The Detroit Lions’ 2025 NFL season officially came to an end on Christmas Day, and quarterback Jared Goff didn’t hide his frustration afterward.

Detroit entered Week 17 with slim playoff hopes but was eliminated from postseason contention following a 23–10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Despite controlling time of possession and outgaining Minnesota overall, the Lions were undone by turnovers — a theme that defined their season-ending defeat.

Jared Goff’s Turnovers Doom Lions Against Vikings

Goff was responsible for five of Detroit’s six turnovers, a disastrous performance that ultimately sealed the Lions’ fate. Minnesota capitalized, scoring 16 of its 23 points off turnovers.

The veteran quarterback finished the game 18-of-29 for 197 yards, throwing one touchdown and two interceptions, while also losing three fumbles. It marked Goff’s first multi-interception game of the season, coming at the worst possible time.

Following the loss, Goff admitted the reality of missing the playoffs was difficult to process.

“It sucks. We’ll reflect on the whole season after next week, but it sucks,” Goff said, via The Detroit News’ Nolan Bianchi.

Lions’ Playoff Hopes End in Week 17

Detroit’s playoff chances were already hanging by a thread after a Week 16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the Lions still had a path. They needed to win their final two games and receive significant help around the league.

That hope rested on beating Minnesota — a Vikings team playing without injured rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Undrafted rookie Max Brosmer made just his second career start and struggled mightily, as Minnesota produced only 36 total yards of offense in the first half.

However, Detroit failed to capitalize on the Vikings’ offensive limitations.

Costly Mistakes Overshadow Vikings’ Offensive Struggles

Despite Brosmer finishing the game with just three net passing yards, Minnesota did enough to secure the win thanks to Detroit’s repeated mistakes. Goff’s five turnovers proved insurmountable, allowing the Vikings to control the game despite limited offensive production.

The performance drew comparisons to Goff’s struggles in last season’s Divisional Round playoff loss, where he threw three interceptions and lost a fumble. Thursday’s outing surpassed that effort in terms of damage, effectively ending Detroit’s season.

Lions Head Into Final Week Without Playoff Stakes

With the loss, the Lions are now officially eliminated from the NFL playoff race, closing the door on what once appeared to be a promising season. Detroit will play out the final week with nothing but pride at stake, while Goff and the organization begin reflecting on a disappointing finish.