Jake Bates drilled a go-ahead, 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining, and the Detroit Lions held on for a 31-29 win over the previously unbeaten Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.
Jared Goff completed 22 of 25 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns for Detroit (5-1). Jahmyr Gibbs had 15 carries for 116 yards and two touchdowns, and Amon-Ra St. Brown recorded eight catches for 112 yards and a score.
Sam Darnold completed 22 of 27 passes for 259 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Minnesota (5-1). Aaron Jones had 93 rushing yards and a touchdown, and Justin Jefferson led the team’s receivers with seven catches for 81 yards and a touchdown.
The Vikings grabbed a 29-28 lead with 5:50 to go when linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. recovered David Montgomery’s fumble and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown.
The Lions responded on their final possession. Goff led an eight-play, 44-yard drive to get within Bates’ field goal range.
The Vikings jumped to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. Jones started the scoring with a 34-yard rushing touchdown with 11:43 left in the first quarter. He outraced several Lions defenders toward the front left pylon.
Will Reichard added a 57-yard field goal with 5:34 to go in the first.
The Lions battled back to grab a 21-10 lead in the second quarter.
Gibbs scored Detroit’s first touchdown on a 45-yard run with 13:42 remaining in the half. He found an opening down the right sideline and juked a defender on his way to the end zone.
On the Lions’ next possession, Goff connected with St. Brown for a 35-yard touchdown to seize a 14-10 advantage.
Gibbs made it 21-10 with his second rushing touchdown of the game and his fifth of the season on an 8-yard sprint up the middle.
On the first drive of the second half, the Vikings pulled within 21-17. Jefferson caught a 25-yard touchdown pass as he tumbled to the turf in the end zone.
Goff’s second touchdown pass of the afternoon increased the Lions’ lead to 28-17 with 5:43 left in the third quarter. He hit Kalif Raymond for a 21-yard score.
Reichard trimmed the Vikings’ deficit to 28-20 on a 42-yard field goal with 14:24 remaining.
Minnesota pulled within 28-23 on Reichard’s third field goal, a 48-yarder, with 6:04 to go.