Jahmyr Gibbs scores 4 touchdowns as Lions defeat Vikings to win NFC North and secure No. 1 playoff seed

The Detroit Lions are NFC North champions, having dominated the Minnesota Vikings, 31-9, to win the division title in back-to-back seasons.

Not only are they crowned division champions, but the Lions will also be the number one seed in the NFC playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

Meanwhile, the Vikings are the fifth best of the three wild card teams in the NFC. Instead of the bye week, they will head to Los Angeles to face the Rams next weekend.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com

This one had “Game of the Year” written all over it, as two of the league’s best offenses faced off to determine who gets the top seed and the division title, all in 60 minutes of play.

But no shooting was seen at Ford Field on Sunday night, and a lot of that had to do with the tremendous pressure Aaron Glenn’s Lions defense put on Sam Darnold and the Vikings offense.

On the other hand, the Lions used the man who leads the NFL in touchdowns this season, Jahmyr Gibbs, who added four more to his total in this crucial game.

JAY GLAZER: ‘MULTIPLE TEAMS’ INTERESTED IN TRADE FOR VIKINGS HC KEVIN O’CONNELL

Gibbs, who is playing more with the loss of backfield counterpart David Montgomery, capped a nine-play drive for the Lions with a 25-yard burst into the end zone to put the Lions up 7-0 in the first. room. .

Surprisingly, it was the only touchdown scored in the first half, but Gibbs got the lead for Detroit in the second half when head coach Dan Campbell tried it on fourth-and-2 from the Minnesota 10-yard line, and Jared Goff threw a ball to his back open for a 10-yard score.

Then, after the Vikings missed a deep field goal attempt, Gibbs found another opportunity, this time going 13 yards to blow the game away early in the fourth quarter, 24-9.

Now, this game could have been much closer if Darnold, who has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL all season, had capitalized on his opportunities in the red zone.

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Pat Jones II (91) pressures Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (IMAGE)

Early in the second quarter, Darnold had the Vikings on first-and-goal at the Detroit 5-yard line, but was unable to reach the end zone after a pair of errant throws to Justin Jefferson, and was also unable to fully see Jordan Addison. open. on the floor too.

Then, after the Vikings defense intercepted Goff for the first of two times, Minnesota couldn’t find the end zone from the seven-yard line this time, and Darnold saw more bad throws.

Darnold was hassled throughout the game with Glenn increasing the pressure, forcing the Vikings star to speed up his “quarterback clock” as he went through his progressions. He ultimately finished 18 of 41 for 166 yards, his lowest output all season, as the Vikings did not score a touchdown the entire game.

The victory was sealed by Gibbs’ fourth touchdown of the game, which was a drive he carried all over the Lions field. It started with a 47-yard run to push him to over 100 rushing yards that night.

Then, after the Lions got the Vikings to jump into the neutral zone on fourth-and-2, Gibbs made his way to the end zone, carrying several Vikings defenders with him for a four-yard run for his fourth touchdown. of the night. .

Gibbs finished the game with 139 rushing yards on 23 carries and 31 receiving yards on his big night, while Amon-Ra St. Brown had six catches for 77 yards to lead the Lions through the air.

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26), right, celebrates a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings with wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, 5 January 2025. (IMAGE)

Goff was 27 of 33 for 231 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

With this NFC North ending, the 2024 NFL regular season has come to an end and the playoffs are scheduled for wild card weekend in a few days.