Detroit Lions win NFC North with 30-24 victory over Minnesota Vikings: Game highlights

The Detroit Lions delivered the biggest gift of the holiday season on Christmas Eve with a 30-24 win over the Minnesota Vikings to secure the first division title in 30 years.

The Lions now wear the NFC North crown, earning the franchise's first playoff berth since 2016, and at least one home playoff game at Ford Field.

Here's how the Lions survived at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis:

Lions vs. Vikings game highlights and recap

Final: Lions take down Vikings 30-24 to win NFC North

Finally, the Lions are division champions. The defense came up with a big play with the Ifeatu Melifonwu on the final possession to beat the Vikings 30-24 and clinch the NFC North for the first time since 1993. Jahmyr Gibbs led the way with 80 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Jared Goff completed 30 of 40 passes for 257 yards and one touchdown to Amon-Ra St. Brown. The defense gave up 390 yards, but came up with four interceptions to help push the Lions past the finish line.

0:49, fourth quarter: Ifeatu Melifonwu secures NFC North title with interception

With the division title on the line, the Lions defense came up with a crucial stop to secure the win for the Detroit. Nick Mullens threw a duck over the middle toward the direction of Justin Jefferson, and Melifonwu stepped in front to record Detroit's fourth interception of the game and let the offense kneel out the clock. Jefferson nearly was the hero that broke the heart of Lions' fans, but Melifonwu came up with the biggest play of the game.

5:19, fourth quarter: Vikings add FG, cut Lions' lead to 30-24

The Vikings chipped Detroit's lead to one possession heading into the final five minutes of the game. The Lions had to punt immediately after the interception, and the Vikings went 76 yards in just over two minutes, but had to settle for a field goal inside the 10-yard line. Greg Joseph hit the 24-yard chip shot.

9:52, fourth quarter: Kerby Joseph intercepts Mullens again

Kerby Joseph was in the right place at the right time on another Mullens deep shot and recorded his second interception of the game. On third-and-18, Mullens heaved the ball down the sidelines in the direction of Justin Jefferson, but severely overthrew the ball directly to Joseph, who returned the interception to the Detroit 35-yard line.

11:07, fourth quarter: Jahmyr Gibbs scores 2nd TD, Lions lead 30-21

For the second straight week, Gibbs has a pair of touchdowns to his name. This time, he ran untouched through a massive hole on the right side of the offensive line for a three-yard touchdown. The score finished off a 14-play, 83-yard drive that took seven minutes off the clock again. The drive began with three straight completions to Amon-Ra St. Brown to move the ball near midfield. The Lions picked up key first downs from Donovan-Peoples Jones, Sam LaPorta and Gibbs to keep the drive moving. The Lions made the extra point this time to make it a two-score margin.

4:38, third quarter: Lions retake 23-21 lead on Amon-Ra St. Brown TD

The Lions answered the touchdown with a 13-play, 75-yard drive that took 7:18 off the clock and ended with a St. Brown touchdown. Detroit's leading receiver got free from his defender in the back of the end zone and tip-toed the sideline for the score. The Lions converted two fourth downs on the drive with runs from Jared Goff and Jahmyr Gibbs to keep the drive alive in Minnesota territory. It was a methodical drive, with only one play gaining over 10 yards. Michael Bagley's extra point attempt was blocked, keeping the lead at just two points.

11:56, third quarter: Vikings take 21-17 lead on K.J. Osborn TD

It only took the Vikings five plays to find the end zone again. This time, the drive was capped off with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Osborn, who was the big play player for Minnesota that drive. Nick Mullens got things kicked off with a 24-yard completion to T.J. Hockenson, and then followed it up with a 47-yard completion to Osborn the next play to get the ball inside the 10-yard line.

Halftime: Lions lead Vikings 17-14

The Lions hold a narrow lead over the Vikings after the first 30 minutes. The two teams traded touchdowns on the opening drives of the game, and also scored touchdowns on their final drives of the half. The Lions hold the edge thanks to a 37-yard Michael Badgley field goal.

The Lions' defense is a big reason why Detroit has the lead. Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph both recorded interceptions on underthrown passes from Nick Mullens, which led to one touchdown for Detroit. The offense had a few hiccups, like Jahmyr Gibbs' first career fumble, but managed 200 yards and three scores. Jared Goff is 15-of-21 for 132 yards while Gibbs and David Montgomery have combined for 71 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

The late touchdown from Justin Jefferson brought the Vikings within one score just before the half. Mullens is 11-of-16 for 182 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Detroit also recorded three sacks.

0:29, second quarter: Justin Jefferson makes diving TD catch, Lions lead 17-14

Jefferson's talent as one of the best receivers in the NFL was on full display on the Vikings' final minute drive at the end of the first half. Jefferson made a diving catch through contact from Cam Sutton for a 26-yard touchdown. He recorded nearly all of Minnesota's yards on that drive, hauling in three catches of over 20 yards.

1:48, second quarter: Jahmyr Gibbs bounces run for TD, Lions lead 17-7

Gibbs' speed was the difference on his 14-yard touchdown to increase the lead to 10. Gibbs ran the ball up the middle but bounced it outside five yards up the field, outran the Minnesota defender for the edge and found the end zone. Detroit only needed three plays to find the end zone and capitalize on the Kerby Joseph interception. He and tight end Sam LaPorta became the first rookie teammates in NFL history to each score nine touchdowns in their season.

2:38, second quarter: Kerby Joseph intercepts Mullens

The Lions' defense came up with another big play picking off Mullens to give the ball back to the offense. This time, safety Kerby Joseph cut in front of Jordan Addison on a deep shot and wrestled the ball out of his hands for the takeaway. He ran over from his spot playing centerfield and got there just in time for the interception. Joseph returned the ball to the Minnesota 33-yard line.

5:05, second quarter: Michael Badgley hits FG, Lions lead 10-7

The Lions survived a close call to take the lead on a 37-yard field goal to retake a slim lead. On third-and-six from the Minnesota 18, Jared Goff was hit while throwing and the ball fell to the ground. Initially, it was ruled a fumble and Minnesota returned the ball for a touchdown, but it was ruled incomplete after review. The Lions' drive was 13 plays covering 60 yards and took nearly seven minutes off the clock.

0:16, first quarter: Brian Branch intercepts Nick Mullens

The Lions defense responded with a turnover of their own. Brian Branch, who dropped an interception on the first possession, got redemption by snagging an underthrown Mullens pass on fourth down. Branch jumped and snagged the ball intended for Jordan Addison to give the ball back to the offense at the Detroit 20-yard line.

2:02, first quarter: Jahmyr Gibbs fumbles, Vikings recover

Jahmyr Gibbs had the ball knocked loose by Camryn Bynum on the third play of the Lions' second drive, and the Vikings recovered. Gibbs spun out of a tackle and seemingly turned a negative play into a first down, but the ball was popped free by Bynum's helmet on the tackle. Minnesota will start the next drive just on their side of midfield at the 46-yard line.

2:51, first quarter: Vikings knot score at 7 on Ty Chandler TD

The Vikings' offense came out humming on the first drive. Ty Chandler finished the 9-play, 75-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run. Nick Mullens started with a 33-yard completion to Josh Oliver, who was wide open in the flat and ran into Lions territory. He hit two more passes for first downs to move Minnesota into the red zone. The Lions had a chance to get a stop on third-and-goal, but a holding call on Brian Branch extended the drive. Branch then dropped an interception on the ensuing first-and-goal, a play before the Chandler touchdown.

7:13, first quarter: David Montgomery scores opening TD, Lions lead 7-0

The Lions offense picked up where it left off last week with a 14-play, 75-yard drive, finished off with a one-yard David Montgomery touchdown. The Lions picked up six first downs on the drive, three through the air and three on the ground, to take the early lead on the road. Montgomery had eight carries for 19 yards on the drive. Jared Goff was 5-of-6 for 61 yards with completions to five different players.

Pregame notes

The Lions are focused on "taking care of business” and making franchise history by securing the division. Head coach Dan Campbell told the team to recognize the moment as it is happening while not carrying the weight of the past.

The Vikings won’t just roll over, however. The Vikings have stayed in the hunt for a playoff spot despite losing starting quarterback Kirk Cousins midway through the season to a torn Achilles and missing wide receiver Justin Jefferson for half the season. Nick Mullens will be under center for his second consecutive start after replacing Joshua Dobbs as Cousins’ replacement.

Minnesota’s defense under coordinator Brian Flores, which ranks sixth in the NFL in scoring (19.2 points allowed per game) and 12th in total defense (316 yards allowed per game), has been a big reason why the Vikings have stayed afloat despite the injuries. The Vikings blitz and drop eight men into coverage at the highest rates in the league and have found a groove in the past month, only allowing 15 ppg.

It will be a strength-on-strength matchup with the Lions offense, which found a groove scoring on five straight possessions against the Broncos. The 42-point outburst moved the offense back into the top three of total offense (394.4 yards per game) and fifth in scoring (27.3 points per game).

The defense enters coming off one of its strongest performances of the season. Detroit held the Broncos to 17 points — all in the second half after the Lions were up three scores — and gave up 287 total yards.

Lions injury report

Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson will have to wait at least one more week to make his return from a torn pectoral despite returning to practice. (The Lions visit Dallas this Saturday night.) Cornerback Jerry Jacobs (hamstring), tight end Brock Wright (hip) and linebacker Derrick Barnes (shoulder) are also out. The offensive line is at full strength for the second straight week.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions defeat Minnesota Vikings 30-24: Game highlights