DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – Jahymr Gibbs tied a Detroit record for most touchdowns in a game with four as the Lions thumped Minnesota, 31-9, for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. It is the first time in team history for Detroit to be the No.1 seed in the NFC playoffs, win back-to-back NFC North titles, and earned the largest win over the Vikings since 1997.

“That was a great win. This was three years in the making, some of it four, and that just doesn’t happen. We have had to work for, grind for it, and go through the downs to get to where we are at. This is unbelievable. Division winners. Back to back seasons. And the no. 1 seed,” said head coach Dan Campbell.

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Gibbs touched the ball 23 times for 139 yards, had four overall touchdowns (three rushing), and 31-yard yards receiving. He became only the second player in Detroit history with four touchdowns in a game, tying Barry Sanders’ record from 1991.

“What a tribute to the o-line and the play calling. They did a great job. We work hard every week and it paid off, “said Gibbs on the Sunday Night Football post game talking about leading the NFL in touchdowns.

A battered Detroit defense, with more than half the starters out due to injuries, shut down the Vikings offense, averaging 26.4 points per game. Minnesota didn’t score a touchdown, was held to nine points, and sacked Sam Darnold two times. Justin Jefferson, one of the top wide receivers in the NFL, only had three catches for 54 yards on nine targets as Amik Robertson shut him down with five tackles. Alex Anzalone stepped up as the leader on defense in his first game back in over a month with seven tackles, one quarterback hit, and pass defended.

“This means a lot to us. Our energy and our guys playing together is what our defense does. The last few weeks we haven’t been playing clean football but tonight we put it together and when guys fly around we make plays,” says Anzalone.

Minnesota was 0-for-3 on fourth downs, with two within the red zone. Early in the second quarter, the Vikings went for it on fourth-and-two, down 7-0, at the three-yard line and were denied the score. In the third quarter, as they were trailing Detroit, 10-6, the Lions’ defense fended off the Vikings at the two-yard line, turning the ball over on downs and stopping three straight passes.

“Our guys on defense executed exactly the way we had worked and talked about. We were allowed to apply a lot of pressure and it just paid dividends. That’s a good team over there. They had several weapons and we were able to contain them. This was a total team effort that started with our defense. What a great job by all,” said Campbell.

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Detroit scored 21 unanswered points after being up 10-9 with 9:55 left in the third quarter. Gibbs put Detroit up, 17-9, at 2:30 in the third quarter on a 10-yard pass from Jared Goff on fourth-and-two from the 10-yard line. Head coach Dan Campbell opted for it on fourth down gambling for a larger lead. It paid off as Goff hit Gibbs out of the backfield in the endzone for the score. Gibbs then rushed for two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter at 13:06 from 13 yards out and 5:14 on a four-yard run for the 31-9 lead.

With the win, Campbell is now 11-2 in primetime games, and Detroit is the ninth team in NFL history to win 15 games. The 15 wins continue to be a franchise record, and the offense has also set a record for most total net yards in a season with 6,713 yards.

Gibbs’s first touchdown came at 1:43 in the first quarter on a 25-yard run for the 7-0 lead. Early in the second quarter, Minnesota drove to the Lions’ five-yard line. After a two-yard run on first down, Detroit’s defense stopped three straight passes, as Minnesota turned the ball over on downs, not earning any points. Minnesota did get two field goals in the second quarter to come within one, 7-6, but a kickoff gaffe led to Detroit having a chance to score before half.

Getting the ball at the 40-yard line after the kick went out of bounce, Detroit drove 30 yards to get into field goal range. Jake Bates drilled a 48-yard field goal as time expired for a 10-6 halftime lead. Minnesota cut the lead to one, 10-9, at 9:55 in the third quarter but couldn’t stop Gibbs the rest of the way as Detroit took the game.

Detroit is now the No. 1 seed in the NFC and will have a bye week next week. Next weekend, they will play the lowest seed left after the Wild Card round.