The Detroit Lions wrapped up their regular season in style on Sunday night, dominating the Minnesota Vikings with a 21-0 second-half surge en route to a convincing 31-9 victory.
With the win, the Lions capped off an impressive 15-2 season, securing a first-round playoff bye. The extra rest will be critical, especially since their regular season bye was way back in Week 5—the week before star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson suffered a fractured left tibia and fibula.
The Lions have earned a home-field path to the Super Bowl, but there’s still plenty of work ahead. Before looking too far forward, let’s reflect on Sunday night’s performance with three winners—and one notable loser. RB Jahmyr Gibbs
Jahmyr Gibbs delivered yet another stellar performance, carrying the ball 23 times for 139 yards and three touchdowns, while adding five receptions for 31 yards and a receiving score. He now holds the Lions’ franchise record for total touchdowns in a season (20), including 15 rushing touchdowns, tied for second-most in team history. His 20 total touchdowns also lead the NFL this season.
Gibbs was the heartbeat of the Lions’ offense on Sunday night, capping off his evening with two crucial fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns that put the game out of reach. His ability to serve as both a workhorse and a closer proved invaluable yet again.CB Amik Robertson
Amik Robertson drew the daunting assignment of covering Justin Jefferson, and he thrived under the challenge. The two players have a shared history from high school and college, making Robertson especially eager to step up—and he did so in spectacular fashion.
While Pro Football Focus and Next Gen Stats differ slightly on the exact numbers, Robertson’s lockdown coverage was undeniable. He earned the label of a true “shutdown corner” in his performance against one of the league’s elite wide receivers.
Robertson’s transition to playing on the outside, following Carlton Davis’ broken jaw, has been seamless. Sunday night was yet another testament to his adaptability and skill.Aaron Glenn
Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn crafted a masterful game plan to stifle the Vikings’ offense. Under his guidance, Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold struggled mightily, looking rattled and uncomfortable throughout the game.
Al Karsten of Pride of Detroit summed it up best: Glenn’s defensive strategy was a clinic, executed to perfection in the Lions’ biggest game of the season.
With this performance, Glenn further bolstered his résumé as a potential future head coach, proving his ability to rise to the occasion in critical moments.QB Jared Goff
Despite completing 27 of 33 passes, Jared Goff had a lackluster outing. He threw for 231 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, finishing with a passer rating of 80.7. While his first interception came on an unlucky deflection, his second was entirely avoidable.
He also narrowly escaped a potential safety on a questionable throw from the end zone and put Gibbs in a dangerous position with a poorly timed screen pass that was nearly picked off.
The low point came on an inexplicable deep throw that effectively acted as an arm punt after the Lions’ defense had just made a critical red-zone stop. Although the defense bailed him out again by holding the Vikings to a field goal, it was a frustrating moment that could have turned the tide.
Ultimately, Goff did enough to lead the Lions to a win, but his performance left much to be desired. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that this subpar game is now behind him as the Lions head into the playoffs.
On Sunday night, Goff was simply “less bad” than his counterpart, as Darnold’s struggles were far more glaring—thanks in large part to Glenn’s defensive brilliance.
