Fans of the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears and a few other teams all think next season will be just as good as this season. Probably even better.
It's possible. But most of the teams that played on Christmas will tell you, nothing in the NFL is guaranteed from year to year.
A little less than a year ago, the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings met in one of the biggest regular-season matchups in many years. Both teams were 14-2 with the NFC North title on the line. Watching the Lions fumble the ball around on Thursday and the Vikings running an incompetent offense with an undrafted rookie quarterback, it seemed like a lot longer ago.
Netflix paid a reported $150 million each year for Christmas NFL games, but it might be looking for its receipt for a refund. TheVikings beat the Lions 23-10despite having 3 net passing yards. The Vikings didn't get into positive net passing yardage until less than three minutes remained in the game.
It was close until then, when wide receiver Jordan Addison took a jet sweep to the right and broke it all the way down the sideline, flying over the pylon for a 65-yard touchdown to give Minnesota a 10-point lead.
Four of the six teams that played on Christmas had already been eliminatedfrom the playoffs and a fifth, the Lions, were barely hanging on. Detroit was officially eliminated with the loss. Losing to a team that couldn't muster any semblance of a passing game was an unceremonious way for the season to end.
It was an ugly game between two deeply flawed teams. Both teams expected to be in the playoffs this season but nothing has gone to plan. It's a cautionary tale to all the 2025 playoff teams. Enjoy the ride now because by next Christmas it might unexpectedly look a lot worse.
Vikings and Lions tied at halftime
Mediocre teams can still produce competitive, fun games, but each team had its issues executing in the first half.
The Lions lost two fumbles early on. One came on a third-and-1 when Jared Goff mishandled a snap, and the Vikings jumped on the loose ball at Detroit's 16-yard line. A few plays later Aaron Jones Sr. ran for a 1-yard touchdown.
That 7-0 lead stood until late in the second quarter. The Lions went for it on fourth-and-goal with a little more than a minute remaining in the half, and Goff hit a leaping Isaac TeSlaa for a touchdown to tie the game.
The Vikings simply couldn't move the ball, even against a depleted Lions defense. At halftime, the Vikings had -12 net passing yards. Max Brosmer threw a lot of interceptions in his first NFL start, and in his second he wasn't completing passes to either team. Minnesota had a miserable 36 yards of offense at halftime.
Sam Darnold was the Vikings' quarterback last season. He has helped Seattle to an NFL-best 12-3 record this season. Minnesota fans probably had that thought go through their minds on Christmas, as they watched their team punt on four of their five first-half possessions.
And yet, because the Lions weren't good themselves, the Vikings were tied 7-7 at halftime.
Both offenses struggle
Goff threw interceptions on consecutive passes in the third quarter. And on the two ensuing drives, the Vikings gained 27 combined yards and settled for two long field goals. That was good enough to get them a 13-7 lead.
On Detroit's next possession, Goff was pressured from both sides when both of his tackles whiffed on blocks, and he was hit and lost another fumble. The Lions were the highest-scoring offense in the NFL last season, the fourth-highest scoring offense in NFL history at 564 points, and on Thursday they could barely manage any first downs.
Detroit got a field goal with 4:39 left to cut Minnesota's lead to 13-10. Then Minnesota had their first big play of the game on offense to put it away. Receiver Jordan Addison took a jet sweep to the right and broke it all the way down the sideline, flying over the pylon for a 65-yard touchdown to give Minnesota a 10-point lead.
After that the Lions lost another fumble when Goff couldn't catch a shotgun snap and the Vikings recovered, a fitting way to end a bumbling performance. The Lions' had six turnovers in a game for the first time since 2015, according to the Netflix broadcast.
The Vikings defense played very well, as it has in recent weeks. Both teams are 8-8 with one more game to go. Each team will probably be happy when the season is over. It's hard to believe, after watching Thursday's game, that these were two of the best teams in football last season. But things can change faster than you expect in the NFL.
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NFC playoff field is nearly set
With the Vikings' win, there is now just one playoff spot still up for grabs in the NFC.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers can still overtake the Panthers to win the NFC South.
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Final: Vikings 23, Detroit 10
The Vikings shut down the Lions, and forced a ridiculous six turnovers, to pick up the upset win. The loss officially eliminates Detroit from the playoffs for the first time since 2022, too.
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Vikings add 3 more
Will Reichard is good from 42 yards out this time, and the Vikings add three more for good measure. They're up by 13 points now with 64 seconds left.
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Vikings with ANOTHER turnover
And that should just about do it. Jared Goff just bobbled another snap, and Andrew Van Ginkel recovered it in the backfield.
Minnesota leads by 10 now with 3:43 to go in the game. That was the Vikings' longest rush of the season.
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Lions add 3
The Lions just had back-to-back throws blocked at the line to force fourth down. Detroit is struggling at the line today, and will have to settle for a 48-yard field goal.
The Vikings lead 13-10 now with 4:39 left.
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That was perfect for Detroit. They nearly forced a turnover and a touchdown there on third down, too, but Max Brosmer just barely got it away after having his jersey completely ripped.
The Lions will get it back near midfield now in great position to take the lead.
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Nothing going for the Lions either, but Fox just stuck his punt at the 1-yard line. That was the perfect punt to pin the Vikings deep.
They'll have to get a quick stop here with just about 9 minutes left in the game.
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Once again, the Vikings fail to take advantage. Three quick plays later, and a fumble that Max Brosmer recovered himself, the Lions will get the ball back.
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Lions turn it over ... again
Van Ginkel and Turner just brought down Jared Goff in the backfield and knocked the ball loose, leading to a fifth turnover from the Lions tonight.
Remember, the Lions entered today's game with just eight total turnovers this season.
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Vikings add 3
Thankfully for the Lions, the Vikings couldn't make anything happen after the interception. That's three quick plays, and another field goal attempt — this time from 56 yards out.
The Vikings lead 13-7 now with 1:57 left in the third.
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Another Goff INT!
The Vikings have done it again! Jared Goff tried to find Amon-Ra St. Brown just now, but Harrison Smith cut right in front and pulled off a second straight interception.
Goff was not happy in the backfield.
Harrison Smith bringing more turnover joy to the @Vikings faithful!
Another third and long, another deep Max Brosmer sack. This Lions pass rush is dominating so far this afternoon.
But Will Reichard drilled a 52-yarder, so the Vikings have taken the lead late in the third quarter.
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Jared Goff throws an INT
Jared Goff just threw one up deep there on third and long, which led to an easy pick from Byron Murphy. The Lions offense is struggling today. We'll see if the Vikings can take advantage here.
That's an easy three-and-out for the Lions, so they'll get the ball back now in decent field position here after a quick stop.
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The Lions got it to fourth and one at midfield, but a false start again pushed them back. So they'll have to punt it away. A chance for back-to-back scores is wasted here to start the second half.
The Vikings will take over just inside their own 15.
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The Snoop Dogg halftime show is over, and the Detroit Lions are back out on the field to start the second half.
Snoop Dogg performs at SNOOP'S HOLIDAY HALFTIME PARTY on NFL Christmas Gameday pic.twitter.com/kZ6l6zyNVO
We're all locked up at halftime in Minneapolis. The Lions will get the ball back after the break, too.
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Lions score on 4th down!
The Lions finally punched it in. After taking it all the way to fourth down, Jared Goff found Isaac TeSlaa up in the middle of the end zone for the touchdown.
