The Detroit Lions’ playoff hopes officially ended after a disastrous performance by quarterback Jared Goff, whose rare string of mistakes handed a postseason spot to division rival Green Bay.
In a 23–10 defeat against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, Detroit committed six turnovers, including five attributed to Goff. The loss dropped the Lions out of playoff contention and guaranteed at least a wild-card berth for the Packers.
“We’ll look back on everything after the season ends,” Goff said afterward. “But right now, it’s just disappointing.”
Detroit entered the season as defending NFC North champions for the second straight year and had reached the conference title game during that stretch.
After setting a franchise record with 15 wins last season, the Lions fell to 8–8 following their third consecutive loss, delivering a sloppy showing on a nationally televised Christmas-week game. What made the collapse more surprising was that Detroit had been one of the league’s best teams at protecting the football, entering the game with the fewest turnovers in the NFL.
“That’s been one of our strengths all year,” Goff said. Prior to Thursday, he had only six turnovers across 15 games. Against Minnesota, he nearly matched that total in one night.
Two of Goff’s lost fumbles resulted from poor snaps by backup center Kingsley Eguakun. Another turnover came when running back Jahmyr Gibbs fumbled near midfield early in the second quarter.
Goff also threw interceptions to cornerback Byron Murphy and veteran safety Harrison Smith in the second half. The only other time Goff had a five-turnover game in his career came last season in a win over Houston, when all five mistakes were interceptions.
Despite ranking near the top of the league in passer rating, yards, and touchdown passes, Goff struggled throughout the night, finishing 18-of-29 for 197 yards and a lone touchdown to rookie Isaac TeSlaa.
“Minnesota pressured us well and brought extra rushers,” Goff explained.
“We thought we had answers, but they didn’t work.”
Detroit hadn’t turned the ball over six times in a game since 2015. The minus-six turnover margin was the worst in the NFL this season and tied for the most lopsided single-game margin in nearly a decade.
The Vikings consistently disrupted Goff, recording five sacks and forcing hurried throws even when he wasn’t taken down.
“When he can’t step into his throws, it really limits him,” head coach Dan Campbell said. “That defense makes things tough, especially on a short week. They were aggressive all night.”
Detroit’s once-dominant ground game also failed to deliver. Running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combined for just 66 yards on 27 carries as the offensive line struggled. Injuries and offseason departures have weakened the unit, and starting left tackle Taylor Decker missed the game with a shoulder injury.
After falling short near the goal line in a loss to Pittsburgh the previous week, the Lions entered Thursday needing a clean performance. Instead, turnovers sealed their fate.
“The effort is there,” Campbell said. “We’re just slightly off, and at this level, that makes a huge difference.”
