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Vikings locker room reacts after 23-10 win over Lions on Christmas
Vikings players Theo Jackson, Byron Murphy Jr., Jordan Addison, Andrew Van Ginkel, Harrison Smith and Justin Jefferson react from the locker room after Sunday's 23-10 win over the Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings have won four straight and are 8-8 with one gam left.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The Minnesota Vikings talked in the days leading up to hosting the Detroit Lions on Christmas about playing spoiler the rest of the season.
The Vikings are already eliminated from the NFC Playoffs, and spoiled the Lions’ season in a 23-10 win over Detroit at U.S. Bank Stadium. Minnesota has won four straight games and is 8-8 with a chance to finish above .500.
The Lions were eliminated from the playoffs with the loss, and the Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff spot.
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Vikings beat Lions 23-10, win fourth straight [FULL]
The Minnesota Vikings beat the Detroit Lions 23-10 on Christmas Day at U.S. Bank Stadium. Coach Kevin O’Connell spoke with reporters after talked about the team’s four-game win streak, getting back to .500 and the defense forcing six turnovers.
Vikings' defense generates 6 takeaways
The big play:
The Lions entered Sunday’s game with eight total turnovers on the season. The Vikings forced six takeaways and sacked Jared Goff five times. Andrew Van Ginkel had 1.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. Byron Murphy Jr. had an interception and fumble recovery. Harrison Smith had an interception. Jalen Redmond had a fumble recovery.
"The No. 1 priority going into the game was to win the turnover margin. A pretty phenomenal, historical kind of effort by our defense led the way," Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said after the win.
Smith also had a sack, and joins Ronde Barber as the only two players in NFL history with at least 38 career interceptions and 21.5 sacks. They held the Lions to 231 yards in what was their most dominant defensive effort of the season.
Jordan Addison breaks game open
Why you should care:
Max Brosmer and the Vikings’ offense struggled to do much themselves with Christian Darrisaw, Brian O’Neill and Ryan Kelly all out due to injuries.
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Max Brosmer reacts after Vikings beat Lions, 23-10 [FULL]
Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer spoke with reporters after Sunday's 23-10 win over the Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Brosmer finished 9-of-16 for 51 yards and didn't commit a turnover despite being sacked seven times.
The Vikings finally got their biggest offensive play in the fourth quarter after Jake Bates hit a field goal to get the Lions within 13-10. Jordan Addison took a jet sweep 65 yards down the sideline for a touchdown, diving and getting the ball inside the pylon for a score. It gave the Vikings a 20-10 lead with 3:43 to play. It was his third career rushing touchdown, and second this season.
In his second career start, Brosmer finished 9-of-16 for 53 yards. He was sacked seven times for 48 yards. He finished with three net passing yards, and the Vikings became just the third time in 40 seasons to win a game with fewer than 10 net passing yards.
Will Reichard is on fire
Dig deeper:
Will Reichard will likely get a game ball for the second straight week. His leg gave the Vikings’ crucial points with the defense generating turnovers, and the offense struggling to move the football. Reichard converted from 52 and 56 yards out in the first half, and from 42 yards out with 2:01 to play.
Reichard is now 30-of-32 on field goals this season, and has made 13 straight kicks. He has 11 this season from at least 50 years, a new single-season franchise record.
Vikings finish with Packers
What's next:
The Vikings close out the regular season hosting the Packers next weekend at U.S. Bank Stadium. There is no date or time for that game yet, as the Packers and Bears are in a battle for the NFC North Division title.
"I talked to them the morning after we were 4-8. I just said I believe in this group, I believe we can find a way to win a game each week. The biggest challenge, I felt, would be between our ears. We’ve had total conviction to try and go win a game. December divisional wins, you can look inward and say we’re building something," O'Connell said.