The game between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings featured a series of lead changes and dramatic moments.

The Vikings started strong, quickly taking a 10-0 lead, but the Lions answered back with an explosive second quarter, scoring three touchdowns to end the half at 28-10.

Detroit maintained control for much of the game, but a crucial mistake by David Montgomery turned the tide.

Late in the game, with the Lions ahead by five, Montgomery fumbled, allowing the Vikings to score a touchdown.

However, Detroit managed to reclaim the win with a 44-yard field goal with just 15 seconds remaining.

First Quarter

The Vikings won the coin toss and chose to defer, allowing Detroit to start on offense. Unfortunately, the Lions struggled, with a holding penalty against Kayode Awosika, who was stepping in for Kevin Zeitler, resulting in a setback.

A subsequent sack forced Detroit to go three-and-out.

The situation worsened when the Lions attempted a fake punt, which the Vikings easily snuffed out.

It took Minnesota just two plays to capitalize on this opportunity, with Aaron Jones rushing for a 34-yard touchdown to put the Vikings ahead 7-0 less than four minutes into the game.

The Lions faltered again on their next drive, going three-and-out once more.

Jared Goff scrambled on third-and-4 but only managed to gain a single yard.

The Vikings extended their lead with another scoring drive, highlighted by a diving catch from Justin Jefferson on third-and-1 that gained 18 yards.

A defensive holding penalty on Carlton Davis advanced Minnesota into Lions territory.

Sam Darnold then checked down on third-and-8, and the Vikings settled for a long 57-yard field goal attempt, which Will Reichard successfully converted to make it 10-0.

The Lions nearly faced further trouble as Tim Patrick had the ball stripped from him on the very next play, but the ruling that he was down was upheld after review.

Still seeking their first first down, Detroit fell short on a critical third-and-inches, and David Montgomery suffered a knee injury in the process, requiring assistance off the field.

Initially listed as questionable, he returned after sitting out a series.

After another unsuccessful drive, the Lions were forced to punt.

However, a couple of holding penalties against the Vikings allowed Detroit’s defense to force a quick three-and-out, giving the Lions another chance.

Second Quarter

The Lions finally found their rhythm, gaining a couple of first downs before hitting gold with a 45-yard touchdown run from Gibbs, cutting the Vikings’ lead to 10-7.

Detroit’s defense held strong on Minnesota’s next drive.

Although Darnold started with a 19-yard scramble, the Lions’ defense responded well, with Brian Branch making a critical pass breakup on third down, forcing a Vikings punt and returning the ball to Detroit.

Almost immediately, the Lions surged into Vikings territory, thanks to a 17-yard pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown, complemented by a roughing the passer penalty. Another reception from St. Brown brought Detroit inside the 30-yard line.

Goff then connected with St. Brown for a 35-yard touchdown, putting the Lions ahead 14-10.

Looking to respond, Minnesota moved into Lions territory with key plays from Jefferson and Aaron Jones, but Branch intercepted a pass, halting their momentum.

Detroit continued to capitalize on their drive, with Gibbs gaining significant yards on three consecutive plays.

Goff then found Sam LaPorta for a 25-yard reception deep in Vikings territory.

With no timeouts left for Minnesota, the Lions played conservatively in the red zone.

On third-and-7, they surprised the Vikings with Gibbs, who rushed for an 8-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 21-10.

With limited time, Minnesota couldn’t generate a scoring drive, and the half ended with the Lions leading.

Third Quarter

The Vikings started the second half with the ball, quickly involving Jefferson with a 14-yard catch.

They converted a third-and-2 to Jalen Nailor, but a controversial play where the ball was stripped led to a review, which confirmed that Nailor had maintained possession as he stepped out of bounds.

Darnold managed to get the Vikings into field goal range with solid runs from Jones.

Finally, on third-and-8, Darnold connected with Jefferson for a 25-yard touchdown, narrowing the gap to 21-17.

On the Lions’ next possession, they quickly gained 20 yards, thanks to a spectacular one-handed grab from Montgomery, followed by a 6-yard run.

A holding penalty pushed Detroit into second-and-14, but they recovered with a 13-yard catch by Kalif Raymond.

Goff narrowly escaped a sack and found Tim Patrick for a 22-yard gain. On third-and-6, Goff hit Raymond again, who ran for a 21-yard touchdown, extending the Lions’ lead to 28-17.

The Vikings faced early setbacks due to a holding penalty but quickly responded with a long completion from Darnold to Nailor for 33 yards, moving into Lions territory.

After another defensive penalty, the Vikings reached the red zone.

A sack by Josh Paschal on the final play of the third quarter set up a challenging third-and-15 as the quarter ended.

Fourth Quarter

The Lions’ defense held strong on the ensuing third down, forcing Darnold to scramble, resulting in a manageable field goal for the Vikings. The score tightened to 28-20.

Detroit faced an immediate challenge on offense with a third-and-2, but they avoided the punt with a 16-yard pass to St. Brown.

Unfortunately, they stalled afterward; a sack by Jonathan Greenard on second down forced another punt, marking their first of the game since the first quarter.

The Vikings seized the opportunity despite starting from a poor field position. Darnold launched a deep pass to Jordan Addison, which netted a 51-yard gain.

An illegal contact penalty on Detroit helped Minnesota out of a tough second-and-16 situation. Facing a crucial third-and-7, Malcolm Rodriguez sacked Darnold, forcing another field goal attempt, which made it 28-23.

With just six minutes left, the Lions had a chance to secure the game, but disaster struck when Montgomery fumbled, and the Vikings returned it for a touchdown, taking a 29-28 lead after a failed two-point conversion.

Desperate to respond, Detroit’s offense struggled, with Goff nearly connecting on a deep shot to Raymond but missing the mark.

Another sack left them unable to generate any offense, leading to a three-and-out that allowed the Vikings to take the lead with 4:16 remaining.

However, the Lions’ defense stepped up, forcing a quick three-and-out and returning the ball to their offense with 2:32 left, starting from their own 30-yard line.

A couple of runs from Gibbs brought Detroit to midfield, and a pass to him advanced them to the 36-yard line.

Goff then connected with St. Brown, moving the ball down to the 21-yard line with just over a minute remaining.

The Lions chose to run the clock down, setting up Jake Bates for a 44-yard field goal attempt.

He successfully converted, putting Detroit back in front at 31-29 with just 15 seconds on the clock.

With no timeouts left, the Vikings needed 30 yards to set up a potential game-winning field goal. However, they could not manage it, and the Lions secured the victory.