Game story
In Week 13 of the 2021 NFL season on 2021-12-05, the Detroit Lions took care of business against the Minnesota Vikings, pulling away with a 29–27 final that came down to the wire.
The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
K. Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) paced the passing game, with +5.03 total EPA, and +6.9% completion percentage over expected.
On the individual side, J. Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.83 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (+64.0% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Detroit Lions changed the game: (:04) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short left to 14-A.St. Brown for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 6 | 0 | 9 | 12 | 0 | 27 |
| Detroit Lions | 0 | 20 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 29 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 J. Jefferson · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +10.83 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.72 EPA/play
- 2 A.St. Brown · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +8.24 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
- 3 J. Goff · Detroit Lions · Passing · +5.04 total EPA · 44 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
- 4 K. Cousins · Minnesota Vikings · Passing · +5.03 total EPA · 45 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
- 5 K. Osborn · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +4.85 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
- 6 J. Reynolds · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +3.51 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
- 7 B. Wright · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.02 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.67 EPA/play
- 8 C. Ham · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +1.93 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.93 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
J. Jefferson — MIN · Receiving
J. Jefferson posted the highest total EPA (+10.83) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on Minnesota Vikings's efficiency. Across 15 counted snaps, they averaged +0.72 EPA per play.
The signature play (-5.68 EPA) came from Minnesota Vikings: (11:16) 8-K.Cousins sacked at DET 40 for -7 yards (53-C.Harris). FUMBLES (53-C.Harris) [53-C.Harris], RECOVERED by DET-99-J.Okwara at DET 38. 99-J.Okwara to DET 44 for 6 yards (75-B.O'Neill, 56-G.Bradbury).
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- Detroit Lions — T. Hockenson (J. Goff pass)
- Detroit Lions — B. Wright (J. Goff pass)
- Minnesota Vikings — A. Mattison
- Minnesota Vikings — K. Osborn (K. Cousins pass)
- Minnesota Vikings — J. Jefferson (K. Cousins pass)
- Detroit Lions — A. St (J. Goff pass)
Field goals
- Minnesota Vikings — G. Joseph
- Minnesota Vikings — G. Joseph
- Detroit Lions — R. Patterson
- Detroit Lions — R. Patterson
- Minnesota Vikings — G. Joseph
- Detroit Lions — R. Patterson
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 6–0. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the DET 23 (Q1 51:54) — (6:54) 1-G.Joseph 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-3-J.Berry.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the DET 13 (Q1 46:03) — (1:03) 1-G.Joseph 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-3-J.Berry..
The second quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 20–0. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIN 9 (Q2 43:54) — (13:54) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short middle to 88-T.Hockenson for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q2 43:50) — 6-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIN 23 (Q2 39:51) — (9:51) 16-J.Goff pass deep right to 89-B.Wright for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q2 39:45) — 6-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIN 13 (Q2 31:37) — (1:37) 6-R.Patterson 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIN 23 (Q2 30:10) — (:10) 6-R.Patterson 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox..
The third quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 9–3. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the DET 12 (Q3 24:30) — (9:30) 1-G.Joseph 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-3-J.Berry.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 8 (Q3 21:20) — (6:20) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 25-A.Mattison right end for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIN 31 (Q3 17:01) — (2:01) 6-R.Patterson 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox..
The fourth quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 12–6. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 5 (Q4 12:02); Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 3 (Q4 1:54) — (1:54) 8-K.Cousins pass short middle to 18-J.Jefferson for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIN 11 (Q4 0:04) — (:04) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short left to 14-A.St. Brown for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN..
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.
- Detroit Lions (Q4 0:04) — (:04) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short left to 14-A.St. Brown for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Detroit Lions (Q4 4:08) — (4:08) 16-J.Goff sacked at DET 21 for -7 yards (48-B.Lynch). FUMBLES (48-B.Lynch) [79-K.Willekes], RECOVERED by MIN-48-B.Lynch at DET 19.
- Minnesota Vikings (Q2 41:16) — (11:16) 8-K.Cousins sacked at DET 40 for -7 yards (53-C.Harris). FUMBLES (53-C.Harris) [53-C.Harris], RECOVERED by DET-99-J.Okwara at DET 38. 99-J.Okwara to DET 44 for 6 yards (75-B.O'Neill, 56-G.Brad
- Detroit Lions (Q4 8:41) — (8:41) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short middle intended for 88-T.Hockenson INTERCEPTED by 27-C.Dantzler at MIN 31. 27-C.Dantzler to MIN 31 for no gain (88-T.Hockenson).
- Minnesota Vikings (Q4 1:54) — (1:54) 8-K.Cousins pass short middle to 18-J.Jefferson for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- Minnesota Vikings (Q2 41:16) — (11:16) 8-K.Cousins sacked at DET 40 for -7 yards (53-C.Harris). FUMBLES (53-C.Harris) [53-C.Harris], RECOVERED by DET-99-J.Okwara at DET 38. 99-J.Okwara to DET 44 for 6 yards (75-B.O'Neill, 56-G.Brad
- Detroit Lions (Q4 8:41) — (8:41) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short middle intended for 88-T.Hockenson INTERCEPTED by 27-C.Dantzler at MIN 31. 27-C.Dantzler to MIN 31 for no gain (88-T.Hockenson).
- Detroit Lions (Q4 0:04) — (:04) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short left to 14-A.St. Brown for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Detroit Lions (Q4 4:08) — (4:08) 16-J.Goff sacked at DET 21 for -7 yards (48-B.Lynch). FUMBLES (48-B.Lynch) [79-K.Willekes], RECOVERED by MIN-48-B.Lynch at DET 19.
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) · 45 dropbacks · 66.7% completion · +6.9% CPOE · +0.11 EPA/play · +5.03 total EPA
- J.Goff (Detroit Lions) · 44 dropbacks · 56.8% completion · -3.4% CPOE · +0.11 EPA/play · +5.04 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | Minnesota Vikings | Detroit Lions |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | +0.009 | -0.010 |
| Offensive success rate | 44.0% | 46.2% |
| Pass EPA/play | +0.100 | +0.115 |
| Rush EPA/play | -0.117 | -0.329 |
| Defensive EPA/play | +0.010 | -0.009 |
| Defensive success rate | 53.8% | 56.0% |
By the numbers
Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Minnesota Vikings +0.01, Detroit Lions -0.01) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.
- Detroit Lions: 12 drives, -0.91 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
- Minnesota Vikings: 12 drives, +0.81 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
Key takeaways
What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.
- Detroit Lions 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.
- J. Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
- K. Cousins (MIN) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
- J. Goff (DET) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
Every scoring play
Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.
- Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q1 51:54 · DET 23 · Score 3-0
(6:54) 1-G.Joseph 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-3-J.Berry. - Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q1 46:03 · DET 13 · Score 6-0
(1:03) 1-G.Joseph 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-3-J.Berry. - Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 43:54 · MIN 9 · Score 6-6
(13:54) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short middle to 88-T.Hockenson for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 43:50 · MIN 15 · Score 6-7
6-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox. - Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 39:51 · MIN 23 · Score 6-13
(9:51) 16-J.Goff pass deep right to 89-B.Wright for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 39:45 · MIN 15 · Score 6-14
6-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox. - Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 31:37 · MIN 13 · Score 6-17
(1:37) 6-R.Patterson 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox. - Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 30:10 · MIN 23 · Score 6-20
(:10) 6-R.Patterson 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox. - Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q3 24:30 · DET 12 · Score 9-20
(9:30) 1-G.Joseph 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-3-J.Berry. - Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q3 21:20 · DET 8 · Score 15-20
(6:20) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 25-A.Mattison right end for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q3 17:01 · MIN 31 · Score 15-23
(2:01) 6-R.Patterson 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox. - Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 12:02 · DET 5 · Score 21-23
(12:02) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short middle to 17-K.Osborn for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on DET-53-C.Harris, Roughing the Passer, 1 yard, enforced between - Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 1:54 · DET 3 · Score 27-23
(1:54) 8-K.Cousins pass short middle to 18-J.Jefferson for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 0:04 · MIN 11 · Score 27-29
(:04) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short left to 14-A.St. Brown for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions?
The Detroit Lions beat the Minnesota Vikings 29-27 in Week 13, 2021 on 2021-12-05.
What was the final score of Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions?
The final score was Minnesota Vikings 27, Detroit Lions 29 (MIN 27-29 DET) in Week 13, 2021 on 2021-12-05.
What was the score by quarter in Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions?
Q1: Minnesota Vikings 6, Detroit Lions 0; Q2: Minnesota Vikings 0, Detroit Lions 20; Q3: Minnesota Vikings 9, Detroit Lions 3; Q4: Minnesota Vikings 12, Detroit Lions 6; Final: Minnesota Vikings 27, Detroit Lions 29.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions?
Detroit Lions touchdown — T. Hockenson (J. Goff pass) (Q2 43:54) Detroit Lions touchdown — B. Wright (J. Goff pass) (Q2 39:51) Minnesota Vikings touchdown — A. Mattison (Q3 21:20) Minnesota Vikings touchdown — K. Osborn (K. Cousins pass) (Q4 12:02) Minnesota Vikings touchdown — J. Jefferson (K. Cousins pass) (Q4 1:54) Detroit Lions touchdown — A. St (J. Goff pass) (Q4 0:04) Minnesota Vikings field goal — G. Joseph (Q1 51:54, 3 pts) Minnesota Vikings field goal — G. Joseph (Q1 46:03, 3 pts) Detroit Lions field goal — R. Patterson (Q2 31:37, 3 pts) Detroit Lions field goal — R. Patterson (Q2 30:10, 3 pts) Minnesota Vikings field goal — G. Joseph (Q3 24:30, 3 pts) Detroit Lions field goal — R. Patterson (Q3 17:01, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions?
K. Cousins (Minnesota Vikings), 66.7% completion, +6.9% CPOE, +0.11 EPA per dropback, +5.03 total passing EPA. J. Goff (Detroit Lions), 56.8% completion, -3.4% CPOE, +0.11 EPA per dropback, +5.04 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions?
J. Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings) led the game in total EPA with +10.83 on receiving plays. across 15 snaps. The top single-play swing was (-5.68 EPA): (11:16) 8-K.Cousins sacked at DET 40 for -7 yards (53-C.Harris). FUMBLES (53-C.Harris) [53-C.Harris], RECOVERED by DET-99-J.Okwara at DET 38. 99-J.Okwara to DET 44 for 6 yards (75-. The biggest win-probability swing was +64.0%.
Was Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions a close game?
Yes — the margin was 2 points. Detroit Lions won 29-27 in a game that came down to the wire.
Season records after this game
Minnesota Vikings
Entered 5-6 Now 5-7 L
Detroit Lions
Entered 0-10 Now 1-10 W
Fantasy · fantasyhq.co
