Goff throws 5 TDs, tops 500 yards as Lions edge Vikings 45-42

Minneapolis, MN - Jared Goff threw for 503 yards and five touchdowns, directing a 591-yard Detroit offense as the Lions defeated the Minnesota Vikings 45-42 in Week 15.

Goff completed 31 of 37 passes and finished with a 147.0 passer rating, overwhelming Minnesota with volume and efficiency despite taking three sacks and throwing one interception. Detroit entered the game on a two-game losing streak, but the Lions emerged from the high-scoring division matchup with their first victory in three games.

"The guys kept giving me opportunities to put the ball in good spots, and they did a great job finishing," Goff said. "Five touchdowns is something you feel good about, but there are still things to clean up. In a game decided by three points, you can see how important every possession is."

The Lions' receiving production was spread across several prominent targets. Amon-Ra St. Brown led the game with 113 receiving yards, while Jameson Williams caught six passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Williams also produced the game's longest reception, a 47-yard gain. Sam LaPorta added six catches for 88 yards and two more scores, giving Goff multiple options throughout a prolific passing performance.

"There were opportunities for a lot of us, and that's what stands out," Williams said. "When the ball came our way, we wanted to turn those chances into something positive. Scoring twice feels good, but getting the win after the last couple of games matters more."

Detroit did not rely exclusively on the pass. Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, averaging more than 10 yards per attempt and breaking a 47-yard run. The Lions finished with 112 rushing yards as a team, meaning Gibbs accounted for all of their net production in that category. Detroit recorded 25 first downs and converted three of seven third-down attempts.

The final margin was narrow even though the teams took sharply different statistical routes to their 42-plus-point totals. Detroit finished with 479 team passing yards and 112 rushing yards. Minnesota produced only 153 team passing yards but ran for 313, creating a 201-yard advantage over the Lions on the ground. The Vikings totaled 466 offensive yards and 22 first downs.

Aaron Jones Sr led that ground-heavy Minnesota effort with a game-high 133 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, the most rushing attempts by any player in the game. Jordan Mason provided another 102 yards and a touchdown on just eight carries, including the game's longest run at 52 yards. Together, Jones and Mason accounted for 235 of Minnesota's 313 rushing yards.

"We had real production running the football, and putting up 42 points gives you a lot to build from," Jones said. "But losing by three is frustrating. You look at a result like this and know the good numbers don't take away from the fact that we came up short."

Kyler Murray completed 13 of 22 passes for 163 yards and one touchdown, finishing with a 97.3 passer rating. Justin Jefferson supplied the Vikings' leading receiving line with five catches for 70 yards and a touchdown. Minnesota converted four of 11 third downs and its only fourth-down attempt.

The Vikings' defense recorded three sacks and intercepted Goff once, while Detroit finished with one sack and no interceptions. The yardage gap was considerably wider than the difference on the scoreboard: The Lions outgained Minnesota by 125 offensive yards, yet the result was settled by only three points.

For Detroit, the victory paired a needed result with a remarkable quarterback performance. Goff's five touchdown passes went to Williams, LaPorta and Isiah Pacheco, who had two receptions for 41 yards and one score. The Lions converted their passing advantage into 45 points and ended their two-game skid, while the Vikings absorbed a second consecutive defeat after entering the week at 4-9.

Up Next

The Lions will return home in Week 16 to host the New York Giants and look to build on the victory. Minnesota will remain home and turn its attention to the Washington Commanders while trying to rebound from the three-point loss.