Final Stop Elusive in 31-29 Loss

MINNEAPOLIS — Jake Bates made a 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining for a 31-29 Lions lead, and Minnesota’s last-gasp effort ended with a sack of Sam Darnold by Trevor Nowaske as time expired.

Detroit improved to 5-1 on the season and leapfrogged Minnesota (5-1) for first place in the NFC North.

The Lions were able to drive 44 yards in 2:26 to set up the field goal thanks to a 14-yard run by Jahmyr Gibbs on second-and-6 and a 16-yard pass from Jared Goff to Gibbs on the next play.

The dagger followed with a 14-yard pass from Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown, putting the ball at the Minnesota 22-yard line and allowing the Lions to milk the clock, force Minnesota to exhaust its timeouts and settle for the field goal.

Minnesota had taken the lead with 5:50 remaining in the game on a 35-yard fumble return touchdown by Ivan Pace, Jr., who scooped up a ball knocked away from David Montgomery by Joshua Metellus and picked up a block by Andrew Van Ginkel.

The Vikings went for 2, but Sam Darnold’s pass was shy of Jordan Addison at the front of the end zone.