Connect with us

Sports

Vikings vs. Lions score, live updates: Detroit, Minnesota face off for the NFC’s No. 1 seed in 2024 NFL finale

Published

2 days ago

on

Vikings vs. Lions score, live updates: Detroit, Minnesota face off for the NFC’s No. 1 seed in 2024 NFL finale

Game 272 of the 2024 NFL regular season is a special one. In a year where so much of the playoff dust settled early, one Week 18 game stands out, not just for this season but in the history of the league, with the 14-2 Minnesota Vikings taking on the 14-2 Detroit Lions in the first regular-season game between two teams with 14 wins. The stakes are simple but extremely high: the winner is the NFC North champion and the No. 1 seed, with a first-round bye in the loaded NFC; while the loser is the No. 5 seed and will open the playoffs on the road during wild-card weekend. If the game should end in a tie, Detroit would win the division and be the 1-seed, thanks to winning the first matchup between the teams back in Week 7.

No matter how the game ends, this will be the first time in league history a wild-card team will have 14 wins. The only time a wild-card team had 13 wins in a season was 1999, when the 13-3 Tennessee Titans finished second in the AFC Central to the 14-2 Jacksonville Jaguars. Tennessee won the AFC championship game in Jacksonville that season before losing to the Rams in Super Bowl 34.

Live40 updates

  • Lions injury updates

    More defensive injuries as DB Terrion Arnold was just carted off the sideline and taken to the locker room after being helped of the field and being unable to put any weight on one leg. Also, defensive lineman Pat O’Connor is dealing with a calf injury.

  • Goff throws a pick on first down

    It’s an arm punt from Goff, but on first down? The Lions went for broke in sudden change, but this is a terrible turnover by the Lions, and the Vikings will take over at their own 46.

  • Vikings go over on downs AGAIN inside the 5-yard-line

    The Vikings have now run 11 plays inside the 5-yard-line and have three points from those three drives. Aaron Glenn and the Lions’ defense are putting on a short yardage masterclass in this game.

  • Jones is out of the locker room

    He made a catch on his first play of the second half to get it to 3rd and Goal at the 2.

  • Cam Akers with a MASSIVE burst of 58 yards to get Minnesota back inside the 10

    Aaron Jones is still in the locker room after halftime and Cam Akers has been in the lineup, and he just made good on his playing time with this huge run to get the Vikings back in the red zone.

  • Vikings pickup 3rd down with pass interference penalty

    The drive stays alive at the 37-yard-line, but the Vikings have not looked sharp at all coming out of the locker room

  • Jake Bates knocks through a 48-yard field goal to put the Lions back up by four

    A big mistake on the kickoff results in a 10-6 Lions lead at halftime. Minnesota’s three red zone trips — including seven goal-to-go snaps — have resulted in just six points, while the Lions haven’t been able to get into full gear on offense.

  • St. Brown out of bounds with a gain of 19

    The Lions save their timeout and are in Vikings territory at the 41.

  • Vikings flagged for a kickoff out of bounds

    Detroit will take over with 20 seconds left and a timeout, and starting from the 40-yard-line.

  • Another Lions stop, another Vikings field goal

    This time it’s Reichard from 31 yards to cut the Detroit lead to 7-6. There are 20 seconds left in the first half and the Vikings are set to receive the second-half kickoff.

  • Minnesota back in the red zone

    They’ve only gotten the one field goal, and they could use come points out of this drive.

  • Jalen Nailor on 3rd and 5 for a Vikings 1st down

    After a Sam Darnold scramble to make it a 3rd-and more manageable, he found Nailor who slithered into Lions territory — and perhaps field goal range. The gain was 18 to the Detroit 36 at the two-minute warning. The Vikings have all three timeouts.

  • Unexpectedly low-scoring first half in Detroit

    The teams were largely expected to light up the scoreboard, and while there’s still time for both offenses to get going, it’s just 7-3 with 4th down stops on both sides here in the first half.

  • Lions turn it over on 4th and inches

    Vikings tipped a pass after the Lions went play action and Jonathan Bullard got the tip. Vikings take over at their own 41.

  • Three-straight incompletions and a field goal for Minnesota

    Will Reichard makes the field goal, but Minnesota has to be thinking it should have more. The Vikings’ last seven offensive snaps have come inside the 10-yard-line, and they’ve protected Sam Darnold against some Lions blitzing, but some plaster man coverage — and couple of high Darnold throws — have saved Detroit, which now leads 7-3 with 6:35 left in the half.

     

  • Vikings come up with tip-drill interception!

    Josh Metellus got the tip and Ivan Pace Jr. snags the pick and the Vikings start a drive with 1st and goal.

  • Lions avoid disaster, pick up a first down

    Jared Goff nearly sacked in the end zone, but was able to get it in the area of an eligible receiver. Perhaps a questionable call, but Jahmyr Gibbs was in the area. The Lions were able to pick up the 3rd and 5 to at least give themselves some room.

  • Lions hold on 4th down on the 3-yard-line

    The pass was too tall for Jefferson from Darnold, and Detroit gets a stop. This round of the chess match between Aaron Glenn and Kevin O’Connell goes to the Detroit defensive coordinator.

    Lions to take over at their own 3-yard-line with 10:10 to go in the first half.

  • Justin Jefferson, welcome to Week 18

    The Vikings’ offensive line has been excellent in the early going, and was great on this play to get Minnesota a first down.

  • Jonathan Greenard sacks Jared Goff on 3rd down

    Minnesota quickly cleans up to force a punt, and the Vikings will take over around the 50-yard-line, looking to even up the score early in the second quarter.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading