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For the last time this year, everyone hold four fingers way up above your head, because we’re heading into the final quarter of football for this season with your Minnesota Vikings leading the Detroit Lions by a score of 31-29.
The Vikings kicked the ball off to start the half, and return specialist Jamal Agnew made a huge play, returning it 70 yards to set the Lions up deep in Minnesota territory. Two plays later, Matthew Stafford had the Lions in the end zone again, connecting with Marvin Jones for the second time today. The score was a 26-yarder, and Matt Prater’s extra point put the Lions back on top by a score of 23-21.
Minnesota responded back immediately on their first possession of the second half, as Alexander Mattison got his second score of the day, a two-yard run to give the Vikings the lead again. Dan Bailey hit the extra point to make it 28-23.
On the drive, Justin Jefferson passed Randy Moss’ record for receiving yardage for a Vikings’ rookie, and at the end of the drive was just 28 yards behind Anquan Boldin’s record for all rookies in the Super Bowl era.
.@JJettas2 takes down @RandyMoss' franchise record for most receiving yards by a rookie
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 3, 2021
: https://t.co/EYGyNNg0Yf pic.twitter.com/tJJ2pKNBuv
On the next Lions’ possession, Stafford was looking for Jones again but instead found Harrison Smith for the Hitman’s fifth interception of the season, setting the Vikings up deep in Detroit territory.
Extend Harrison Smith pic.twitter.com/dijAGcN50O
— Sean Borman (@SeanBormanNFL) January 3, 2021
But the Vikings settled for a field goal, a 23-yarder from Bailey to extend the lead to 31-23 midway through the third quarter.
The Lions came back with yet another touchdown, this one coming from our old friend Adrian Peterson. He went over the goal line from two yards out to cut into the Vikings’ lead. The Lions went for two and were unsuccessful, keeping the Vikings in front by a score of 31-29.
On the next Vikings’ drive, Jefferson did set the NFL rookie record for receiving yardage in a season, passing Anquan Boldin’s mark he set in 2003. He is currently at 1,379 yards with one quarter of play to go. Congratulations to him!
As we move to the fourth quarter, the Vikings are looking at a 1st-and-10 from the Detroit 20-yard line.
One quarter left in the 2020 NFL season, folks, and the Minnesota Vikings lead the Detroit Lions by a score of 31-29 at Ford Field. Come hang out with us and see how it ends!