J.J. McCarthy passed for two touchdowns and rushed for one more as the Minnesota Vikings escaped with a 27-24 win over the host Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon.
McCarthy completed 14 of 25 passes for 143 yards and one interception for Minnesota (4-4), which tightened the NFC North race with the victory. Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson had one touchdown catch apiece.
Jared Goff completed 25 of 37 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns for Detroit (5-3), which lost at home for the first time this season. Sam LaPorta had six catches for 97 yards and a touchdown, Jameson Williams had four catches for 66 yards and a score and Amon-Ra St. Brown reeled in nine receptions for 97 yards.
McCarthy increased Minnesota’s lead to 24-14 with 6:04 left in the third quarter. The first-year starter looked to pass before tucking the ball and racing to the right pylon for a 9-yard score.
Detroit pulled within 24-17 on a 41-yard field goal by Jake Bates with 11 seconds remaining in the third.
After Minnesota’s special-teams unit blocked a field-goal attempt by Detroit, the Vikings settled for a 20-yard field goal by Will Reichard to make it 27-17 with 3:31 to go.
Detroit again tried to claw back. Williams made an acrobatic catch and tiptoed down the left sideline for a 37-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 27-24 with 1:55 remaining. Minnesota converted one third down on its next drive to run out the clock.
The Lions opened the scoring on a hard-fought play by LaPorta on the opening drive. LaPorta caught Goff’s pass near the Minnesota 20-yard line, sprinted toward the end zone and muscled past a group of defenders for the final five yards for a 40-yard score.
The Vikings pulled even at 7-7 on the next possession. Jefferson extended his right arm to bring in a pass along the edge of the end zone for a 10-yard TD.
Minnesota pulled ahead 14-7 on McCarthy’s second touchdown pass of the first quarter. Hockenson found an opening in the middle of the end zone and McCarthy hit him for a 7-yard score.
The Lions fought back to even the score at 14-14 with 9:39 remaining in the first half. David Montgomery finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.
Reichard made a 50-yard field goal to put the Vikings back on top 17-14 late in the first half.
