With Detroit’s season on the line on Thursday, the Lions defense held the Minnesota Vikings to 161 yards. But the Detroit offense lost six turnovers as the Vikings took a 23-10 Christmas victory.
The Lions entered the game needing to win their final two regular-season contests while the Green Bay Packers lost their last two for Detroit to reach the postseason for the third year in a row.
But Lions quarterback Jared Goff lost three fumbles and threw two interceptions after Detroit had eight turnovers in its previous 15 games in the 2025 season.
Minnesota had a 13-10 lead and 75 yards of total offense when wide receiver Jordan Addison ran 65 yards for a touchdown with 3:43 remaining to put the game out of the Lions’ reach.
Minnesota finished with 3 passing yards – 51 yards on nine completions by QB Max Brosmer minus 48 yards on seven sacks by Detroit – and became the first team to win with such a low total since the Houston Texans defeated the Oakland Raiders 23-14 on Dec. 3, 2006, with minus-5 passing yards.
The Detroit-Minnesota game was the middle contest of an NFL tripleheader on Christmas. In the other games:
The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Washington Commanders 30-23 by converting all six of their fourth-down attempts. Meanwhile, Washington went 1-of-6 on third-down as Dallas built a 17:28 time-of-possession advantage. The Cowboys scored touchdowns on their first three possessions, including an 86-yard pass from Dak Prescott to wide receiver KaVontae Turpin.The Denver Broncos became the first NFL team to reach 13 victories this season by easing past the Kansas City Chiefs 20-13 to end their nine-game losing streak at Arrowhead Stadium and stay out front in the race for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. After Kansas City tied the score at 13-13 with 8:03 remaining, Denver went on a 14-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Bo Nix to running back RJ Harvey with 1:45 to play.
Twenty-five players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the NFL’s Christmas tripleheader:
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt tries to get away from Dallas Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams during an NFL game on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md.(AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Dallas Cowboys 30, Washington Commanders 23
Commanders wide receiver Trey Amos (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.Tyler Booker (Alabama) started at right guard for the Cowboys.Cowboys cornerback Trikweze Bridges (Lanett) did not record any statsCommanders wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks (Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt (Sidney Lanier, Alabama State) started at running back for the Commanders. Croskey-Merritt had 105 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. Croskey-Merritt ran 10 yards for a touchdown as Washington reduced Dallas’ lead to 21-10 with 4:35 left in the second quarter and 72 yards for a touchdown as the Commanders cut the Cowboys’ advantage to 24-17 with 9:34 left in the third quarter.Trevon Diggs (Alabama) started at cornerback for the Cowboys. Diggs made one tackle.Cowboys tight end Rivaldo Fairweather (Auburn) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Cowboys wide receiver Traeshon Holden (Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Commanders cornerback Noah Igbinoghene (Hewitt-Trussville, Auburn) made six tackles and broke up one pass.Shemar James (Faith Academy) started at linebacker for the Cowboys. James tied for the team lead with six tackles in his first start since Nov. 3.Jonathan Jones (Auburn) started at cornerback for the Commanders. Jones made one tackle and broke up two passes before leaving the Commanders linebacker Ale Kaho (Alabama) did not record any stats.Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne (Shades Valley, Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive. A back injury kept Payne out of the lineup.George Pickens (Hoover) started at wide receiver for the Cowboys. Pickens had four receptions for 78 yards. Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama) made six tackles and broke up one pass.Commanders offensive tackle Trent Scott (Lee-Huntsville) did not record any stats.Reddy Steward (Austin, Troy) started at slot corner for the Cowboys. Steward made five tackles, shared one sack and broke up one pass. Jalen Tolbert (McGill-Toolen, South Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Cowboys. Tolbert had four receptions for 31 yards.Quinnen Williams (Wenonah, Alabama) started at defensive tackle for the Cowboys. Williams made three tackles and registered one quarterback hit.Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams (Lee-Montgomery) recorded one tackle for loss and knocked down one pass.
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In its next game, Dallas (7-8-1) will complete its season by playing the New York Giants at noon CST Jan. 4 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Washington (4-12) closes its 2025 campaign against the Philadelphia Eagles at noon Jan. 4 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams runs after catching a pass during an NFL game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.(AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Vikings 23, Detroit Lions 10
Jonathan Allen (Alabama) started at defensive tackle for the Vikings. Allen made seven tackles four days after recording a season-high eight in a 16-13 victory over the New York Giants.Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.Lions safety Brian Branch is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.Lions wide receiver Malik Cunningham (Park Crossing) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Lions linebacker Zach Cunningham (Pinson Valley) is on the injured reserve and not eligible to play.Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama) started at running back for the Lions. Gibbs ran for 41 yards on 17 carries and caught two passes for 23 yards.Lions offensive lineman Chris Hubbard (UAB) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Vikings center Ryan Kelly (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play. Vikings linebacker Austin Keys (Auburn) was designated as a game-day inactive. An ankle injury kept Keys off the field.Vikings kicker Will Reichard (Hoover, Alabama) made all his kicks, with field goals of 52, 56 and 42 yards and two extra points. Reichard is tied with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Chase McLaughlin for the most field goals of 50-or-more yards this season at 11. The NFL single-season record is 14.Daniel Thomas (Lee-Montgomery, Auburn) started at safety for the Lions. Thomas led Detroit with seven tackles and recorded one tackle for loss. Thomas had his highest tackle total since he had eight in his most recent start on Jan. 9, 2022.Vikings outside linebacker Dallas Turner (Alabama) made five tackles, shared one sack and forced one fumble. Turner caused quarterback Jared Goff to fumble on the sack on the first snap of the fourth quarter, and Minnesota recovered at the Detroit 40-yard line.Jameson Williams (Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Lions. Williams had two receptions for 37 yards.
In its next game, Minnesota (8-8) will complete its season by playing the Green Bay Packers at noon Jan. 4 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Detroit (8-8) closes its 2025 campaign against the Chicago Bears at noon Jan. 4 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
Kansas City quarterback Chris Oladokun throws the football during an NFL game against the Denver Broncos on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.(AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Denver Broncos 20, Kansas City Chiefs 13
Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine (Spanish Fort) did not record any stats.Bo Nix (Pinson Valley, Auburn) started at quarterback for the Broncos. Nix completed 26-of-38 passes for 182 yards with one touchdown and one interception and ran nine times for 42 yards and one touchdown. Nix scored on a 9-yard run as Denver took a 13-10 lead with 1:55 left in the third quarter and threw a 1-yard TD pass to running back RJ Harvey to break a 13-13 tie with 1:45 remaining.Chris Oladokun (Samford) started at quarterback for the Chiefs. Oladokun completed 13-of-22 passes for 66 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions and ran for 11 yards on two carries. In his fourth season on the Kansas City practice squad, Oladokun played his second game as a member of the Chiefs’ 53-man active roster and made his first NFL start. Oladokun threw his first NFL touchdown pass to running back Brashard Smith as the Chiefs took a 7-3 lead with 12:49 left in the first half. Kansas City got to the Denver 21-yard line with 26 seconds to play, but a fourth-down incompletion on a throw into the end zone sealed the Broncos’ victory with 14 seconds to play.Broncos outside linebacker Que Robinson (Jackson-Olin, Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham (Auburn) dressed for the game but did not play.Patrick Surtain II (Alabama) started at cornerback for the Broncos. Surtain tied for the team lead with five tackles.
In its next game, Denver (13-3) will complete its regular season by playing the Los Angeles Chargers at noon Jan. 4 at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. The Broncos already have clinched a playoff berth.
Kansas City (6-10) closes its 2025 campaign against the Las Vegas Raiders at noon Jan. 4 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.