Vikings Flashback: Minnesota sneaks past Detroit in 2020 season finale

To end their 2020 season, the Minnesota Vikings escaped with a victory on the road in a close matchup against the Detroit Lions.

On Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions are set to meet at Ford Field. Minnesota is 5-6, while Detroit is 0-10-1. Minnesota leads the all-time series 79-39-2, including winning in the past eight meetings.

The Vikings are coming off a tough loss last week on the road against the San Francisco 49ers. This has continued to be a very disappointing season for the Purple and Gold.

This should be a win against a struggling Detroit team, but crazy things happened a lot in this league especially against divisional foes. The Vikings needed a 54-yard field goal by Greg Joseph to beat them in week five. Remember 2001? The 0-12 Lions beat the Vikings. What about 2008? The 0-16 Lions nearly beat them twice.

All six of the Vikings‘ losses this season have come by eight points or less and all but one of their five wins have been by seven points or less. Fans have certainly been more nervous than usual this season and that is definitely saying a lot.

Minnesota Vikings defeated the Detroit Lions in the 2020 season finale

The last time Minnesota traveled to Detroit was in Week 17 of the 2020 season. The Vikings won the game by a final score of 37-35.

For Minnesota, Kirk Cousins completed 28 out of 40 passes for 405 yards and three touchdowns. Alexander Mattison rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries to go along three receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown. Justin Jefferson caught nine receptions for 133 yards. On defense, Harrison Smith had a team-high nine tackles and an interception.

For Detroit, Matthew Stafford completed 20 out of 31 passes for 293 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. Former Viking Adrian Peterson rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. Marvin Jones caught eight passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, Tracy Walker recorded a game-high 13 tackles and a sack.

Minnesota finished last season at 7-9, while Detroit finished at 5-11.