Jared Goff threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Williams with 4:35 left, Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 153 yards, and the Detroit Lions handed the Minnesota Vikings their first loss of the season, 19-15, on Sunday, November 1, at Ford Field.
Detroit improves to 5-2, has won three straight and is 2-0 in the NFC North. Minnesota falls to 6-1 and loses for the first time since November 30, 2025. The win came with a heavy heart: All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell was placed on a backboard and carted off in the fourth quarter, and he was taken to a hospital with a neck injury. “It’s a little bittersweet,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said.
Penalties and a slow first half
Detroit’s star receivers hurt their own team early. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Williams were both flagged for taunting on the first two drives, and a 24-yard touchdown catch by St. Brown was overturned on review because he did not hold onto the ball as he went to the ground. The Lions settled for a 25-yard Jake Bates field goal late in the first quarter.
Minnesota answered with a seven-play, 74-yard drive, and Kyler Murray lofted a 1-yard pass to the left side of the end zone that Justin Jefferson caught one-handed for a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter. James Pierre then intercepted Goff, his first interception of the season, but the Vikings went three-and-out. Late in the half, D.J. Reed cut in front of Jordan Addison for a diving interception and returned it 32 yards. The Lions converted a fourth-and-1 thanks to a neutral zone infraction, and Bates kicked a 37-yarder with 2 seconds left to make it 7-6 at halftime.
Gibbs takes over
Bates hit the left upright on a 46-yard try early in the third quarter. Then the Lions’ pass rush took over. Alim McNeill and Jimmy Rolder sacked Murray on back-to-back possessions, and after the second of those, Detroit went 72 yards in six plays. Gibbs finished the drive by breaking tackles on a 30-yard touchdown run with 4:40 left in the quarter, although the two-point run failed and the Lions led 12-7.
Minnesota reached the Detroit 25 on its next drive, but Murray’s fourth-and-5 pass to Addison fell incomplete with Reed in coverage and Aidan Hutchinson in his face. The Vikings came back on their following possession with a seven-play, 84-yard drive. Murray threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Hockenson and hit Addison for the two-point conversion to take a 15-12 lead with 8:44 left.
Detroit answered right away. Gibbs ran for 17 yards on the first play, and the Lions went 69 yards in seven plays before Goff found Williams for the go-ahead score. Minnesota went three-and-out, and Kevin O’Connell chose to punt on fourth-and-5 from his own 33 with all three timeouts left. “We have total trust and confidence in our defense,” O’Connell said. The Lions never gave the ball back. Gibbs and Sione Vaki ran out the final 2:53.
The numbers
- Jahmyr Gibbs: 23 carries for 153 yards and a touchdown, plus two catches for 15 yards. Vaki added 65 yards on 11 carries.
- Jared Goff: 18 of 25 for 176 yards, one touchdown and one interception; sacked four times.
- Lions receivers: Williams had four catches for 70 yards and the winning touchdown, and St. Brown seven for 46.
- Lions defense: three sacks, one each by Rolder, McNeill and Skyler Gill-Howard, and Reed’s interception.
- Kyler Murray: 17 of 29 for 210 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, plus 35 rushing yards; sacked three times.
- Vikings receivers: Addison had three catches for 66 yards, Hockenson four for 58 and a touchdown, and Jefferson five for 33 and a touchdown.
- Vikings defense: Joshua Metellus had 13 tackles, Eric Wilson 11 with a sack, and Andrew Van Ginkel 2.5 sacks.
Detroit ran for 230 yards at 5.9 a carry, including 164 in the second half, against a defense that had been allowing fewer than 100 rushing yards a game. The Lions held the ball for 35:43. Minnesota managed only 81 rushing yards.
Injuries and what it means
Jack Campbell lay face down on the turf after a tackle before he was taken off. “That was definitely scary,” Goff said. “He’s a husband and a father.” Safety Brian Branch and edge rusher DJ Wonnum were evaluated for concussions after colliding late in the second quarter and did not return. Center Cade Mays (ankle), kick returner Jacob Saylors (neck), Rolder (hamstring) and Reed (hip) were also hurt. Minnesota safety Theo Jackson injured a quad.
The NFC North race is now much tighter. “This is the first adversity we’ve faced in terms of results, and it didn’t happen until Nov. 1,” O’Connell said.
What comes next
Detroit visits the Miami Dolphins next Sunday. Minnesota hosts the Buffalo Bills on Monday night, November 9.
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