MINNEAPOLIS — The defense helped Minnesota claw back from an 11-point deficit, but it couldn't come up with the one final stop needed to extend the Vikings' winning streak.
Detroit kicker Jake Bates connected on a 44-yard field goal with just 15 seconds remaining to launch the Lions atop the NFC North with a 31-29 victory at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The Lions offense scored touchdowns on four consecutive drives, including three in the second quarter to send Minnesota scrambling at halftime.
The Vikings defense finally gained a little momentum by forcing a punt in the third quarter, but it was a scoop-and-score in the fourth quarter that completely swung the momentum back in Minnesota's favor. Vikings safety Josh Metellus punched the ball from Lions running back David Montgomery, and Minnesota linebacker Ivan Pace, Jr. scooped up the ball and ran 36 yards for the touchdown. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful, but it gave the Vikings their first lead since the second quarter.
The conversion was one of two times where the offense came up short down the stretch.
With the fourth-quarter lead, the Vikings defense forced a three-and-out to give the ball back to the offense with 4:16 to play. However, with the opportunity to run out the clock, Minnesota couldn't move the chains and the Lions offense was given one last chance to overtake the lead.
Detroit ran with the opportunity.
Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs had two runs for 18 yards and caught a 16-yard pass to help move Detroit into field goal range for Bates.
"Gotta find a way to improve," said Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell. "You can't just enjoy the wins, we enjoy those more than anything, but truly, championship-caliber teams are going to look inward at the first sign of adversity. We were able to do that in-game, and comeback to get the lead, but I challenge everyone to look inward and to see if we can do just a little bit more."
The Vikings now drop to second place in the NFC North, but will get another opportunity to retake the division lead in just four days against the Los Angeles Rams.
Here are three takeaways from Minnesota's first loss:
Offense can't close the door
While the defense wasn't able to get off the field before the game-winning field goal, the drive could have been avoided altogether if the offense had sustained a drive on the previous possession.
Minnesota's offense took over with 4:16 to play in the game with a chance to run out the clock and secure the sixth victory of the season, but two runs and an incomplete pass gave Detroit the ball with plenty of time to march down the field.
"Just some of the plays down the stretch, we've got to be able to pitch-and-catch, we've got to be able to have the execution on third and whatever it was — four or five," O'Connell said. "All 11 (offensive players) could have been better on the play."
The offense also had a chance to increase the lead by three points, following Ivan Pace Jr.'s scoop and score, but the pass on the two-point conversion fell incomplete and the lead remained 29-28.
Should the conversion have been successful, the late field goal would have only tied the game rather than won it.
"We had a little motion there in man coverage, they passed it off," O'Connell said. "Sam (Darnold) tried to put it in there in a tight window — might of had (Jalen Nailor) in the corner there, I've gotta go take a look at it — but those are the types of things where if you get those two points, it would be massive in that moment."
Second-quarter struggles
Facing their largest deficit of the season, the Lions stormed back with 21 straight points to send the Vikings back to the locker room facing their first halftime deficit of the season.
In the second quarter alone, Lions quarterback Jared Goff went 7 of 7 for 118 yards and a touchdown. Jahmyr Gibbs also had 67 yards rushing on just five carries, including two touchdowns. During that span, Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold went just 3 of 7 for 32 yards and an interception that led to Gibbs' second touchdown of the game.
"Jared's a heck of a player, I know Jared really well," said O'Connell, who coached Goff in Los Angeles. "I've got a ton of respect for him. He's tough, throws it as well as anybody. They've got a really good offense."
Defense continues to find pay dirt
The Vikings defense has three touchdowns through the first six games of the season, including a 36-yard fumble recovery for a score in the fourth quarter Sunday. Ivan Pace Jr. picked up a ball that was punched loose by Josh Metellus and took it up the sideline to give Minnesota a 29-28 lead.
The Vikings, who were tied for the second-most takeaways in the league entering Sunday, have forced 14 turnovers this season, including two pick-sixes by linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel.
Extra points
The Bank Vault: Running back Aaron Jones scored on a 34-yard run early in the first quarter to open the scoring, and he celebrated with the first-ever "Bank Vault" at U.S. Bank Stadium. The eighth-year running back launched into the crowd and celebrated with fans as the Vikings enjoyed an early lead. The vault is a play on the Lambeau Leap in Green Bay, where he spent the first seven years of his career. Jones had talked about unveiling the celebration, but on Sunday he was finally able to execute it.
First-quarter dominance: The Vikings outscored the Lions 10-0 in the opening frame, stretching their lead to 58-3 over opponents in the opening 15 minutes.
Will "The Thrill" continues to connect: Rookie kicker Will Reichard remains perfect this season after connecting on three field goals and two extra points on Sunday. This season, he's 12-for-12 on field goals and 16 of 16 on extra-point attempts.
