MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jordan Addison had a 65-yard run for the touchdown that defined the game with 3:43 minutes remaining for the Minnesota Vikings who forced six turnovers and beat the Detroit Lions 23-10 this Thursday, who were left without any chance of advancing to the playoffs.
Harrison Smith, the veteran safety in his 14th season, contributed one of Jared Goff’s two interceptions and one of five sacks for the Vikings (8-8), who won their fourth consecutive game. Goff was credited with three turnovers, once on a sack and twice on turnovers by backup center Kingsley Eguakun.
With the third consecutive loss for the Lions (8-8), the Green Bay Packers secured at least a wild card berth and could still catch up with the Chicago Bears in the fight for the National Conference North Division title, where Detroit was crowned the previous two seasons, a year after Minnesota achieved it.
The Lions and Vikings combined for 29 wins last season, making this an attractive matchup for the NFL’s three-game Christmas exhibition before injuries and other setbacks derailed the matchup.
Undrafted rookie Max Brosmer started at quarterback in place of the injured JJ McCarthy. The Vikings were without starters at both tackle, center and tight end.
In those conditions, Brosmer suffered seven sacks while completing just nine of 16 passes for 51 yards against a relentless Detroit pass rush.
The Vikings had just 75 net yards before Addison took the ball and ran down the right sideline untouched for the longest score of his career. He capped it off with a dive into the end zone to make sure the ball went in while he was pushed out of bounds.
Brosmer protected the ball as Goff usually does, helping set up Will Reichard for three field goals and ensuring the defense’s remarkable effort wasn’t wasted.
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