Recap: Lions fall to last place in NFC North, Vikings pull out commanding 34-20 win

Nolan Bianchi
The Detroit News

Game summary

The Detroit Lions were embarrassed on Sunday by the Minnesota Vikings, sliding to last place in the NFC North as Dalvin Cook rushed for 206 yards on 22 carries to give the Vikings a comfortable 34-20 win.

Final leaders

Passing

DET - Matthew Stafford: 23/32, 211 yds., TD, 2 Int.

MIN - Kirk Cousins: 13/20, 220 yds., 3 TD

Rushing

DET - D'Andre Swift: 13 atts., 64 yds.

MIN - Dalvin Cook: 22 atts., 206 yds., 2 TD

Receiving

DET - Danny Amendola: 7 recs., 77 yds.

MIN - Justin Jefferson: 3 recs., 64 yds.

Lions' last-gasp effort comes up empty

The Lions take over at the 10 after Minnesota turned it over on downs.

Chase Daniel throws incomplete to Marvin Jones on first down. Kerryon Johnson rushes for 14 yards on second down.

Daniel hits Johnson for 12 yards on the next play, then misses to Marvin Hall on second down.

Daniel hits Quintez Cephus for an 11-yard gain, then throws to T.J. Hockenson for a gain of 8.

Some more stuff happens, then the game is over.

FINAL: Vikings 34, Lions 20

Vikings bleed clock in commanding win over Lions

Chad Beebe takes the kickoff for a 19-yard return to the Minnesota 41. 

Dalvin Cook takes the pitch and runs for a gain of 13 on first down. 

Cook picks up 3 more on the next play, taking him to a career-high 206 yards rushing on 22 carries.

A holding penalty brings up first-and-20. Alexander Mattison rushes for 18 yards.

Timeout #1 Detroit (4:17 4th) 

Mattison rushes for a yard on second down.

Timeout #2 Detroit (4:13 4th)

Mattison picks up the first down with 1 more yard on third down.

Timeout #3 Detroit (4:02 4th)

Mattison rushes for 5 yards on first down then gets 3 more on second down. He has 69 yards on 11 carries. Mattison is wrapped up for no gain on third down.

Two-minute warning

Kirk Cousins throws incomplete on fourth down.

Vikings 34, Lions 20 (1:55 4th)

Lions block punt, cut deficit to 14 in fourth

The Vikings take over at their own 39 after their third interception of the game.

Alexander Mattison rushes for 5 yards on first down. The Vikings take a holding penalty, bringing up second-and-15. Mattison picks up 9 yards on a second-down carry, then rushes for 4 more on third down. 

The Lions block their third punt in two games, as Romeo Okwara gets his hand on it. The Lions recover at the 4, but get it at the 2 after a holding penalty on the Vikings.

Chase Daniel throws complete to T.J. Hockenson in the end zone for a Lions touchdown.

Vikings 34, Lions 20 (6:55 4th)

Daniel throws Lions' third interception of half

The Lions get it back at the 11.

Chase Daniel completes a 2-yard throw to Marvin Hall, then a 28-yard completion to Danny Amendola.

Then Daniel throws an interception.

Vikings 34, Lions 13 (10:05 4th)

Cook drives dagger in Lions

Injury update: Lions QB Matthew Stafford (concussion) is being taken to the locker room.

The Vikings take over at the 30. Dalvin Cook runs for a 70-yard touchdown. Ball game.

Duron Harmon takes an unnecessary roughness penalty for throwing a punch after the extra point. That's the Patriot Way, baby.

Vikings 34, Lions 13 (10:42 4th)

Chase Daniel takes over for Stafford after injury, Lions add field goal

The Lions take over at the 31 after the stop. They trail 27-10 with 14:35 to go here in the fourth quarter.

Matthew Stafford on first down throws complete to Marvin Jones for a gain of 12.

He then hits D'Andre Swift on the next play for a pickup of 9. Detroit picks up the tempo, runs to the line, and Swift picks up the first down on a 1-yard run.

Stafford gets it to Swift on a shovel pass that's good for 19 yards and a first down at the Minnesota 28. 

Stafford is sacked on first down for a 4-yard loss. Chase Daniel has to come in after Stafford took a knee to the head. Daniel runs for 5 yards and then throws incomplete to Danny Amendola on third down.

Matt Prater hits a 45-yard field goal.

Vikings 27, Lions 13 (11:02 4th)

Lions force stop after Stafford's second interception

Alright, Vikings take over at the 20. Let's see if either of these teams can get over their own way.

Kirk Cousins on first down is blindsided by Desmond Trufant, a sack that forces a loss of 8. Dalvin Cook gets all 8 yards back on second down.

END 3RD: Vikings 27, Lions 10 

Justin Jefferson goes down after a gain of 7 on third down, which brings up fourth-and-3.

Injury alert: Lions S Will Harris was hurt on the play and is being tended to by the training staff.

Danny Amendola returns the punt to Detroit's 31.

Vikings 27, Lions 10 (14:35 4th)

Stafford throws interceptions on consecutive drives

The Lions take over at the Minnesota 22 after the blocked punt.

Adrian Peterson on first down rushes for 4 yards. Danny Amendola gets to the Minnesota 9 on a 9-yard reception.

Matthew Stafford faces pressure on first down and throws it away safely. Peterson gets to the 5 on a 4-yard carry on second down. Stafford goes to the end zone and is intercepted again.

Vikings 27, Lions 10 (0:50 3rd)

Lions block punt after Stafford's interception

Minnesota takes over at the 28 after the interception. Dalvin Cook rushes for a yard on first down then gets to the 33 on a 4-yard gain on second down. Kirk Cousins' third-down throw to Adam Thielen falls incomplete.

Austin Bryant blocks the punt, and it's recovered by Minnesota at its own 22, where the Lions will take over.

Vikings 27, Lions 10 (3:09 3rd)

Stafford throws an interception in Vikings territory

The Lions set up shop at the 25. Detroit needs to get some points on the board now. It trails by 17 as the third quarter nears its halfway point.

Matthew Stafford on first down throws complete to T.J. Hockenson for a gain of 9. D'Andre Swift is pushed out of bounds after a loss of 1 on second down. Danny Amendola picks up the first down with a jet sweep that's good for 2 yards.

Stafford fakes the give and throws complete to Marvin Jones for a pickup of 16 that's supplemented by an illegal hit, which gives the Lions 15 free yards to the Minnesota 34.

Adrian Peterson catches a screen pass and runs for 8 on first down. Minnesota is challenging that the pass hit the turf.

*** Play under review ***

The play is overturned. Swift drops a second-down throw. It's third-and-10. Stafford has time, escapes the pocket, hits Marvin Hall for a gain of 14 to the Minnesota 20.

Then Stafford throws an interception. Vikings ball.

Vikings 27, Lions 10 (4:42 3rd)

Vikings take commanding lead in third quarter

Kirk Cousins is chased out of the pocket and takes a deep shot down the right sideline, an incompletion. Dalvin Cook rushes for 5 yards on second down. Cousins has Justin Jefferson on third down and hits him for a 35-yard connection to the 37 of Detroit. 

Cook rushes for 12 yards on the next play, bringing up first-and-10 at the 25. Cook now has 101 rushing yards on 13 attempts.

He gets it again on first down, bruising through the line for a gain of 4. Cousins misses to Irv Smith on second down. A throw to Jefferson on third down nets a pass interference flag on Amani Oruwariye.

It's first-and-goal at the 3.

Cook goes down at the 1 on a first-down carry, and is then dropped for no gain on second down. Smith hauls in an easy reception on third-and-1.

Vikings 27, Lions 10 (7:50 3rd)

Lions go three-and-out on first drive of second half

The Lions take over at their own 12-yard-line for their first drive of the second half. They trial the Vikings by 10 with 12:50 to go here in the third quarter.

D'Andre Swift rushes for 6 yards on first down. Danny Amendola on second down drops a pass beyond the chains. Matthew Stafford's throw to Amendola on third down misses the mark, falls incomplete.

Jack Fox's punt is returned for -3 yards to the 23 of Minnesota.

Vikings 20, Lions 10 (11:59 3rd)

Lions defense takes advantage of third-and-11, forces quick drive

There's a holding penalty on the second-half kickoff, resulting in starting field position for Minnesota at its own 16.

Dalvin Cook breaks free on first down for a 14-yard gain. 

Cook rushes for 4 yards on the next first-down play. Kirk Cousins has all day to throw on second down, but his laser to Adam Thielen is broken up by Desmond Trufant. 

The Vikings lose track of time before the third-down play, take a delay of game. Kyle Rudolph picks up 8, but it won't be enough on third-and-11. 

Danny Amendola waves for a fair catch at the Detroit 12.

Vikings 20, Lions 10 (12:50 3rd)

Halftime leaders

Passing

DET - Matthew Stafford: 16/18, 123 yds., TD

MIN - Kirk Cousins: 9/11, 169 yds., 2 TD

Rushing

DET - D'Andre Swift: 10 atts., 58 yds.

MIN - Dalvin Cook: 9 atts., 66 yds.

Receiving

DET - Danny Amendola: 5 recs., 40 yds.

MIN - Dalvin Cook: 2 recs., 46 yds.

Lions embarrassed by former second-round pick Ameer Abdullah to end half

Miles Killebrew makes a great play on the kickoff return to bring down the Minnesota return man at the 13. The Vikings lead 13-3 with 1:15 to go in the first half.

Dalvin Cook on first down rushes for 5 yards. Adam Thielen hauls in an 8-yard throw on second down, bringing up first-and-10 at the Minnesota 26.

Timeout #1 Minnesota (0:51 2nd)

Kirk Cousins throws complete to Kyle Rudolph on first down, a gain of 10 to the 36. 

Cousins then gets the ball to Cook in space and Cook runs all the way out to Detroit's 35, a gain of 29. The Vikings still have two timeouts remaining with 0:27 left in the half.

Cook gets 13 more yards to the Detroit 22 on the next play. A screen to Ameer Abdullah goes for a 22-yard touchdown. What an embarrassing way to end the half for the Lions.

Vikings 20, Lions 10 (0:15 2nd) 

The Lions have 11 second left after Jason Cabinda returns the kickoff to the 30. Matthew Stafford throws incomplete on first down. D'Andre Swift runs out the half with a handoff.

END 2ND: Vikings 20, Lions 10 

Lions draw within 3 on Jones' touchdown reception

Matthew Stafford's first-down throw to Marvin Jones is knocked away, but there's a pass interference call on the play. That'll bring up first-and-10 at the 35.

D'Andre Swift is dropped after a gain of 2 on first down. Stafford hits Quintez Cephus on second down for a gain of 20 to the Minnesota 43. Cephus is stepping in for injured receiver Kenny Golladay.

Kerryon Johnson rushes for 5 yards on the next play. Danny Amendola's 8-yard reception on second down gives the Lions a new set of downs at the 30.

Swift again goes for 2 yards on first down, then fights to the 26 for a gain of 2 more yards on second down. 

Two-minute warning

Stafford gets it out quickly under pressure, his pass is deflected at the line, but it's still caught by T.J. Hockenson for an 11-yard gain to the Minnesota 15.

Jones makes a quick catch on second down, makes a defender miss, and gets to the end zone for a Lions touchdown.

Vikings 13, Lions 10 (1:19 2nd)

Lions defense gets first stop of game

The Vikings take over at their 21. They lead 13-3 here in the second quarter.

Romeo Okwara gets a hand on Kirk Cousins' throw on first down, forcing it incomplete. Dalvin Cook goes down for no gain on second down. Cook shakes and bakes Jamie Collins on his way to a 17-yard gain that'll keep the drive alive.

Cook rushes for 7 on the next play, bringing up second-and-3 at the Minnesota 45. Alexander Mattison rushes for a yard on the next play. Jayron Kearse makes a nice play to force an incompletion on a third-down throw to Kyle Rudolph. The Vikings line up on fourth-and-2 at their own 46 to fake the attempt, but they let the play clock run to 0. 

Danny Amendola returns the punt 21 yards to the 28 of Detroit.

Injury alert: Lions CB Tony McRae was badly hurt on the play and is being carted off the field.

Vikings 13, Lions 3 (5:11 2nd)

Lions cut into deficit on Prater field goal

The Lions take over at the 25, They trail by 14 in the first quarter.

Matthew Stafford gets it out quickly on first down to T.J. Hockenson for a gain of 9. Adrian Peterson moves the sticks with a 5-yard pickup on second down.

Danny Amendola catches a short pass for 6 yards, bringing the first quarter to a close.

END 1ST: Vikings 13, Lions 0

Peterson rushes for 4 yards on second down to move the chains. First-and-10 at the Detroit 49.

Kerryon Johnson makes a nice cut on his way to a 9-yard run on first down. Stafford gets out a throw to Jason Cabinda on the next play, a pickup of 4 to the 38 that'll keep the sticks moving. 

Johnson is stopped after just a yard on the next play.

Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) runs from Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah after catching a pass during the first half Sunday.

Stafford hits Peterson over the middle on second down for a pickup of 10 to the 27, picking up another first down.

Stafford goes back to Peterson, this time picking up 5 on the next play. D'Andre Swift rushes for 2 yards on second down. Stafford hits Amendola for a pickup of 12 yards to the Minnesota 8, which'll bring up first-and-goal.

Swift rushes for 2 yards on the next play. He catches a pass near the pylon and fumbles the ball out of bounds at the 1, where it'll be third-and-goal. The Lions *gasp* give it to Peterson on third down, and the Vikings *gasp* are not fooled by it. It's a loss of 4.

Matt Prater hits the 23-yard field goal.

Vikings 13, Lions 3 (8:21 2nd)

Vikings offense on a roll, Lions fall behind 13-0

Minnesota takes over at the 36 after Matt Prater's missed field goal. The Vikings lead 7-0 with just over 4:00 to go here in the first.

Dalvin Cook rushes for 9 yards on first down, then goes up the middle for a pickup of 11 to the Detroit 44.

Adam Thielen gets wide open on the next play, hauling in a 30-yard throw to the 14.

Cook rushes for 5 yards on first down, getting inside the 10. Irv Smith catches a pass in the end zone on second down, giving the Vikings a two-score lead.

A missed extra point will hold it at 13.

Vikings 13, Lions 0 (1:26 1st)

Prater continues poor streak, misses field goal as Vikings hold 7-0 lead

Marvin Hall returns the kickoff to Detroit's 25. The Lions trail 7-0 with 10:36 to go in the opening quarter.

Adrian Peterson rushes for 4 on first down. Matthew Stafford throws complete to Marvin Hall for a pickup of 5 on second down. Peterson moves the chains with a 4-yard run to the 38.

Peterson catches a pass out of the backfield that goes for a 2-yard loss. If only the Lions had a younger, shiftier back or two that could change the tempo! Danny Amendola 13-yard reception for a first down. 

Swift goes up the middle for a 2-yard gain on first down to the Minnesota 48. Swift picks up the first down on the next play, an 8-yard gain. 

Oh, look at that. The Lions do have a younger, shiftier back that can actually run the ball.

Swift gets it again on the next play, this time reaching the Minnesota 24 on a 16-yard gain. 

Swift runs for 5 yards on the next play. Jesse James hauls in a second-down throw from Stafford, but it's for no gain. Stafford is sacked on third down.

Matt Prater misses a 46-yard field goal badly.

Vikings 7, Lions 0 (4:07 1st)

Lions give up first opening-drive touchdown of season, trail Vikings 7-0

The Vikings will take over at their own 33. 

Dalvin Cook gets through the line for a pickup of 13 yards on first down.

Kirk Cousins throws it up to Kyle Rudolph on the next play, connecting with the tight end for a pickup of 22 to the Detroit 32. 

Cook rushes for 5 yards on first down. Justin Jefferson hauls in a 22-yard pass to the Detroit 5. What a statement drive for Minnesota so far.

Cook gets to the 1 on first down, but after review, it's ruled that he got into the end zone. Touchdown, Vikings.

Vikings 7, Lions 0 (10:39 1st)

Lions punt it away quickly on opening drive

Marvin Hall is back deep to receive for Detroit. The Lions will start with the ball at their 25.

Matthew Stafford goes play-action and throws deep to Hall on the first play, but the throw is just a touch short and is knocked incomplete. Peterson rushes for 8 yards on second down. Danny Amendola hauls in a throw near the line on third down, but it's only good for a yard. 

Jack Fox's punt goes out of bounds right around the 30.

Lions 0, Vikings 0 (13:11 1st)

Pregame

The Detroit Lions will try to get back in the win column on Sunday when they take on the Minnesota Vikings. You can follow the action here with live updates throughout the game by Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News.

Lions running back Adrian Peterson faces one of his old teams Sunday in the Vikings.

Lions at Vikings

Kickoff: 1 p.m. Sunday, U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minn.

TV/radio: CBS/760 AM

Records: Lions 3-4, Vikings 2-5

Line: Vikings by 3.5 

More coverage

Five things to watch: Lions at Vikings

Lions QB Matthew Stafford activated off COVID-19 reserve list, set to play Sunday

Can Lions take advantage of young, struggling Vikings defense?

Detroit News scouting report: Lions at Vikings

Detroit News predictions: Lions vs. Vikings