NFL Week 18 Game Recap: Detroit Lions 30, Minnesota Vikings 20

The Minnesota Vikings went down swinging but were ultimately outclassed in Week 18 by the Detroit Lions, who emerged victorious, 30-20.

Offensive spotlight: Each team showed off their elite receivers. Justin Jefferson caught 12 of the 14 targets thrown his way for 192 yards and a score, while Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown caught seven of 10 targets for 144 yards and a score. Jefferson averaged 4.2 yards per route run, and Brown posted an absurd 5.76 figure.

Defensive spotlight: Aidan Hutchinson was a problem for the Minnesota Vikings all day, aided by how much the Vikings were forced to pass to try and chase the game. Pending grade review, Hutchinson posted a 22.7% pass-rush win rate, and he also stuffed a trick play in the red zone to bring Justin Jefferson down well behind the line of scrimmage and turn a potential touchdown drive into a field goal.

Rookie spotlight: Lions rookies Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta each notched double-digit touchdowns for their debut campaigns, making them the first pair of rookies to do so in NFL history. The Lions will be sweating the health of LaPorta, whose leg got caught in the turf on a routine catch that left him clutching his knee and forced him to exit.

Box Score

Passing

Rushing

Receiving