Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions Match Player Stats On Dec 14, 2014

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 14, 2014

Lions 16, Vikings 14: Matthew Stafford threw for a touchdown and Matt Prater made three field goals - including the go-ahead kick in the closing minutes - as host Detroit rallied to seize a share of first place in the NFC North.

Stafford completed 17-of-28 passes for a season-low 153 yards for the Lions (10-4), who managed just 233 total yards while improving to 7-1 at home. Calvin Johnson recorded 53 yards receiving and Golden Tate had the TD grab among his seven catches as Detroit won its third straight overall to move into a tie with Green Bay atop the division, although the Lions currently hold the tiebreaker.

Teddy Bridgewater was 31-of-41 for 315 yards with a TD and two interceptions that helped the Lions rally from an early 14-0 deficit. Matt Asiata ran for a score and Greg Jennings made a TD catch, but kicker Blair Walsh was unsuccessful on three field-goal tries - including a desperation 68-yard attempt as time expired - as Minnesota (6-8) fell to 2-5 on the road.

Prater was good from 30 yards out with 3:45 left in the third quarter to cut the Lions' deficit to 14-13, and Detroit blocked a 26-yard attempt by Walsh midway through the fourth to keep it that way. Prater finished the ensuing drive with the go-ahead boot from 33 yards away with 3:38 remaining, Bridgewater was incomplete on a fourth-down try before the two-minute warning and Walsh's long kick on the final play was short and wide left.

Asiata scored late in the first and Bridgewater found Jennings for an 8-yard TD five minutes into the second before the Lions even managed a first down, finally taking advantage of Bridgewater's first pick when Stafford hit Tate from 7 yards out with 3:42 left in the half. Bridgewater threw another interception on his next pass to set up Prater's 29-yard field goal as time expired to cut the Vikings' lead to 14-10 at halftime.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Detroit defeated the Packers earlier in the year but closes out the season at Green Bay in Week 17. ... Lions RT LaAdrian Waddle left with a knee injury in the second half and did not return. ... Detroit RB Joique Bell led all players with 62 yards on the ground.