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Lions–Vikings rivalry

The Lions–Vikings rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

Lions–Vikings rivalry
Lions and Vikings face off during the 2012 season.
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings
LocationDetroit, Minneapolis
First meetingNovember 19, 1961
Lions 37, Vikings 10[1]
Latest meetingOctober 20, 2024
Lions 31, Vikings 29[1]
Next meetingJanuary 4/5, 2025
StadiumsLions: Ford Field
Vikings: U.S. Bank Stadium
Statistics
Meetings total126[1]
All-time seriesVikings: 80–44–2[1]
Largest victoryLions: 45–7 (1981)
Vikings: 34–0 (1980)[1]
Longest win streakLions: 5 (1961–1963)
Vikings: 13 (1968–1974)[1]
Current win streakLions: 4 (2022–present)[1]
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
200km
125miles
Vikings
.
Lions
Locations of the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings entered the NFL as an expansion team during the 1961 season and were assigned to the Western Division, becoming divisional rivals with the Lions. Following the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, both teams transitioned to the NFC Central, which was later renamed the NFC North after the NFL's realignment in 2002.

The Vikings have outperformed the Lions since the inception of their rivalry and the most one-sided decades occurred during the 1970s and 2000s, where the Vikings went 35–5 against the Lions. Based on winning percentage, it is one of the most lopsided divisional rivalries in the NFL.

The Vikings lead the overall series, 80–44–2. The two teams have not met in the playoffs.[1]

2000s: Vikings Dominate the Rivalry

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In the 2000s, the Vikings had a commanding 18–2 record against the Lions.

2020s: Lions and Vikings compete for playoffs

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In the 2021 offseason, the Lions decided to trade QB Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for QB Jared Goff, a 2021 third-round pick and two first-round picks in 2022 and 2023.[10]

In the 2021 season, the Lions and Vikings experienced slow starts before their encounter in Minneapolis on October 10. Going into the 4th quarter, the Vikings held a 13–6 lead. K Greg Joseph added to the Vikings' score by making another field goal, increasing their lead to 16–6. A failed 4th down attempt by the Lions allowed the Vikings to gain possession on Detroit's 34-yard line. Despite having successfully converted 3 field goals earlier, Joseph missed the 49-yard field goal. The Lions quickly responded by converting a field goal, making it 16–9. The Vikings encountered misfortune as RB Alexander Mattison fumbled the ball, allowing LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin to recover it at Minnesota's 20-yard line with less than 2 minutes remaining. RB D'Andre Swift capitalized on the turnover by scoring a touchdown. Instead of playing it safe and aiming for overtime, HC Dan Campbell decided to go for a two-point conversion. Goff's pass to WR KhaDarel Hodge successfully put the Lions ahead at 17–16. The Vikings got the ball back with 33 seconds left. QB Kirk Cousins completed two deep passes to WR Adam Thielen for 40 yards and one pass to WR Dede Westbrook for 6 yards to set up a 54-yard game-winning field goal try with 3 seconds left. Joseph redeemed himself by successfully making the kick, securing a thrilling 19–17 victory for the Vikings. This win also marked the eighth consecutive victory for the Vikings over the Lions.[11] After suffering consecutive defeats on game-winning field goals (the first one against the Baltimore Ravens), Dan Campbell was visibly emotional during the post-game press conference. He expressed, "When you see your players give all that they have and you lose that way, it's tough. You know, you don't want that for them."[12][13]

The Lions were still on the hunt for their first win of the season when they clashed again in Detroit on December 5. With a standing of 0–10–1, their most recent victory dated back to December 6, 2020, against the Chicago Bears, slightly over a year ago. The Vikings took a 6–0 lead in the 1st quarter, but the Lions swiftly turned the tables by scoring 20 consecutive points, resulting in a 20–6 lead for them at halftime. The Vikings trimmed the lead to 23–21 by the start of the 4th quarter. With hopes of closing out the game, the Lions took a risk by going for it on 4th-and-one from their own 28-yard line. However, Goff was sacked by LB Blake Lynch and fumbled the ball, which Lynch promptly recovered. The Vikings took advantage of this turnover, with Cousins connecting with WR Justin Jefferson for a touchdown, giving them a 27–23 lead with only 1:50 left on the clock. Without any timeouts, Goff engineered a 75-yard drive into Minnesota territory. In the final play with just 4 seconds left, Goff connected with WR Amon-Ra St. Brown for an 11-yard touchdown pass, securing a 29–27 Lions victory. The Lions not only ended an eight-game losing streak against the Vikings but also celebrated their first win in 364 days.[14]

Adrian Peterson Vikings 
Adrian Peterson Lions 
Running back Adrian Peterson was selected by the Vikings in 2007 (left), where he set numerous rushing records and earned the MVP award during the 2012 season. He subsequently had a short tenure with the Lions in the 2020 season (right).

Season-by-season results

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Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings Season-by-Season Results[1]
1960s (Lions, 9–7–2)
Season Season series at Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings Overall series Notes
1961 Lions 2–0 Lions
13–7 		Lions
37–10 		Lions
2–0 		Vikings join the NFL as an expansion team. They were placed in the Western Division, resulting in two meetings annually with the Lions.
1962 Lions 2–0 Lions
37–23 		Lions
17–6 		Lions
4–0
1963 Tie 1–1 Lions
28–10 		Vikings
34–31 		Lions
5–1
1964 Lions 1–0–1 Tie
23–23 		Lions
24–20 		Lions
6–1–1
1965 Tie 1–1 Vikings
29–7 		Lions
31–29 		Lions
7–2–1
1966 Tie 1–1 Vikings
28–16 		Lions
32–31 		Lions
8–3–1
1967 Lions 1–0–1 Lions
14–3 		Tie
10–10 		Lions
9–3–2 		As a result of expansion, the two eight-team divisions became two eight-team conferences split into two divisions, with the Lions and Vikings placed in the NFL Central division.
1968 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
13–6 		Vikings
24–10 		Lions
9–5–2
1969 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
27–0 		Vikings
24–10 		Lions
9–7–2 		Detroit meeting took place on Thanksgiving.
Last time the Lions held the overall series record.
Vikings win 1969 NFL Championship, but lose Super Bowl IV.
1970s (Vikings, 17–3)
Season Season series at Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings Overall series Notes
1970 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
30–17 		Vikings
24–20 		Tie
9–9–2 		As a result of the AFL–NFL merger, the Lions and Vikings were placed in the newly formed National Football Conference (NFC) and the NFC Central (later renamed to the NFC North in the 2002 season).
1971 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
16–13 		Vikings
29–10 		Vikings
11–9–2 		Vikings take the overall series lead.
1972 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
34–10 		Vikings
16–13 		Vikings
13–9–2
1973 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
23–9 		Vikings
28–7 		Vikings
15–9–2 		Vikings lose Super Bowl VIII.
1974 Tie 1–1 Vikings
7–6 		Lions
20–16 		Vikings
16–10–2 		Vikings win 13 straight meetings (1968–1974).
Lions' win came when DB Lem Barney intercepted Vikings' QB Fran Tarkenton's pass in the end zone of the game's final play.
Last matchup at Tiger Stadium.
Vikings lose Super Bowl IX.
1975 Tie 1–1 Lions
17–10 		Vikings
25–19 		Vikings
17–11–2 		Lions open Pontiac Silverdome.
1976 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
10–9 		Vikings
31–23 		Vikings
19–11–2 		Vikings lose Super Bowl XI.
1977 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
30–21 		Vikings
14–7 		Vikings
21–11–2
1978 Tie 1–1 Lions
45–14 		Vikings
17–7 		Vikings
22–12–2 		In Detroit, Lions score their most points in a game against the Vikings.
1979 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
13–10 		Vikings
14–7 		Vikings
24–12–2
1980s (Vikings, 13–6)
Season Season series at Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings Overall series Notes
1980 Tie 1–1 Lions
27–7 		Vikings
34–0 		Vikings
25–13–2 		In Minneosta, Vikings record their largest victory over the Lions with a 34–point differential.
Both teams finished with 9–7 records, but the Vikings clinched the NFC Central based on a better conference record, eliminating the Lions from playoff contention.
1981 Tie 1–1 Lions
45–7 		Vikings
26–24 		Vikings
26–14–2 		In Detroit, Lions record their largest victory over the Vikings with a 38–point differential and tied their most points scored in a game against the Vikings.
Last matchup at Metropolitan Stadium.
1982 Vikings 1–0 Vikings
34–31 		no game Vikings
27–14–2 		Due to the 1982 NFL player strike, the game scheduled in Minneapolis was cancelled.
Vikings open Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
1983 Tie 1–1 Lions
13–2 		Vikings
20–17 		Vikings
28–15–2 		Vikings win eight straight home meetings (1975–1983).
1984 Tie 1–1 Vikings
29–28 		Lions
16–14 		Vikings
29–16–2
1985 Tie 1–1 Lions
41–21 		Vikings
16–13 		Vikings
30–17–2
1986 Tie 1–1 Vikings
24–10 		Lions
13–10 		Vikings
31–18–2
1987 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
17–14 		Vikings
34–19 		Vikings
33–18–2
1988 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
23–0 		Vikings
44–17 		Vikings
35–18–2 		In Minnesota, Vikings score their most points in a game against the Lions.
Game in Detroit was played on Thanksgiving.
1989 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
20–7 		Vikings
24–17 		Vikings
37–18–2
1990s (Tied, 10–10)
Season Season series at Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings Overall series Notes
1990 Tie 1–1 Vikings
17–7 		Lions
34–27 		Vikings
38–19–2
1991 Lions 2–0 Lions
10–6 		Lions
34–14 		Vikings
38–21–2 		In Minnesota, Lions' RB Barry Sanders rushed for 220 yards and four touchdowns as he led the Lions to their first season sweep of the Vikings since the 1962 season.
1992 Tie 1–1 Lions
31–17 		Vikings
31–14 		Vikings
39–22–2
1993 Tie 1–1 Vikings
13–0 		Lions
30–27 		Vikings
40–23–2
1994 Tie 1–1 Lions
41–19 		Vikings
10–3 		Vikings
41–24–2
1995 Tie 1–1 Lions
44–38 		Vikings
20–10 		Vikings
42–25–2 		Game in Detroit was played on Thanksgiving. The game's final score is the highest-scoring game between the two teams (82 points).
1996 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
24–22 		Vikings
17–13 		Vikings
44–25–2
1997 Lions 2–0 Lions
38–15 		Lions
14–13 		Vikings
44–27–2 		Both teams finished with 9–7 records, but the Lions clinched the better playoff seed based on their head-to-head sweep.
1998 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
34–13 		Vikings
29–6 		Vikings
46–27–2
1999 Tie 1–1 Lions
25–23 		Vikings
24–17 		Vikings
47–28–2 		Vikings' win clinched them a better playoff seed than the Lions, along with home-field advantage in the Wild Card round. Had the Lions won, the Vikings would have traveled to Detroit for their first playoff matchup against each other.
2000s (Vikings, 18–2)
Season Season series at Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings Overall series Notes
2000 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
31–24 		Vikings
24–17 		Vikings
49–28–2 		In Detroit, Vikings' WR Randy Moss finished with 168 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns.
2001 Tie 1–1 Lions
27–24 		Vikings
31–26 		Vikings
50–29–2 		Lions snapped a 13-game losing streak and recorded their first win of the season with their win.
Last matchup at Pontiac Silverdome.
2002 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
38–36 		Vikings
27–23 		Vikings
52–29–2 		Lions open Ford Field.
2003 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
23–13 		Vikings
24–14 		Vikings
54–29–2
2004 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
28–27 		Vikings
22–19 		Vikings
56–29–2
2005 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
21–16 		Vikings
27–14 		Vikings
58–29–2
2006 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
30–20 		Vikings
26–17 		Vikings
60–29–2 		Vikings win ten straight meetings (2002–2006).
2007 Tie 1–1 Lions
20–17 		Vikings
42–10 		Vikings
61–30–2
2008 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
20–16 		Vikings
12–10 		Vikings
63–30–2 		In Minneapolis, Lions' QB Dan Orlovsky infamously runs out of the back of his own end zone for a safety.
Lions complete first 0–16 season in NFL history.
2009 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
27–13 		Vikings
27–10 		Vikings
65–30–2
2010s (Vikings, 11–9)
Season Season series at Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings Overall series Notes
2010 Tie 1–1 Lions
20–13 		Vikings
24–10 		Vikings
66–31–2 		Vikings win thirteen straight home meetings (1998–2010).
2011 Lions 2–0 Lions
34–28 		Lions
26–23(OT) 		Vikings
66–33–2 		Lions win in Minneapolis and sweep the season series for the first time since the 1997 season.
2012 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
20–13 		Vikings
34–24 		Vikings
68–33–2
2013 Tie 1–1 Lions
34–24 		Vikings
14–13 		Vikings
69–34–2 		Game in Minneapolis was the final game played at Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
2014 Lions 2–0 Lions
16–14 		Lions
17–3 		Vikings
69–36–2 		Vikings temporarily play at TCF Bank Stadium (now known as Huntington Bank Stadium) for two seasons.
2015 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
28–19 		Vikings
26–16 		Vikings
71–36–2
2016 Lions 2–0 Lions
16–13 		Lions
22–16(OT) 		Vikings
71–38–2 		Vikings open U.S. Bank Stadium.
Game in Detroit took place on Thanksgiving.
2017 Tie 1–1 Vikings
30–23 		Lions
14–7 		Vikings
72–39–2 		Game in Detroit took place on Thanksgiving.
Road team splits the season series for the first time since the 1993 season.
2018 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
27–9 		Vikings
24–9 		Vikings
74–39–2
2019 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
42–30 		Vikings
20–7 		Vikings
76–39–2
2020s (Lions, 5–4)
Season Season series at Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings Overall series Notes
2020 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
37–35 		Vikings
34–20 		Vikings
78–39–2
2021 Tie 1–1 Lions
29–27 		Vikings
19–17 		Vikings
79–40–2 		Vikings win on a game-winning field goal to extend their winning streak to eight (2017–2021).
In Detroit, Lions' QB Jared Goff throws a touchdown pass to WR Amon-Ra St. Brown on the game's final play to record their first win of the season and their first win in over a year, breaking a 15-game winless streak.
2022 Tie 1–1 Lions
34–23 		Vikings
28–24 		Vikings
80–41–2
2023 Lions 2–0 Lions
30–20 		Lions
30–24 		Vikings
80–43–2 		In Minneapolis, Lions clinch their first NFC North title and first division title since the 1993 season with their win.
2024 Lions 1–0 January 5 Lions
31–29 		Vikings
80–44–2
Summary of results
Season Season series at Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings Notes
Regular season Vikings 80–44–2 Vikings 36–26–1 Vikings 44–18–1

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "All Matchups, Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings". Pro Football Reference.
  2. ^ Gordon, Dick (October 2, 1968). "Ex-Lion Hall Awaits 11th Game of Rivalry". The Minneapolis Star. Star Tribune Media Company, LLC. p. 68. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Lions and Vikings Renew Bruising Gridiron Rivalry". The Central New Jersey Home News. September 23, 1972. p. 9. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  4. ^ Sylvester, Curt (September 29, 1979). "Vikings, Lions meet–old fire gone". Detroit Free Press. Gannett Co., Inc. p. 26. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  5. ^ Sylvester, Curt (September 20, 1981). "Lions-Vikings rivalry shows signs of heating up". Detroit Free Press. Gannett Co., Inc. p. 44. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Lions get chance". Lansing State Journal. Gannett Co., Inc. December 14, 1981. p. 22. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  7. ^ Sanders, Charlie; Paladino, Larry (2005). Charlie Sanders's Tales from the Detroit Lions. Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 9781582619101.
  8. ^ Goessling, Ben (November 24, 2016). "The hottest NFC North rivalry of 2016? Vikings-Lions? Believe it". ESPN. The Walt Disney Company. Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  9. ^ Thompson, Eric (October 31, 2018). "A Brief Look At Lions/Vikings History". Daily Norseman. Vox Media. Archived from the original on October 31, 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  10. ^ Jackson, Stu (March 18, 2021). "Rams trade Jared Goff, future draft picks to Lions for Matthew Stafford". TheRams.com. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  11. ^ Reisman, Jeremy (October 10, 2021). "Detroit Lions' unbelievable comeback spoiled, lose 19-17 to Vikings". PrideofDetroit.com. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  12. ^ Polacek, Scott (October 10, 2021). "Lions' Dan Campbell Gives Emotional Press Conference After Last-Second Vikings Loss". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  13. ^ Birkett, Dave (October 10, 2021). "Déjà vu for emotional Dan Campbell as Detroit Lions lose on another improbable kick, 19-17". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Winless no more: Lions top Vikes 29–27 for 1st W in Week 13". ESPN. December 5, 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
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Further reading

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