Lions’ Season Ends in Minnesota as Turnovers Sink Goff on Christmas
What was supposed to be a bright Christmas Day showcase for the Detroit Lions instead turned into a frustrating and painful ending to their season, and it all unraveled in Minnesota against the Vikings. By the time the final whistle blew on a 23–10 loss, Detroit’s playoff hopes were officially gone, and quarterback Jared Goff didn’t try to hide how much it hurt. His reaction was simple and raw: it just sucked.
This game wasn’t just a loss. It was the kind of collapse that defines a season in the worst way. Six turnovers were committed by the Lions, an almost unbelievable number for a team that had protected the ball better than anyone in the league all year. Goff alone was charged with five of them — two interceptions and three lost fumbles — and each mistake seemed to push Detroit further away from the postseason and closer to elimination.
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What made it even harder to swallow was how uncharacteristic it all looked. Coming into the game, the Lions had only eight total turnovers through 15 games. Goff himself had been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the NFL, sitting near the top in passer rating, yards, and touchdowns. Yet in one night, nearly everything that had gone right all season went wrong at once.
Some of the damage wasn’t even entirely on Goff. Two fumbles were the result of errant snaps from a backup center, disrupting plays before they could even begin. Another costly turnover came when running back Jahmyr Gibbs lost the ball after a promising run past midfield. Still, the Vikings’ defense deserves real credit. Pressure was applied constantly, five sacks were recorded, and Goff rarely looked comfortable in the pocket. When he couldn’t step into his throws, mistakes followed.
Detroit’s running game, which had been the foundation of its success over the past two seasons, offered little help. Gibbs and David Montgomery were held to just 66 yards combined, and a battered offensive line struggled to open lanes or protect consistently. With injuries piling up and key starters missing, the offense never found its rhythm.
As the loss became official, the consequences were immediate. The Lions were eliminated from playoff contention, and the Green Bay Packers clinched a postseason spot because of it. For a team that won the division the past two years and set franchise records not long ago, the fall felt sudden and harsh.
Afterward, Dan Campbell summed it up plainly. The effort was still there, but being just a little off had cost them everything. And for Jared Goff and the Lions, Christmas in Minnesota will be remembered as the night their season slipped away.
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