DETROIT (AP) — Jahmyr Gibbs was the game-breaking participant the Detroit Lions wanted to get their high-powered offense in gear — and provides them a first-round bye and home-field benefit within the NFC playoffs.
Gibbs scored three of his franchise-record tying 4 touchdowns within the second half, and the Lions beat the Minnesota Vikings 31-9 on Sunday night time to win their second straight NFC North title.
“Everyone’s acquired to come back via right here, child!” Detroit defensive finish Za’Darius Smith mentioned to the roaring crowd after the sport.
The Lions (15-2) and Vikings (14-3) might meet once more in two weeks.
Banged-up Detroit could have a much-needed week off, whereas Minnesota performs on the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams subsequent Monday night time.
Within the NFL’s remaining recreation earlier than the playoffs, two groups performed within the common season with a mixed 28 victories for the primary time. A No. 1 seed was decided in a regular-season finale for the third time in three-plus a long time.
Dallas wrapped up the 1993 common season towards the New York Giants with a 16-13 time beyond regulation win to present the Cowboys prime seeding they used to their benefit as they superior to and gained the Tremendous Bowl. The Giants, in the meantime, beat Minnesota within the wild-card spherical and have been routed at San Francisco the next week.
Detroit desperately hopes historical past repeats itself. The Lions are searching for their first Tremendous Bowl look and hoping to finish an NFL championship drought that dates to 1957. They’re a No. 1 seed for the primary time in franchise historical past.
“It’s not the cherry on prime,” quarterback Jared Goff mentioned. “Not but.”
Sport No. 272 of the common season was anticipated to be a shootout with Professional Bowl quarterbacks main high-scoring offenses, however Goff and Sam Darnold weren’t at their finest.
Gibbs picked up the slack for his group.
“He’s as explosive as any participant within the league,” Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell mentioned.
Gibbs had 23 carries for 139 yards with a career-high three dashing touchdowns and caught 5 passes for 31 yards and one other rating.
“He was particular, and we wanted him to be,” Goff mentioned.
Goff threw two interceptions after getting picked off solely as soon as within the earlier seven video games and Minnesota made subject objectives after the turnovers within the second and third quarters.
After Vikings rookie Will Reichard linked on his third kick to chop the deficit to 10-9 early within the third, Goff directed a 13-play, 70-yard drive that took 7:25 and was capped by a slick cross to Gibbs for a 10-yard landing on fourth-and-2.
Goff was 8 of 8 on that possession and completed 27 of 33 for 231 yards with a landing and two interceptions.
Darnold accomplished fewer than half his passes within the first half, lacking alternatives to choose up first downs and rating touchdowns. The Vikings have been 0 of three within the crimson zone via two quarters to let the Lions lead 10-6 at halftime and failed to attain a landing after they have been contained in the 20 for a fourth time within the second half.
The Vikings went for it on fourth down from the Lions 3 within the second quarter and Darnold, below strain, overthrew an open Justin Jefferson in the long run zone.
Darnold threw one other incomplete cross on fourth down from the Detroit 2 early within the third.
“Kicking subject objectives isn’t going to get it accomplished towards that group,” Darnold mentioned. “I’ve to hit these throws.”
O’Connell opted to try a 51-yard subject objective late within the third, trailing by eight, and Reichard missed large proper.
Darnold was 18 of 41, a season-low 44% completion fee, and linked with Jefferson simply 3 times on 9 targets for 54 yards.
“We didn’t do a whole lot of the issues we did properly this season,” O’Connell mentioned. “Sam has hit a whole lot of these performs all 12 months and I’ve each little bit of confidence that he’ll hit it the following time.”
Accidents
Vikings: OLB Patrick Jones (knee) was inactive.
Lions: LB Alex Anzalone (damaged forearm) and punt returner/receiver Kalif Raymond (foot) returned from accidents to play for the primary time since November. … CB Terrion Arnold (foot) and DL Pat O’Connor (Calf) have been injured through the recreation and OG Kevin Zeitler got here off the sphere, holding the again of his proper leg late within the recreation.
Up subsequent
Vikings: Go to the Rams because the NFL’s first 14-win wild card. They’d earn a rematch with the Lions if they’re the NFC’s lowest remaining seed after wild card weekend.
Lions: Host a divisional-round recreation after their first bye since Week 5.
___
Observe Larry Lage at https://apnews.com/writer/larry-lage
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL