Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings live score updates, highlights

Live updates from Week 13 of the 2021 NFL season, as the Detroit Lions seek their first win of the season against the Minnesota Vikings.

Just six more games left in the Detroit Lions’ season unless something ridiculously unlikely happens over the next month.

The final stretch begins with a Minnesota Vikings team in the middle of an NFC Wild Card race. At 5-6, the Vikings are just on the outside looking in after a loss to the San Francisco 49ers last week. That loss could prove costly, seeing at the 49ers are right there battling for the same playoff spot.

On the Lions side, however, they’re still seeking their first win for Dan Campbell. It’s been a rough year, and the seat is starting to warm below Campbell, especially with how the Thanksgiving Day game ended. He’s is no danger of losing his job, of course, but confidence is appearing to wane a bit, and as the Lions creep closer and closer to somehow another winless season, Campbell is getting dangerously close to infamy in this town—something that is no easy thing to do.

So can the Lions respond from an emotional week and tally their first win? We’ll be providing live updates from Ford Field below after the 1 p.m. ET kickoff.

First quarter

The Lions won the toss and deferred, which turned out to be a decent strategy. The Vikings were able to pick up a couple first downs, but thanks to a second-down pressure from Charles Harris and a great open field tackle on third down from Jerry Jacobs, the Lions offense got the ball at their own 20-yard line. Worth noting, the Lions lost Nick Williams to a wrist injury and the Vikings lost Adam Thielen to an ankle injury.

Detroit, however, would turn the ball over on downs. A drop from T.J. Hockenson set the Lions up third-and-10, and a 9-yard gain from Kalif Raymond had Detroit fourth-and-1 from their own 42-yard line. Jared Goff tried to sneak it, but came up inches short.

The Vikings would complete one pass to get into field goal range, but that was it. Jacobs made another great open field tackle to force a fourth down and Vikings kicker Greg Joseph was good from 41 yards. 3-0 Vikings.

The Lions responded with a quick three-and-out after two ineffective runs and a third down miscommunication on the left side of the line that left an unblocked Vikings defender for an easy sack.

The Vikings responded with a play-action pass to Justin Jefferson, who had a couple steps on Amani Oruwariye, and picked up 34 yards. The defense would eventually get another stop after a nice series from the linebackers, including a tackle for loss from Derrick Barnes and a good coverage stop from Josh Woods. Joseph, however, would chip shot a 31-yard field goal to make it 6-0 Vikings.

Thanks to a 9-yard pass to Jamaal Williams and an 8-yard run from Jermar Jefferson, the Lions pushed the ball to midfield by the end of the quarter.

Second quarter

On the first play of the quarter, Goff targeted Hockenson up the seam for a big 25-yard pass. Hockenson was hammered on the play, giving the Lions an extra 14 yards for roughing.

Two plays later, Goff went right back to Hockenson for a 9-yard touchdown pass and a 7-6 Lions lead.

Vikings kick returner, who has been very dangerous for the past month or two, showed just how dangerous he can be with a 44-yard return. But the Lions defense made a big play when Charles Harris strip sacked Kirk Cousins and Julian Okwara scooped it up

The Lions almost immediately cashed in, as Goff continued to pick on the Vikings’ backup linebackers. This time, he found tight end Brock Wright for an impressive 23-yard strike and score. 14-6 Lions.

The Vikings would be kept out of the end zone again, as Charles Harris picked up another sack, forcing a third and long. Cousins decided to check down, giving Detroit the ball, but deep in their own zone after a nice punt from Jordan Berry.