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Vikings vs. Lions live updates: Minnesota looks to end Detroit's playoff hopes on Christmas

Detroit's playoff hopes are extremely slim and Minnesota can be the Grinch on Christmas Day

By Zachary Pereles

Dec 25, 2025 at 5:55 pm ET • 1 min read

The Detroit Lions are used to playing on Thanksgiving Day. Now, for just the third time ever, they're playing on Christmas Day, too. The Lions hope to keep its slim postseason chances alive when they visit the Minnesota Vikings as the second game of a Christmas triple-header.

The Lions (8-7) need to win out and have the Green Bay Packers lose out in order to make the playoffs, and the first order of business will be avenging a Week 9 upset 27-24 loss to Minnesota. In that game, Jared Goff threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns but also took five sacks against the Vikings' blitz-happy defense. Detroit also mustered just 65 yards on the ground in the loss, with Pro-Bowl running back Jahmyr Gibbs recording just 28 yards from scrimmage, a season low.

The Vikings (7-8) have been eliminated from the playoffs, but they've also won three straight, with J.J. McCarthy showing signs of growth before suffering a hairline fracture in his hand in a Week 16 win over the New York Giants. As such, the Vikings will turn to undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, who threw four interceptions in his lone NFL start, last month against the Seattle Seahawks. Still, with plenty of offensive playmakers and a defense that is playing well of late, Minnesota would love to play spoiler against its divisional rival.

Where to watch Vikings vs. Lions

Date: Thursday, Dec. 25 | Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis)
Stream: Netflix
Follow: CBS Sports App
Odds: Lions -7.5, O/U 43.5 via DraftKings Sportsbook

Follow along below for live updates throughout the game!

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Dec 25, 2025 at 5:55 pm ET

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Touchdown Lions: Jared Goff to Isaac TeSlaa on fourth down

What a huge drive for Goff, who converted three third downs and a fourth down.

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Dec 25, 2025 at 5:40 pm ET

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Penei Sewell is down

The Lions' All-Pro right tackle got rolled up on, and Detroit's offensive line mixing and matching continues.

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Dec 25, 2025 at 5:37 pm ET

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Jared Goff doing some heavy lifting

Goff has converted third-and-16, third-and-9 and third-and-15 to move the Lions into the redzone. The third-and-15 conversion was especially impressive. Running to his right, Goff narrowly escaped a diving defender and then delivered a strike to St. Brown.

With the running game ineffective thus far, Goff has been awesome this drive.

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Dec 25, 2025 at 5:26 pm ET

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Aidan Hutchinson with his second sack already

Brosmer has taken three sacks, and the Vikings are currently averaging -1.8 net yards per pass attempt (which takes sacks into account) and 1.6 yards per play.

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Dec 25, 2025 at 5:23 pm ET

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Another Vikings fumble recovery!

Jahmyr Gibbs got a little loose with the football, and a host of Vikings helped force the Lions' second fumble in as many drives. Byron Murphy made the recovery.

This is pretty close to an ideal situation for the Minnesota offense, which can lean on the run game and make it easy for Max Brosmer.

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Dec 25, 2025 at 5:12 pm ET

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Touchdown Vikings: Minnesota turns Lions miscue into points

Jared Goff couldn't handle a snap, Andrew Van Ginkel jumped on the ball, and Aaron Jones plunged in from 1 yard away to give the hosts the lead.

Slow start for the Lions in a must-win game.

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Dec 25, 2025 at 5:01 pm ET

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Merry Christmas, Aidan Hutchinson!

The Lions star put Will Fries in the spin cycle and picked up sack number 12.5 on the season, a career high.

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Dec 25, 2025 at 4:56 pm ET

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Good start for Justin Jefferson

Justin Jefferson had just two catches for 4 yards in Max Brosmer's first career start. He already has two catches for 14 yards here on the Vikings' second drive of the game.

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Dec 25, 2025 at 4:38 pm ET

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We are underway in Minnesota

Vikings returner Myles Price is slow to get up as Max Brosmer and the Minnesota offense takes the field.

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Dec 25, 2025 at 3:12 pm ET

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Amon-Ra St. Brown active for Lions

With their backs against the wall on a short week, the Lions listed 11 players as questionable.

The biggest name, Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee), is active. So is David Montgomery (illness). But left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder) isn't. Overall, though, it's good news for Detroit.

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Dec 25, 2025 at 3:09 pm ET

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Vikings down top QB, TE, several OL

We already knew J.J. McCarthy (hand) was out. Same for Jordan Mason (ankle), Ryan Kelly (concussion) and T.J. Hockenson (shoulder). But tackle Brian O'Neill (heel) is also out after being listed as questionable.

The Vikings had already placed tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee) on season-ending IR, so it's going to be tough sledding for Max Brosmer and the Minnesota offense.