Tracking Lions vs Vikings Christmas NFL game Thursday at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis with live score updates in Week 17. Here’s how to watch the game on a TV channel and streaming info.
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Follow live updates from the Detroit Lions game today against the Minnesota Vikings in an NFC North rivalry matchup on Christmas Day, as part of the NFL’s tripleheader to kick off Week 17.
The Lions and Vikings start time today is 4:30 p.m. ET in Minneapolis at U.S. Bank Stadium, with the TV channel being none − unless you’re in the local Detroit area, where the game will be on CBS, or Minneapolis area − the game will be streaming on Netflix.
The Lions (8-7), who must win to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive, have a losing streak for the first time since October 2022, dropping consecutive games to the Los Angeles Rams and then last Sunday at home in controversial fashion to the Pittsburgh Steelers, adding to their list of gut-wrenching, bizarre losses this century. All this after a franchise-best 15-2 season in 2024 that ended before the Super Bowl for a 59th straight season.
The Lions are down 20-10 late in the fourth quarter.
The Vikings (7-8) have won three straight, and already beat the Lions earlier this season, pulling off a 27-24 upset on Nov. 2 at Ford Field. But they are starting undrafted rookie Max Brosmer in place of the injured J.J. McCarthy. Brosmer’s first career start ended with four interceptions Nov. 30 in a 26-0 loss at Seattle.
[ Can Detroit Lions make the playoffs? This 1 scenario must happen ]
Here’s Lions-Vikings live score updates from the game today, and everything else you need to know, including how to watch on TV, the channel and streaming info for Netflix.
Lions vs Vikings game score updates
A muffed snap to quarterback Jared Goff led to Detroit’s sixth turnover of the day. If the game wasn’t over already, it’s really over now.
4Q, 3:43: Vikings 20, Lions 10.
The Lions’ playoff chances are likely over.
A 65-yard rushing touchdown from Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison has given Minnesota a 10-point lead and likely seals the win for the Vikings, barring a miraculous comeback by the Lions.
4Q, 4:39: Vikings 13, Lions 10.
Lions running back David Montgomery was featured on the first three plays of the drive, with a 13-yard completion and an 8-yard run helping bring the Lions to the Minnesota 32-yard line.
However, consecutive incompletions from quarterback Jared Goff forced a 4th-and-8 on the 30-yard line. Kicker Jake Bate nailed the 48-yard field goal to bring the Lions to within three points.
The Lions defense held Minnesota to a three-and-out with the Vikings pinned to their own 1-yard line. Following the punt, the Lions will start at the Minnesota 42.
A pair of Lions are out for the game after suffering concussions, with linebacker Alex Anzalone and safety Thomas Harper both ruled out.
Three-straight running plays from the Lions netted 11 yards, bringing Detroit to a 1st-and-10 from its own 27-yard line. However, the Lions’ next two runs combined for minus-3 yards, setting up a 3rd-and-13. A 5-yard completion from quarterback Jared Goff to wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown didn’t gain nearly enough yardage for the first down, forcing the Lions to punt.
The Vikings will start at their own 1-yard line following the 70-yard punt from Jack Fox.
The Lions defense made sure the latest Detroit turnover didn’t turn into points, pushing Minnesota back to midfield and forcing a punt.
The Lions will start at their own 16-yard line.
The number is now five turnovers for the Lions offense.
Quarterback Jared Goff lost a fumble while taking a sack, with the recovery coming from Viking defensive lineman Jalen Redmond. The Vikings start at the Detroit 40.
End 3Q: Vikings 13, Lions 7.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff found receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 7-yard completion on 3rd-and-4 line to end the third quarter. The Lions will have 1st-and-10 on their own 47-yard line to start the fourth.
3Q, 1:57: Vikings 13, Lions 7.
The Vikings offense didn’t gain much following the interception, but it didn’t have to, with kicker Will Reichard nailing the 55-yard field goal to give the Vikings a 6-point lead late in the third.
After exiting the game midway through the third quarter, Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone is being evaluated for a concussion. We await updates on his injury status.
On the first play of the most recent drive, Lions’ quarterback Jared Goff threw an interception to Vikings safety Harrison Smith, giving Minnesota the ball at the Detroit 42-yard line.
The Lions had three turnovers lost in their previous eight games and have four just in this game.
3Q, 3:03: Vikings 10, Lions 7.
The Vikings moved the ball methodically into Detroit territory, but back-to-back sacks from defensive tackles Tyleik Williams and Roy Lopez brought out the field-goal unit.
Vikings kicker Will Reichard nailed the 52-yard field goal, however, giving the Vikings the lead once again.
Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone left the game in the middle of the third quarter, appearing to hurt his shoulder. He walked off under his own power at a normal speed, and we await updates on his injury.
The Lions couldn’t get out of this third-and-long.
On 3rd-and-18 from the Detroit 28-yard line, Lions quarterback Jared Goff heaved a pass intended for rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa, but cornerback Byron Murphy intercepted the pass. The Vikings will start at their own 38-yard line.
The Lions defense didn’t end this drive with a sack, but it still held the Vikings to just six yards gained in three plays, leading to a punt.
The Lions defense has allowed only 43 total yards from the Vikings over 26 plays, including negative-six net passing yards thanks to three sacks. Detroit will begin on their own 36-yard line following the punt.
A 10-yard completion from Lions quarterback Jared Goff to wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown brought the Lions to their own 43-yard line two plays into their first drive of the half. Consecutive rushes from running back David Montgomery combined for seven yards and brought the Lions to midfield after the completion, but a two-yard gain from Montgomery one play later once again set up a 4th-down opportunity for Detroit.
But the try was busted before it started, with tight end Giovanni Ricci called for a false start and moving the Lions five yards back. The Vikings will start with the ball at their own 14-yard line following the punt.
HALFTIME: Lions 7, Vikings 7.
A sack from Lions edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad brought the Vikings back to their own 34-yard line with 35 seconds left in the half. A 10-yard pass on 3rd-and-16 brought the Vikings closer to midfield, but too far from field-goal distance. The Vikings punt rolled into the end zone, giving the Lions the ball at the 20-yard line with 15 seconds left in the half.
A sack on Lions quarterback Jared Goff from linebacker Eric Wilson sent the game into halftime with a 7-7 tie.
After leaving the game with about five minutes left in the second quarter, Lions right tackle Penei Sewell returned for the final play of the Lions’ last offensive series, which led to a game-tying touchdown.
2Q, 1:05: Lions 7, Vikings 7
A sack by Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel set the Lions down to their own 14-yard line on the first play of the drive. On 3rd-and-16, however, Lions quarterback Jared Goff found rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa up the middle for a 28-yard completion, bringing the Lions to their own 42-yard line.
It was receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown who hauled in the next big catch, capping off a 13-yard completion on 3rd-and-9 to bring the Lions into Vikings territory. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs then had rushes of 8 yards and 6 yards to bring Detroit to the Vikings 30-yard line.
Two plays later, another connection between Goff and St. Brown lost the Lions 5 yards on a botched screen pass, bringing up a 3rd-and-15 from the Minnesota 35-yard line. But once again on 3rd-and-long, Goff found the open receiver, this time connecting with St. Brown for a 23-yard completion to the 12-yard line.
Three plays later, the Lions found themselves on a 4th-and-1 after a 4-yard completion from Goff to St. Brown bringing the Lions to the 3-yard line. After a tough run from running back David Montgomery, the Lions were ruled to have reached the line-to-gain, setting up a 1st-and-goal at the 2-yard line.
Two plays later, the Lions faced another 3rd down, this time with goal to go from the 3-yard line. The offense tried again handing the ball off to Montgomery, but he was stopped one yard behind the line of scrimmage, setting up a fourth down. But with another cardiac call, Goff found TeSlaa for the 4-yard touchdown in traffic on 4th down, allowing the Lions to tie the game with a minute left in the half.
Lions right tackle Penei Sewell went down with an apparent injury midway through the second quarter, walking off slowly after getting looked at by trainers. We await updates on his injury status.
Another drive-ending sack by Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson gave him his 13th-and-a-half sack of the season and forced the Vikings to punt from their own territory. The Lions start with the ball on their own 20-yard line following the touchback.
On 2nd-and-6 from the Minnesota 49-yard line, Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs lost the ball after a handoff, with the Vikings recovering and taking over at the Detroit 47-yard line.
End 1Q: Vikings 7, Lions 0.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff found receiver Jameson Williams in the middle of the field for a 15-yard gain down to the Detroit 47-yard line. The Lions will have 1st-and-10 when the second quarter begins.
1Q, 1:35: Vikings 7, Lions 0.
With the Vikings needing only to gain 16 yards to get to the goal line, they got 15 of them on three rushes by running back Aaron Jones, bringing Minnesota to the 1-yard line. Jones punched it in one play later on the 1-yard touchdown run, giving the Vikings an early lead.
The Lions started the drive with a 4-yard run from running back Jahmyr Gibbs and then followed it with a 6-yard run from David Montgomery, getting the first down on the Detroit 19-yard line.
Or so we thought? Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell successfully challenged the spot, with the referees moving the ball back one yard, setting up a 3rd-and-1 on the 18. That turned out to be a key play, as Lions quarterback Jared Goff fumbled the snap, with the ball recovered by Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel.
The Vikings have the ball on the Lions’ 16-yard line.
A 10-yard run from Vikings running back Aaron Jones set up Minnesota with a 1st-and-10 on the 43-yard line. Quarterback Max Brosmer followed that run with a 9-yard completion to receiver Justin Jefferson that brought the Vikings to Detroit’s end of the field for this first time, and then two plays later gained the first down to the Detroit 37-yard line on an 11-yard scramble to the right side.
Two plays later, the Lions defense forced the Vikings into a 3rd-and-9, which edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson took advantage of by sacking Brosmer for a 15-yard loss. The Lions start with the ball on their own 9-yard line following the punt.
An 11-yard completion from Lions quarterback Jared Goff to wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown brought the ball near midfield. Two plays later, however, Goff was sacked by safety Harrison Smith to set the Lions up with a 3rd-and-13 on the Lions’ 45.
A 10-yard completion from Goff to running back Jahmyr Gibbs didn’t get Detroit to the line-to-gain, but the Lions, appearing to go for it on 4th-and-3, lost 5 yards on a false start from center Kingsley Eguakun before the snap. The Lions punt.
An Alex Anzalone sack forced the Vikings into a 4th down on their own 19-yard line. The Lions will start with the ball at their own 37 following the punt.
Lions will kick off to start the game.
With the Vikings in white and the Lions in black, it won’t be very colorful on your TV screen today.
Though today’s starters haven’t been announced yet, it appears that center Kingsley Eguakun will be starting at center based on pregame observations.
Eguakun made his first start at center on Sunday against the Steelers, filling in for an injured Graham Glasgow.
The Lions are a road favorite against the Vikings on Christmas.
Spread: Lions by 7½ points.Over/under: 43 points.Moneyline: Lions (-375), Vikings (+300).
Odds are courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday afternoon.
Offensive lineman Taylor Decker, who has been dealing with a flu-like illness, was listed as inactive for the Lions. Here are the rest of the inactives:
OL Trystan Colon.OL Taylor Decker.DL Tyler Lacy.WR Dominic Lovett.S Avonte Maddox.OL Michael Niese.DL Mehki Wingo.
Notably not on this list are wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad, who were listed as questionable on the most recent injury report.
The Lions will wear their black uniforms for Christmas with their Honolulu blue helmet. The Vikings will wear their “Winter Warrior” all-white jersey and pants.
This is the first time Detroit will wear them on the road since revealing them before the 2024 season. The Lions are 4-1 in black jerseys and pants. They are 2-0 this season in black, defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-9, on Oct. 20 and the New York Giants, 34-27, in overtime Nov. 23.
Decker, the Lions’ 10th-year starting left tackle, was added to the injury report this morning with an illness. He is the latest Lions player afflicted with an illness this week.
Running back David Montgomery was listed as a non-participant on the team’s estimated practice report Tuesday because of an illness, and defensive backs Khalil Dorsey and Avonte Maddox also missed time with an illness this week. Montgomery and Dorsey also are listed as questionable, but expected to play, while Maddox is out with a back injury.
Lions vs Vikings game timeDate:Â Thursday, Dec. 25.Time:Â 4:30 p.m. ET.Location:Â U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis.
Thursday’s game on Christmas Day between the Lions and Vikings will start at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Lions vs Vikings channelTV channel:Â WWJ-TV (CBS 62 in Detroit); none nationally.
The game will be on TV only in the local markets of Detroit and Minneapolis.
Lions vs Vikings stream
The game will be streamed only on Netflix nationally, but will be available on Fubo in the Detroit and Minneapolis television markets. Fubo carries CBS and offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Lions vs Vikings announcers on Netflix
Netflix was able to work out deals with other companies to hire broadcasters and reporters for Christmas Day. Here’s who is announcing the Lions-Vikings game:
Noah Eagle (NBC Sports) on play-by-play.Drew Brees (former Super Bowl–winning quarterback, Fox) as analyst.AJ Ross (CBS Sports) with sideline reporting.Dianna Russini (The Athletic) with sideline reporting.
Scott Hanson (NFLRedzone) and Kyle Long (former NFL offensive lineman, CBS Sports) will cover from the studio, and Gene Steratore (CBS Sports rules analyst) will provide support on the rules.
Lions vs Vikings radioLions vs Vikings prediction
Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press: The Lions’ playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, but they should stay in the postseason mix for at least another few days against a Vikings team starting third-stringer Max Brosmer at quarterback. The Lions have struggled in the trenches on both sides of the ball in recent weeks and were flummoxed by Minnesota’s blitz game in their November loss to the Vikings. But Brosmer threw four interceptions in his only other career start at Seattle, and Minnesota is the most turnover-prone team in the NFL no matter who’s at quarterback. The pick: Lions 31, Vikings 17.
Lions record vs Vikings
The Lions are an abysmal 45-81-2 in 128 games against the Vikings, according to Pro Football Reference. The Lions’ .359 win percentage against the Vikings is their third-lowest against any NFC team, only worse than their .333 win percentage against the Carolina Panthers (4-8) and Seattle Seahawks (6-12).
The Lions and Vikings first met in 1961, a 37-10 win by Detroit at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Lions playoff scenarios
The Lions’ playoff odds are about 6%, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, entering the final two weeks of the season. There is only one scenario where they can make the playoffs.
NFL Christmas Day schedule 2025Cowboys at Commanders, 1 p.m., NetflixLions at Vikings, 4:30 p.m., NetflixBroncos at Chiefs, 8:15 p.m., Prime VideoLions schedule 2025Week 1: L, 27-13 at Green Bay Packers.Week 2: W, 52-21 vs. Chicago Bears.Week 3: W, 38-30 at Baltimore Ravens.Week 4: W, 34-10 vs. Cleveland Browns.Week 5: W, 37-24 at Cincinnati Bengals.Week 6: L, 30-17 at Kansas City Chiefs.Week 7: W, 24-9 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Week 8: Bye week.Week 9: L, 27-24 vs. Minnesota Vikings.Week 10: W, 44-22 at Washington Commanders.Week 11: L, 16-9 at Philadelphia Eagles.Week 12: W, 34-27 (OT) vs. New York Giants.Week 13: L, 31-24 vs. Green Bay Packers.Week 14: W, 44-30 vs. Dallas Cowboys.Week 15: L, 41-34 at Los Angeles Rams.Week 16, Sunday, Dec. 21: L, 29-24 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers.Week 17, Thursday, Dec. 25: at Minnesota Vikings, 4:30 p.m., Netflix.Week 18, Saturday/Sunday, Jan. 3-4: at Chicago Bears, TBD.
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