It was a spectacular defensive showing from the Minnesota Vikings in the 23-10 win over the Detroit Lions on Christmas Day at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings’ defense overwhelmed the Lions’ offense throughout the game, ending the Lions’ playoff hopes.
The Minnesota defense forced six turnovers, picking off two passes and recovering four fumbles. Jared Goff was sacked five times, and Detroit managed only 3.6 yards per play. The result was a fourth consecutive win for the Vikings, who are pushing to close the 2025 NFL season on a high note.
During the Vikings’ current four-game win streak, the defense has allowed only one team to score more than 20 points. With this amazing former, NBC Sports NFL analyst Chris Simms believes that defensive coordinator Brian Flores should get a shot at another head coaching job.
“Brian Flores just put on an absolute clinic,” Simms wrote on X on December 25. “Completely shut down Goff and [head coach Dan Campbell] and the Lions. Vikes threw for 51 yards and beat Detroit! How is BFlo not a head coach?!”
Minnesota’s defense has been key to keeping the team on a high note as it closes out the season. The unit aims to maintain that momentum in the final game of the 2025 NFL season against the Green Bay Packers, as the Vikings chase a fifth straight win to cap the campaign.
Jared Goff Talks About Vikings’ Defense
Goff also praised the Vikings’ defense, noting how their precise execution threw Detroit’s offense off balance and kept them from finding any rhythm.
“They did a good job on defense, had a good plan, and exploited some things on us,” Goff said postgame. “They were able to get after us, adding an extra rusher a lot of times. Whenever that happens, it’s a free rusher. They did a good job with that. We had a plan that we thought would attack that, and it didn’t work well enough.
“… We had some good third-down conversions. They came out in the second half and adjusted pretty well and had some different stuff for us. We didn’t do a good enough job on our side of adjusting to those different things that they were doing.”
Harrison Smith Put On a Show for the Vikings
One of the players who made life difficult for the Lions’ offense was Vikings veteran Harrison Smith. The Minnesota safety recorded three tackles along with one sack and one interception. After the contest, he spoke with Ben Leber postgame to talk about his performance.
“Today was one of the best defensive performances as a unit we’ve ever been a part of,” Smith said. “Guys were flying around. We were having fun. That’s what it’s about… Just our aggressiveness, the way [Flores] calls it, sets it up. It gives us some freedom to do some different things and keep them guessing.”
It will be interesting to see if this last game against the Packers is his last, as he’s 36, on an expiring $10.2 million contract, and has been the subject of retirement speculation for several offseasons.
“I can’t speak on that right now,” Smith told reporters postgame. “I’m a very much in-the-moment type of guy. So, I’m gonna enjoy this with the guys I’ve gone to work with, and enjoy my family and the holidays, and that’ll handle itself when it does.”
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