Vikings Edge Lions
- Updated: November 4, 2025
The Minnesota Vikings’ defense made Jared Goff’s day difficult, and J.J. McCarthy did enough to lead the Vikings to a 27-24 victory over the Detroit Lions in his return after missing five games.
McCarthy threw for 143 yards on 14-of-25 passing with two touchdown passes and one interception. On third-and-8 in the third quarter, McCarthy scrambled into the right of the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown run to give the Vikings a 24-14 lead. Minnesota started the drive with good field position after Blake Cashman punched the ball out from David Montgomery to force a fumble.
Goff got the Lions within three points late in the game with a deep pass to Jameson Williams, who ran it in for a 37-yard touchdown.
Coming off the bye week, the Lions struggled with penalties (10 for a loss of 76 yards). Goff faced pressure throughout the day and threw for 284 yards on 25-of-37 passing with two touchdowns. He was sacked five times.
The Vikings improved to 4-4 with the divisional win and rebounded after losing their last two with Carson Wentz as the starter. The Lions lost their first game at home this season and fell to 5-3.
The most interesting Vikings storyline was always going to be McCarthy’s return. The young quarterback injected life into Minnesota. The team had been reeling, losing two straight. McCarthy came back from a high-ankle sprain and did enough, especially in the first half, for the Vikings to pull off the upset.
McCarthy’s most important plays happened on touchdowns. He booted from the pocket on the team’s first drive and found tight end T.J. Hockenson in the back of the end zone for a score. In the second half, McCarthy evaded a stunt, scrambled to the right, and converted a touchdown run.
McCarthy wasn’t perfect. He completed just 14-of-25 passes for 143 yards. He was inaccurate in spurts, and the Vikings’ operation wasn’t always the smoothest. The Vikings had a botched play and a fumbled snap. McCarthy was helped by running back Aaron Jones, specifically, who gained 78 yards on nine carries and provided a level of early-down efficiency that the Vikings have not had.
There will be plenty of teachable moments coming out of this one. But the fact that McCarthy stayed healthy and ignited a struggling offense cannot go overlooked.
No play was more important than the third-and-5 completion from McCarthy to receiver Jalen Nailor to ice the game. Head coach Kevin O’Connell trusted McCarthy, and he delivered.
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