Jahmyr Gibbs shines for Lions as Detroit throttles Minnesota, plus big games from Bo Nix and Mike Evans

[ad_1] The Detroit Lions beat the Minnesota Vikings 31-9 within the last recreation of the NFL’s common season Sunday, clinching each the NFC North title and the convention’s prime seed.

Detroit may have home-field benefit all through the playoffs after an opening-round bye.

Working again Jahmyr Gibbs starred for the Lions on Sunday. He had 139 yards and three touchdowns on the bottom to go together with 31 yards receiving and one other rating within the air.

Lions quarterback Jared Goff, in the meantime, accomplished 27 of 33 passes for 231 yards and a rating, plus two interceptions.

Vikings sign caller Sam Darnold struggled. He accomplished solely 18 of his 41 makes an attempt, throwing for under 166 yards with no touchdowns.

‘SNF’ weblog: Look again at how the sport unfolded

Minnesota’s offense particularly struggled within the crimson zone. In 4 journeys inside Detroit’s 20-yard line, the Vikings scored simply six factors. Twice they did not convert on 4th-and-goal from contained in the 5.

The sport was a defensive battle within the first half, with the groups combining for just one landing. After Gibbs scored within the first quarter, the Vikings reduce the result in 7-6 with two second-quarter subject objectives. The Lions made it 10-6 as the primary half expired with a subject purpose of their very own.

The second half was all Detroit. After an interception by Goff on the group’s first drive of the second quarter, he led the Lion to a landing on three straight possessions. In that point, Minnesota made one subject purpose, missed one other and punted whereas down two scores.

The Lions completed the common season 15-2, a three-win enchancment from final 12 months’s 12-5 marketing campaign. Detroit made it to the NFC championship recreation a season in the past however misplaced on the street to the San Francisco 49ers. This 12 months, the Lions is not going to should play away from dwelling within the playoffs until they make the Tremendous Bowl.

The loss is a bitter one for the Vikings. Regardless of bettering its file by seven wins from final season — going from 7-10 to 14-3 — Minnesota must open the postseason on the street. Darnold, regardless of his struggles Sunday, was a revelation. Beginning instead of injured rookie J.J. McCarthy, he threw for 35 touchdowns.

The Vikings will open their playoff schedule Jan. 13 in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams.

Detroit may have per week to relaxation because it awaits its opponent.

Across the NFL The wild-card spherical is official for subsequent weekend:

No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers at No. 4 Houston Texans (4:30 p.m. ET Saturday)No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 3 Baltimore Ravens (8 p.m. ET Saturday)No. 7 Denver Broncos at 2. Buffalo Payments (1 p.m. ET Sunday)No. 7 Inexperienced Bay Packers at No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (4:30 p.m. ET Sunday)No. 6 Washington Commanders at No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8 p.m. ET Sunday)No. 5 Minnesota Vikings at No. 4 Los Angeles Rams (8 p.m. ET Jan. 13) The Lions and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, No. 1 seeds within the NFC and the AFC, respectively, may have first-round byes.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers received the AFC South with a 27-19 win in opposition to the New Orleans Saints. They received an enormous efficiency from receiver Mike Evans, who completed with 9 receptions for 89 yards. It was his eleventh straight season with at the least 1,000 receiving yards, tying the legendary wideout Jerry Rice.

The Denver Broncos received into the playoffs after a 38-0 win over the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (who had been resting most starters with the No. 1 seed secured). Rookie quarterback Bo Nix was spectacular with 321 yards passing with 4 touchdowns and no interceptions. He turned the primary rookie quarterback ever with a number of video games of at the least 300 yards passing, 4 landing passes and a passer score of 140 or greater.

The New York Jets defeated the Miami Dolphins 32-20 in what might have been Aaron Rodgers’ last recreation. He went out with a bang, throwing 4 touchdowns, for 503 common season landing passes in his profession. He turned the fifth participant in NFL historical past with greater than 500 common season landing passes, becoming a member of Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre.