Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions: 2020 Week 17 Recap

Game story

In Week 17 of the 2020 NFL season on 2021-01-03, the Minnesota Vikings took care of business against the Detroit Lions, pulling away with a 37–35 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) paced the passing game, with +21.17 total EPA, and +1.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, K. Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +21.17 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+14.3% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Minnesota Vikings changed the game: (12:51) 8-K.Cousins pass short middle to 18-J.Jefferson to DET 14 for 38 yards (51-J.Tavai) [95-R.Okwara]. PENALTY on DET-95-R.Okwara, Roughing the Passer, 7 yards, enforced at DET 14.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 K. Cousins · Minnesota Vikings · Passing · +21.17 total EPA · 47 snaps · +0.45 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Jefferson · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +8.58 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.72 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Jones · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +7.86 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.66 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Stafford · Detroit Lions · Passing · +7.37 total EPA · 38 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Mattison · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +6.27 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.09 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Peterson · Detroit Lions · Rushing · +5.17 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Beebe · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +4.76 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.59 EPA/play
8. 8 Q. Cephus · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +3.97 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.99 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Detroit Lions — M. Jones (M. Stafford pass) (Q1 49:53)
• Minnesota Vikings — A. Mattison (K. Cousins pass) (Q1 45:43)
• Detroit Lions — Q. Cephus (M. Stafford pass) (Q2 43:24)
• Minnesota Vikings — A. Abdullah (K. Cousins pass) (Q2 38:56)
• Minnesota Vikings — C. Beebe (K. Cousins pass) (Q2 30:11)
• Detroit Lions — M. Jones (M. Stafford pass) (Q3 29:15)
• Minnesota Vikings — A. Mattison (Q3 26:38)
• Detroit Lions — A. Peterson (Q3 18:08)
• Minnesota Vikings — K. Cousins (Q4 10:36)
• Detroit Lions — D. Swift (Q4 4:30)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — M. Prater (Q2 37:18)
• Minnesota Vikings — D. Bailey (Q3 22:59)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–6. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIN 43 (Q1 49:53) — (4:53) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep right to 11-M.Jones for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 28 (Q1 45:43) — (:43) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 25-A.Mattison for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q1 45:34) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-2-B.Colquitt..

The second quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 14–10. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIN 20 (Q2 43:24) — (13:24) (No Huddle) 9-M.Stafford pass deep left to 87-Q.Cephus for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q2 43:19) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 4 (Q2 38:56) — (8:56) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 31-A.Abdullah for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q2 38:51) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-2-B.Colquitt.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIN 36 (Q2 37:18) — (7:18) 5-M.Prater 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 40 (Q2 30:11) — (:11) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep left to 12-C.Beebe for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q2 30:04) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-2-B.Colquitt..

The third quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 13–10. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIN 26 (Q3 29:15) — (14:15) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 11-M.Jones for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q3 29:09) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 2 (Q3 26:38) — (11:38) 25-A.Mattison right tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q3 26:35) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-2-B.Colquitt.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the DET 4 (Q3 22:59) — (7:59) 5-D.Bailey 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-2-B.Colquitt.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIN 2 (Q3 18:08) — (3:08) 70-D.Skipper reported in as eligible. 28-A.Peterson left tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 6–6. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 1 (Q4 10:36) — (10:36) 8-K.Cousins up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIN 2 (Q4 4:30) — (4:30) (No Huddle) 32-D.Swift up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 27:51) — (12:51) 8-K.Cousins pass short middle to 18-J.Jefferson to DET 14 for 38 yards (51-J.Tavai) [95-R.Okwara]. PENALTY on DET-95-R.Okwara, Roughing the Passer, 7 yards, enforced at DET 14. [WPA +14.3% · EPA +3.52]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 45:43) — (:43) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 25-A.Mattison for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +14.3% · EPA +4.87]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 30:11) — (:11) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep left to 12-C.Beebe for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.7% · EPA +5.51]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 32:58) — (2:58) 5-D.Bailey 46 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-2-B.Colquitt. [WPA -13.6% · EPA -3.63]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 4:30) — (4:30) (No Huddle) 32-D.Swift up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.3% · EPA +0.75]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 30:11) — (:11) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep left to 12-C.Beebe for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.7% · EPA +5.51]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 45:43) — (:43) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 25-A.Mattison for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +14.3% · EPA +4.87]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 24:49) — (9:49) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short middle intended for 11-M.Jones INTERCEPTED by 22-H.Smith at DET 32. 22-H.Smith to DET 23 for 9 yards (11-M.Jones). [WPA -8.1% · EPA -4.39]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 54:37) — (9:37) 2-B.Colquitt punts 50 yards to DET 16, Center-42-A.DePaola. 39-J.Agnew to DET 28 for 12 yards (47-H.Nickerson). FUMBLES (47-H.Nickerson), RECOVERED by MIN-42-A.DePaola at DET 42. Penalty on DET [WPA +8.1% · EPA +3.68]

Quarterback report card

K.Cousins led all passers in efficiency for Minnesota Vikings, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• K.Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) · 47 dropbacks · 59.6% completion · +1.9% CPOE · +0.45 EPA/play · +21.17 total EPA
• M.Stafford (Detroit Lions) · 38 dropbacks · 52.6% completion · +0.4% CPOE · +0.19 EPA/play · +7.37 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Minnesota Vikings +0.18, Detroit Lions +0.20) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Detroit Lions: 10 drives, +14.49 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 11 drives, +18.27 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Minnesota Vikings leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• K. Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 49:53 · MIN 43 · Score 0-6
   (4:53) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep right to 11-M.Jones for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q1 45:43 · DET 28 · Score 6-6
   (:43) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 25-A.Mattison for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q1 45:34 · DET 15 · Score 7-6
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-2-B.Colquitt.
4. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 43:24 · MIN 20 · Score 7-12
   (13:24) (No Huddle) 9-M.Stafford pass deep left to 87-Q.Cephus for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 43:19 · MIN 15 · Score 7-13
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-3-J.Fox.
6. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 38:56 · DET 4 · Score 13-13
   (8:56) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 31-A.Abdullah for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 38:51 · DET 15 · Score 14-13
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-2-B.Colquitt.
8. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 37:18 · MIN 36 · Score 14-16
   (7:18) 5-M.Prater 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-3-J.Fox.
9. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 30:11 · DET 40 · Score 20-16
   (:11) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep left to 12-C.Beebe for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 30:04 · DET 15 · Score 21-16
    5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-2-B.Colquitt.
11. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q3 29:15 · MIN 26 · Score 21-22
    (14:15) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 11-M.Jones for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q3 29:09 · MIN 15 · Score 21-23
    5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-3-J.Fox.
13. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q3 26:38 · DET 2 · Score 27-23
    (11:38) 25-A.Mattison right tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q3 26:35 · DET 15 · Score 28-23
    5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-2-B.Colquitt.
15. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q3 22:59 · DET 4 · Score 31-23
    (7:59) 5-D.Bailey 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-2-B.Colquitt.
16. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q3 18:08 · MIN 2 · Score 31-29
    (3:08) 70-D.Skipper reported in as eligible. 28-A.Peterson left tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
17. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 10:36 · DET 1 · Score 37-29
    (10:36) 8-K.Cousins up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
18. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 4:30 · MIN 2 · Score 37-35
    (4:30) (No Huddle) 32-D.Swift up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.