Jared Goff couldn’t catch a snap. He couldn’t find open receivers. He couldn’t do anything to stop the bleeding.
The Detroit Lions turned the ball over six times Thursday night in a 23-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, officially ending their season in the most humiliating fashion imaginable.
Jared Goff’s Christmas Nightmare Ends Lions’ Playoff Hopes
The Lions entered Thursday’s game having committed just eight turnovers all season — fewest in the NFL. They matched that total in three quarters in Minneapolis.
Goff was responsible for five of the six giveaways. He threw interceptions to Byron Murphy Jr. and Harrison Smith on consecutive third-quarter drives.
He fumbled after getting sandwiched between Dallas Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel. And he botched two shotgun snaps, including the final indignity late in the fourth quarter when Van Ginkel pounced on yet another loose ball.
Sack. Fumble. ANOTHER @Vikings turnover 😤
DETvsMIN on @Netflix pic.twitter.com/x4rY0JaoFP
— NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2025
Jahmyr Gibbs added a fumble for good measure, but this disaster belonged to Goff.
The Vikings scored 16 points directly off turnovers. That’s it. That’s the game. Minnesota’s offense produced just three net passing yards — the fewest in a victory by any NFL team since 2006.
Third-string quarterback Max Brosmer completed passes for 51 yards but absorbed seven sacks. The Vikings won anyway because Detroit handed them the game on a silver Christmas platter.
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Smith’s interception was his 39th career pick, and he read Goff’s intentions like a child’s letter to Santa. Murphy undercut a desperation heave on third-and-long. Van Ginkel was everywhere, recovering multiple fumbles and helping generate constant pressure.
Jordan Addison’s 65-yard jet sweep touchdown in the fourth quarter was the knockout blow, but the Lions were already on the canvas by then.
Detroit’s Stunning Fall from 15-2 to Playoff Elimination
This is a franchise that played in the NFC Championship Game in January 2024. This is a team that finished 15-2 a year ago. This is a quarterback who was supposed to be the steady hand guiding Detroit’s Super Bowl push.
Now the Lions are 8-8, losers of six of their last nine games since their Week 8 bye. The offensive line lost two starters from 2024 and never recovered. The rushing attack that powered their success has sputtered. The play-action game Goff executes so well has suffered as a result.
Detroit’s path to the playoffs required beating Minnesota and Chicago while Green Bay lost twice. The first domino fell the wrong way, and now there’s nothing left to play for except pride in Week 18 against the Bears.
The Vikings, meanwhile, have won four straight behind their defense. They’re also 8-8, but they’ve found something in December while the Lions have crumbled.
Turner and Van Ginkel have become a formidable pass-rushing duo. The secondary has tightened.
Minnesota will host Green Bay in Week 18 with a chance to play spoiler again. Detroit will host Chicago in a game that means nothing.
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One year ago, the Lions looked like the model NFC franchise. Twelve months later, Goff is fumbling snaps on Christmas night while a rookie third-string quarterback beats him with three net passing yards.
That’s the NFL. Seasons end fast when you can’t hold onto the football.
