up their first division title in 30 years with a win, while the Vikings are hoping to stay in the hunt and also bolster their wild card chances.
It’s the first of two meetings in three weeks for the two teams. To help get ready for what we might see in those matchups, I got with Vikings Wire editor Tyler Forness for a few questions.
Lions final injury report vs. Vikings: Jerry Jacobs and Brock Wright ruled out for Sunday’s game
The final Week 16 injury report for the Detroit Lions is a relatively short one. Two Lions have been ruled out for Sunday’s game in Minnesota, with another listed as doubtful.
Cornerback Jerry Jacobs (hamstring) and tight end Brock Wright (knee) did not practice all week and will not play on Sunday. In addition, linebacker Derrick Barnes is doubtful with a shoulder injury. No player listed as doubtful under Dan Campbell as head coach has ever played, so Barnes is effectively out as well.
Two players aiming to return from injured reserve will also not be activated this week. Defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson and fullback Jason Cabinda were ruled out, meaning they will say on I.R. through the weekend.
No other Lions carry any injury designation for Sunday’s game. That includes right tackle Penei Sewell, who was limited in practice early in the week with a shoulder issue. Sewell was a full participant on both Thursday and Friday.
The Vikings give up an absurdly bad completion rate to running backs, and they haven’t seen anyone like Gibbs as a threat
Lions rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs leads the NFL in yards per carry, gaining an average of 5.7 yards every time he carries the ball. Gibbs has also been impressive as a receiving option.
Gibbs has caught 47 of the 61 passes thrown his way, netting 296 yards and a touchdown. It’s a productive start to the career as a receiver, too. But there’s room for more from Gibbs in the pass-catching department.
Coordinator Ben Johnson noted that while Gibbs’ pass protection has improved of late, he won’t commit to getting Gibbs more involved in the passing game.
“Remains to be seen. It’s week-to-week there,” Johnson said.
This would be a good week to make it happen. Detroit’s Week 16 foe, the Minnesota Vikings, is quite vulnerable to throws to the running back.
The Vikings allow the NFL’s highest opposing completion percentage overall at 69.6 percent. Their inability to stop opposing RBs from catching the ball spikes up that figure. Per SIS, the Vikings have allowed 77 completions on 81 pass attempts to opposing running backs. That’s over 95 percent!
Minnesota hasn’t given up a huge amount of yardage on those receptions; their 5.8 yards per catch allowed is the third-best in the league. However, they haven’t seen anyone like Gibbs in open space as a receiving threat. The Lions rookie’s acceleration, vision and top-end speed make him a lethal weapon.
When bigger, less creative, and less accomplished receivers than Gibbs, like Samaje Perine (7 catches, 60 yards) and Roschon Johnson (5 catches, 40 yards), are finding success against the Vikings out of the backfield, the idea of using Gibbs to attack Minnesota sure looks quite appealing.
David Montgomery, Gibbs’ backfield mate, is a good receiver in his own right and could be quite effective in that capacity in Minnesota, too. But Gibbs’ explosiveness and ability to force missed tackles in space looks like a great way for Johnson and the Lions to attack the tricky Minnesota defense.
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Sewell and Levi Onwuzurike both returned to being full participants after being limited a day earlier
There was a welcome sight at Detroit Lions practice on Thursday. Right tackle Penei Sewell was a full participant in the practice session, a day after he was limited with a shoulder issue.
Sewell and defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike were both fully active after being limited on Wednesday. Onwuzurike was back from a knee malady.
The only player currently active who carried a limited participant status on Thursday is LB Derrick Barnes, who injured his shoulder during the win over the Broncos but did play in that game after suffering the injury.
Both CB Jerry Jacobs and TE Brock Wright remained out for a second straight day. Jacobs is dealing with a hamstring issue while Wright is sidelined with a hip. Center Frank Ragnow took his customary veteran’s day of rest on Thursday, too.
