Lions–Vikings rivalry
 Lions and Vikings face off during the 2012 season. | |
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings
| |
| Location | Detroit, Minneapolis |
|---|---|
| First meeting | November 19, 1961 Lions 37, Vikings 10[1] |
| Latest meeting | January 5, 2025 Lions 31, Vikings 9[1] |
| Stadiums | Lions: Ford Field Vikings: U.S. Bank Stadium |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 127[1] |
| All-time series | Vikings: 80–45–2[1] |
| Largest victory | Lions: 45–7 (1981) Vikings: 34–0 (1980)[1] |
| Most points scored | Lions: 45 (1978), (1981) Vikings: 44 (1988)[1] |
| Longest win streak | Lions: 5 (1961–1963, 2022–present) Vikings: 13 (1968–1974)[1] |
| Current win streak | Lions: 5 (2022–present)[1] |
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]
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. While the two teams initially maintained a closely contested rivalry, the Vikings dominated in the 1970s, taking a big lead over the Lions.
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, 80–45–2. The two teams have not met in the playoffs.[1]
Background
Detroit Lions (1930–1960)
The Lions were founded in 1930 as the Portsmouth Spartans, located in Portsmouth, Ohio.[10][11] Due to financial troubles, the team was purchased by George A. Richards, who relocated them to Detroit for the 1934 season and renamed them as the Detroit Lions.[10] The team won its first championship in 1935, but it would subsequently endure decades of mediocrity, failing to qualify for the playoffs since then.[12] By the 1952 season, the Lions experienced a turnaround in their fortunes, being led by Hall-of-Fame quarterback Bobby Layne and head coaches Buddy Parker and George Wilson. During the 1950s, the Lions appeared in four NFL championship games, winning in three of them.[13] During that same timeframe, the Lions were placed in the NFL National Conference following the AAFC–NFL merger, which would be renamed to the Western Conference in the 1953 season.[14][15] The early 1960s saw the Lions win three consecutive Playoff Bowl, a post-season exhibition game to determine third place.[12]
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings were founded in 1960 by a group of investors led by Max Winter, Bill Boyer, H. P. Skoglund, Ole Haugsrud and Bernard H. Ridder, Jr and began playing in the 1961 season. They were placed in the Western Conference, becoming divisional rivals with the Detroit Lions and resulting in two meetings annually.[16]
1961–1967: Beginning of annual meetings
The Lions and Vikings inaugural meeting between one another occurred on November 19, 1961 in Minnesota, which saw the Vikings score the first 10 points in the first quarter before being shut out by the Lions on route to a 37–10 Lions blowout win.[17] On December 10, they would meet again in Detroit for the first time, where the Lions won 13–7, completing a sweep of the inaugural season series against the Vikings.[18]
The Lions won their next three games against the Vikings, increasing their winning streak to five, one of their longest.[1] It wasn't until the 1963 season that the Vikings defeated the Lions for the first time, winning 34–31 on November 24 in Minnesota.[19]
In the 1964 season on October 11 in Minnesota, a miscommunication led to both the Lions and Vikings starting the game in identical white jerseys, marking the first and only time of two teams wearing the same color in a NFL game. At the start of the second quarter, the Vikings changed into their purple jerseys. The Lions would win the game 24–20.[20]
Later that season on November 22 in Detroit, Lions' K Wayne Walker kicked a 37-yard field goal under less than a minute left to lead to the first tie result between the two teams.[21]
In the 1965 season on December 12 in Detroit, Vikings beat the Lions 29–7 to record their first victory in Detroit.[1][22]
In the 1966 season on November 13 in Minnesota, Lions K Garo Yepremian kicked 6 field goals, setting a then-NFL record, as he helped the Lions beat the Vikings 32–31.[23] The record would be broken by K Jim Bakken in the 1967 season.[24]
In the 1967 season, the NFL divided its teams into two eight-team conferences split into two divisions each. Consequently, the Lions and Vikings were placed in the Western Conference and the NFC Central, alongside the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, thereby continuing their divisional rivalry.[25]
Later that season on November 12 in Minnesota, the Lions fumbled 11 times in a 10–10 tie against the Vikings, setting an NFL record.[26]
2000s: Vikings Dominate the Rivalry
In the 2000s, the Vikings had a commanding 18–2 record against the Lions.
2020s: Lions and Vikings compete for playoffs
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.[27]
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.[28] 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."[29][30]
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.[31]
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Season-by-season results
| Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings Season-by-Season Results[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1960s (Lions, 9–7–2)
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1970s (Vikings, 17–3)
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1980s (Vikings, 13–6)
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1990s (Tied, 10–10)
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2000s (Vikings, 18–2)
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2010s (Vikings, 11–9)
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2020s (Lions, 6–4)
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Summary of results
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See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "All Matchups, Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings". Pro Football Reference.
- ^ Gordon, Dick (October 2, 1968). "Ex-Lion Hall Awaits 11th Game of Rivalry". The Minneapolis Star. Star Tribune Media Company, LLC. p. 68. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
- ^ "Lions and Vikings Renew Bruising Gridiron Rivalry". The Central New Jersey Home News. September 23, 1972. p. 9. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
- ^ Sylvester, Curt (September 29, 1979). "Vikings, Lions meet–old fire gone". Detroit Free Press. Gannett Co., Inc. p. 26. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
- ^ Sylvester, Curt (September 20, 1981). "Lions-Vikings rivalry shows signs of heating up". Detroit Free Press. Gannett Co., Inc. p. 44. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
- ^ "Lions get chance". Lansing State Journal. Gannett Co., Inc. December 14, 1981. p. 22. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
- ^ Sanders, Charlie; Paladino, Larry (2005). Charlie Sanders's Tales from the Detroit Lions. Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 9781582619101.
- ^ 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 October 16, 2024.
- ^ 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 October 16, 2024.
- ^ a b "Detroit Lions Team History". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
- ^ Barnett, C. Robert (1980). "THE PORTSMOUTH SPARTANS" (PDF). Professional Football Researchers Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 21, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ a b "Detroit Lions Franchise Encyclopedia". Pro Football Reference.
- ^ "Detroit Lions Dynasty of the 1950s". Sports History Network. November 28, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ "Pro Grid Season Under Way". The Deseret News. Associated Press. September 17, 1950. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ "1953". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ "Vikings Placed in West Loop". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. April 12, 1961. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ "Lions Halt Vikings, 37-10". The New York Times. November 20, 1961. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ "LION FIELD GOALS BEAT VIKINGS, 13-7; Kicks by Martin Decide -- Lane Defensive Standout". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. December 11, 1961. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
- ^ Tomasson, Chris (November 7, 2015). "After JFK assassination, Vikings and NFL played as nation mourned". Twin Cities. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ Dow, Bill (January 3, 2024). "Why the Lions and Vikings Both Wore White Jerseys in a 1964 NFL Game". Vintage Detroit. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ^ "Lions Tie Vikings, 23—23". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. November 23, 1964. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ^ "VIKINGS TOP LIONS ON PASSING, 29-7; Tarkenton Throws for Two Scores, Sets Up Another". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. December 13, 1965. Archived from the original on May 5, 2025. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ Ferguson, Lew (November 10, 1966). "Yepremian Sets NFL Mark". The Day. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ "Bakken Kicks Record 7 Field Goals; Cards' Star Misses Twice in 28-to-14 Rout of Steelers". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. September 25, 1967. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ "NFL fixes plans to decide ties". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. December 1, 1966. p. 33.
- ^ Penick, Robert (November 13, 1967). "Lions fumble ball... once too often". The Windsor Star. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ Jackson, Stu (March 18, 2021). "Rams trade Jared Goff, future draft picks to Lions for Matthew Stafford". TheRams.com. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ Reisman, Jeremy (October 10, 2021). "Detroit Lions' unbelievable comeback spoiled, lose 19-17 to Vikings". PrideofDetroit.com. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ Polacek, Scott (October 10, 2021). "Lions' Dan Campbell Gives Emotional Press Conference After Last-Second Vikings Loss". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ 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 April 20, 2024.
- ^ "Winless no more: Lions top Vikes 29–27 for 1st W in Week 13". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 5, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
External links
Further reading
- Gordon, Dick (October 2, 1968). "Ex-Lion Hall Awaits 11th Game of Rivalry". The Minneapolis Star. Retrieved February 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Lions and Vikings Renew Bruising Gridiron Rivalry". The Central New Jersey Home News. September 23, 1972. Retrieved February 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- Sylvester, Curt (September 29, 1979). "Vikings, Lions meet—old fire gone". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- Sylvester, Curt (September 20, 1981). "Playing for blood: Lions–Vikings rivalry shows signs of heating up". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Lions get chance". Lansing State Journal. December 14, 1981. Retrieved February 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- Goessling, Ben (November 24, 2016). "The hottest NFC North rivalry of 2016? Vikings-Lions? Believe it". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 16, 2021.