Detroit Lions–Minnesota Vikings
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings
First meetingNovember 19, 1961
Lions 37, Vikings 10
Latest meetingJanuary 7, 2024
Lions 30, Vikings 20
Next meeting2024
Statistics
Meetings total125
All-time seriesVikings, 80–43–2
Largest victoryLions, 45–7 (1981)
Longest win streakVikings, 13 (1968–74)
Current win streakLions, 3 (2022–present)

The Lions–Vikings rivalry is an American football rivalry between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings.[1] It is the most lopsided divisional rivalry in the NFC based on winning percentage.

The Lions and Vikings have played twice annually since the Vikings entered the league’s Western Conference in 1961. The two teams moved to the NFC Central after the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, which became the NFC North after the NFL's 2002 realignment. This is the only NFC North rivalry without any head-to-head postseason meetings. Both teams play in indoor stadiums, and both are known for their bad luck.

Since the rivalry's establishment with the Vikings joining the NFL in 1961, Minnesota has largely dominated the series. The most lopsided decades were in the 1970s and 2000s, with the Vikings going 35–5 against the Lions in those two decades. The Vikings lead the series 80–43–2 as of 2023.[2]

Game results

Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings season-by-season results
1960s (Lions, 9–7–2)
SeasonSeason seriesat Detroit Lionsat Minnesota VikingsOverall seriesNotes
1961 Lions 2–0 Lions
13–7 		Lions
37–10		 Lions
2–0		 Vikings join NFL as an expansion team.
1962 Lions 2–0 Lions
37–23 		Lions
17–6		 Lions
4–0
1963 Tie 1–1 Lions
28–10 		Vikings
34–31		 Lions
5–1
1964 Lions 1–0–1 Tie
23–23 		Lions
24–20		 Lions
6–1–1
1965 Tie 1–1 Vikings
29–7		 Lions
31–29 		Lions
7–2–1
1966 Tie 1–1 Vikings
28–16		 Lions
32–31 		Lions
8–3–1
1967 Lions 1–0–1 Lions
14–3		 Tie
10–10 		Lions
9–3–2
1968 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
13–6 		Vikings
24–10		 Lions
9–5–2
1969 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
27–0 		Vikings
24–10		 Lions
9–7–2		 Detroit meeting took place on Thanksgiving. Vikings win 1969 NFL Championship, lose Super Bowl IV.
1970s (Vikings, 17–3)
SeasonSeason seriesat Detroit Lionsat Minnesota VikingsOverall seriesNotes
1970 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
30–17		 Vikings
24–20		 Tie
9–9–2		 Both teams placed in the NFC Central after AFL-NFL merger.
1971 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
16–13		 Vikings
29–10		 Vikings
11–9–2		 Vikings take first series lead in the rivalry, a lead that has yet to be relinquished since.
1972 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
34–10		 Vikings
16–13		 Vikings
13–9–2
1973 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
23–9		 Vikings
28–7		 Vikings
15–9–2		 Vikings lose Super Bowl VIII.
1974 Tie 1–1 Vikings
7–6		 Lions
20–16		 Vikings
16–10–2		 Vikings win 13 straight meetings (1968–74). Lions win in Bloomington came as the Lions intercepted a pass in the end zone on the game's final play. Vikings lose Super Bowl IX.
1975 Tie 1–1 Lions
17–10		 Vikings
25–19		 Vikings
17–11–2		 Lions open Pontiac Silverdome.
1976 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
10–9		 Vikings
31–23		 Vikings
19–11–2		 Vikings lose Super Bowl XI.
1977 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
30–21		 Vikings
14–7		 Vikings
21–11–2
1978 Tie 1–1 Lions
45–14		 Vikings
17–7		 Vikings
22–12–2
1979 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
13–10		 Vikings
14–7		 Vikings
24–12–2
1980s (Vikings, 13–6)
SeasonSeason seriesat Detroit Lionsat Minnesota VikingsOverall seriesNotes
1980 Tie 1–1 Lions
27–7		 Vikings
34–0		 Vikings
25–13–2
1981 Tie 1–1 Lions
45–7		 Vikings
26–24		 Vikings
26–14–2
1982 Vikings 1–0 Vikings
34–31		 no game Vikings
27–14–2		 Game in Minneapolis cancelled due to players strike reducing the season to 9 games. Vikings move to Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
1983 Tie 1–1 Lions
13–2		 Vikings
20–17		 Vikings
28–15–2		 Vikings win 7 straight home meetings (1976–83)
1984 Tie 1–1 Vikings
29–28		 Lions
16–14		 Vikings
29–16–2
1985 Tie 1–1 Lions
41–21		 Vikings
16–13		 Vikings
30–17–2
1986 Tie 1–1 Vikings
24–10		 Lions
13–10		 Vikings
31–18–2
1987 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
17–14		 Vikings
34–19		 Vikings
33–18–2
1988 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
23–0		 Vikings
44–17		 Vikings
35–18–2		 Game in Pontiac took place on Thanksgiving.
1989 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
20–7		 Vikings
24–17		 Vikings
37–18–2		 Vikings win 7 straight meetings (1986–89).
1990s (Tied, 10–10)
SeasonSeason seriesat Detroit Lionsat Minnesota VikingsOverall seriesNotes
1990 Tie 1–1 Vikings
17–7		 Lions
34–27		 Vikings
38–19–2
1991 Lions 2–0 Lions
10–6		 Lions
34–14		 Vikings
38–21–2		 Lions' first season sweep since 1962. Barry Sanders rushed for 220 yards and four touchdowns in the game in Minneapolis, which was the first game for the Lions after guard Mike Utley suffered a broken neck one week earlier.
1992 Tie 1–1 Lions
31–17		 Vikings
31–14		 Vikings
39–22–2
1993 Tie 1–1 Vikings
13–0		 Lions
30–27		 Vikings
40–23–2
1994 Tie 1–1 Lions
41–19		 Vikings
10–3		 Vikings
41–24–2
1995 Tie 1–1 Lions
44–38		 Vikings
20–10		 Vikings
42–25–2		 Lions' 44–38 win is the highest scoring game in the rivalry's history (82 points). Game in Pontiac took place on Thanksgiving.
1996 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
24–22		 Vikings
17–13		 Vikings
44–25–2
1997 Lions 2–0 Lions
38–15		 Lions
14–13		 Vikings
44–27–2
1998 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
34–13		 Vikings
29–6		 Vikings
46–27–2
1999 Tie 1–1 Lions
25–23		 Vikings
24–17		 Vikings
47–28–2		 The meeting in Minnesota assured the winner would host their first playoff game, a Lions' victory in this game would've resulted in a rematch the following week in the wild-card round in Detroit.
2000s (Vikings, 18–2)
SeasonSeason seriesat Detroit Lionsat Minnesota VikingsOverall seriesNotes
2000 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
31–24		 Vikings
24–17		 Vikings
49–28–2		 Vikings' WR Randy Moss has 168 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns in the game in Detroit.
2001 Tie 1–1 Lions
27–24		 Vikings
31–26		 Vikings
50–29–2
2002 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
38–36		 Vikings
27–23		 Vikings
52–29–2		 Lions open Ford Field.
2003 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
23–13		 Vikings
24–14		 Vikings
54–29–2
2004 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
28–27		 Vikings
22–19		 Vikings
56–29–2
2005 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
21–16		 Vikings
27–14		 Vikings
58–29–2
2006 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
30–20		 Vikings
26–17		 Vikings
60–29–2		 Vikings win 10 straight meetings (2002–06).
2007 Tie 1–1 Lions
20–17		 Vikings
42–10		 Vikings
61–30–2
2008 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
20–16		 Vikings
12–10		 Vikings
63–30–2		 Lions' QB Dan Orlovsky infamously runs out of the back of his own end zone for a safety in the game in Minneapolis. Lions complete first 0–16 season in NFL history.
2009 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
27–13		 Vikings
27–10		 Vikings
65–30–2
2010s (Vikings, 11–9)
SeasonSeason seriesat Detroit Lionsat Minnesota VikingsOverall seriesNotes
2010 Tie 1–1 Lions
20–13		 Vikings
24–10		 Vikings
66–31–2		 Vikings win 13 straight home meetings.
2011 Lions 2–0 Lions
34–28		 Lions
26–23(OT)		 Vikings
66–33–2		 Lions win in Minneapolis (and sweep the season series) for first time since 1997.
2012 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
20–13		 Vikings
34–24		 Vikings
68–33–2
2013 Tie 1–1 Lions
34–24		 Vikings
14–13		 Vikings
69–34–2		 Game in Minneapolis was the final game played at the Metrodome.
2014 Lions 2–0 Lions
16–14		 Lions
17–3		 Vikings
69–36–2		 Vikings move to TCF Bank Stadium.
2015 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
28–19		 Vikings
26–16		 Vikings
71–36–2
2016 Lions 2–0 Lions
16–13		 Lions
22–16(OT)		 Vikings
71–38–2		 Vikings open U.S. Bank Stadium. Detroit meeting took place on Thanksgiving.
2017 Tie 1–1 Vikings
30–23		 Lions
14–7		 Vikings
72–39–2		 First time since 1993 that the away team won both meetings. Detroit meeting took place on Thanksgiving.
2018 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
27–9		 Vikings
24–9		 Vikings
74–39–2
2019 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
42–30		 Vikings
20–7		 Vikings
76–39–2
2020s (Tied, 4–4)
SeasonSeason seriesat Detroit Lionsat Minnesota VikingsOverall seriesNotes
2020 Vikings 2–0 Vikings
37–35		 Vikings
34–20		 Vikings
78–39–2
2021 Tie 1–1 Lions
29–27		 Vikings
19–17		 Vikings
79–40–2		 Vikings win 8 straight meetings (2017–21).
2022 Tie 1–1 Lions
34–23		 Vikings
28–24		 Vikings
80–41–2
2023 Lions 2–0 Lions
30–20		 Lions
30–24		 Vikings
80–43–2		 Detroit clinches NFC North title for the first time since 1993 with win at Minneapolis.
Summary of results
SeasonSeason seriesat Detroit Lionsat Minnesota VikingsNotes
Regular season Vikings 80–43–2 Vikings 36–26–1 Vikings 44–17–1

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sanders, Charlie; Paladino, Larry (2005). Charlie Sanders's Tales from the Detroit Lions. ISBN 9781582619101.
  2. ↑ Glover, Ted (2018-12-21). "A brief look at Vikings/Lions history". Daily Norseman. SB Nation. Retrieved 2019-12-24.

Further reading

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