MINNEAPOLIS — Jake Bates made a 44-yard area aim with 15 seconds remaining for a 31-29 Lions lead, and Minnesota’s last-gasp effort ended with a sack of Sam Darnold by Trevor Nowaske as time expired.
Detroit improved to 5-1 on the season and leapfrogged Minnesota (5-1) for first place within the NFC North.
The Lions had been in a position to drive 44 yards in 2:26 to arrange the sphere aim due to a 14-yard run by Jahmyr Gibbs on second-and-6 and a 16-yard cross from Jared Goff to Gibbs on the following play.
The dagger adopted with a 14-yard cross from Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown, placing the ball on the Minnesota 22-yard line and permitting the Lions to exploit the clock, pressure Minnesota to exhaust its timeouts and accept the sphere aim.
Minnesota had taken the lead with 5:50 remaining within the recreation on a 35-yard fumble return landing by Ivan Tempo, Jr., who scooped up a ball knocked away from David Montgomery by Joshua Metellus and picked up a block by Andrew Van Ginkel.
The Vikings went for two, however Sam Darnold’s cross was shy of Jordan Addison on the entrance of the tip zone.