The Lions–Vikings rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings entered the NFL as an expansion team during the 1961 season and were assigned to the Western Division, becoming divisional rivals with the Lions. Following the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, both teams transitioned to the NFC Central, which was later renamed the NFC North after the NFL's realignment in 2002. While the two teams initially maintained a closely contested rivalry, the Vikings dominated in the 1970s, taking a big lead over the Lions.
The Vikings have outperformed the Lions since the inception of their rivalry and the most one-sided decades occurred during the 1970s and 2000s, where the Vikings went 35–5 against the Lions. Based on winning percentage, it is one of the most lopsided divisional rivalries in the NFL.
The Vikings lead the overall series, 82–45–2. The two teams have not met in the playoffs.
Background
Detroit Lions (1930–1960)
The Lions were founded in 1930 as the Portsmouth Spartans, located in Portsmouth, Ohio. Due to financial troubles, the team was purchased by George A. Richards, who relocated them to Detroit for the 1934 season and renamed them as the Detroit Lions. The team won its first championship in 1935, but it would subsequently endure decades of mediocrity, failing to qualify for the playoffs since then. By the 1952 season, the Lions experienced a turnaround in their fortunes, being led by Hall-of-Fame quarterback Bobby Layne and head coaches Buddy Parker and George Wilson. During the 1950s, the Lions appeared in four NFL championship games, winning in three of them. During that same timeframe, the Lions were placed in the NFL National Conference following the AAFC–NFL merger, which would be renamed to the Western Conference in the 1953 season. The early 1960s saw the Lions win three consecutive Playoff Bowl, a post-season exhibition game to determine third place.
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings were founded in 1960 by a group of investors led by Max Winter, Bill Boyer, H. P. Skoglund, Ole Haugsrud and Bernard H. Ridder Jr and began playing in the 1961 season. They were placed in the Western Conference, becoming divisional rivals with the Detroit Lions and resulting in two meetings annually.
1961–1967: Beginning of annual meetings
The Lions and Vikings inaugural meeting between one another occurred on November 19, 1961 in Minnesota, which saw the Vikings score the first 10 points in the first quarter before being shut out by the Lions on route to a 37–10 Lions blowout win. On December 10, they would meet again in Detroit for the first time, where the Lions won 13–7, completing a sweep of the inaugural season series against the Vikings.
The Lions won their next three games against the Vikings, increasing their winning streak to five, one of their longest. It wasn't until the 1963 season that the Vikings defeated the Lions for the first time, winning 34–31 on November 24 in Minnesota.
In the 1964 season on October 11 in Minnesota, a miscommunication led to both the Lions and Vikings starting the game in identical white jerseys, marking the first and only time of two teams wearing the same color in an NFL game. At the start of the second quarter, the Vikings changed into their purple jerseys. The Lions would win the game 24–20.
Later that season on November 22 in Detroit, Lions' K Wayne Walker kicked a 37-yard field goal under less than a minute left to lead to the first tie result between the two teams.
In the 1965 season on December 12 in Detroit, Vikings beat the Lions 29–7 to record their first victory in Detroit.
In the 1966 season on November 13 in Minnesota, Lions K Garo Yepremian kicked 6 field goals, setting a then-NFL record, as he helped the Lions beat the Vikings 32–31. The record would be broken by K Jim Bakken in the 1967 season.
In the 1967 season, the NFL divided its teams into two eight-team conferences split into two divisions each. Consequently, the Lions and Vikings were placed in the Western Conference and the NFC Central, alongside the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, thereby continuing their divisional rivalry.
Later that season on November 12 in Minnesota, the Lions fumbled 11 times in a 10–10 tie against the Vikings, setting an NFL record.
1968–1985: Bud Grant era, Vikings dominate
In the 1968 season, the Vikings recorded their first season series sweep against the Lions. This would help the Vikings to clinch their first playoff appearance and division title in franchise history.
Following their loss to the Vikings in Minnesota in the 1969 season, Lions players were forced to bathe in cold water, prompting Lions HC Joe Schmidt to remark that they would give the Vikings "an ice bath" in their next game. However, the Lions would be shut out 27–0 in their first Thanksgiving matchup against the Vikings.
As a result of the AFL–NFL merger in the 1970 NFL season, the Lions and Vikings were placed in the newly created National Football Conference (NFC) and the NFC Central (later renamed to the NFC North in the 2002 season) alongside the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, continuing their divisional rivalry.
That season also saw both teams finishing with double-digit wins and qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in the same year. Despite that, the Vikings swept the Lions, a result that would ultimately lead to them clinching the NFC Central title.
From 1968 to 1974, the Vikings went on a 13-game winning streak against the Lions, the longest win streak in the rivalry. The streak included blowout victories, overcoming a 13–0 deficit, and a game-winning block by DB Bobby Bryant on Errol Mann's 33-yard field goal attempt in the game's final play. The Vikings also took the overall series lead with their win in the 1971 season, a lead that they have yet to relinquish.
It was not until October 20, 1974, in Minnesota that the Lions defeated the Vikings 20–16 to snap their 13-game losing streak. Additionally, the Lions would also snap their 7-game losing streak at home against the Vikings in 1975.
In the Detroit meeting in the 1976 season, the Vikings arrived 5 minutes prior to the scheduled kickoff time, resulting in a half-hour delay for the game to start. The Vikings would be fined 5,000 dollars. Despite the setback, the Vikings held on to a 10–9 victory after Lions Holder Joe Reed mishandled a snap, and Errol Mann's attempt for an extra point was missed following a late touchdown by the Lions.
Later that season in their meeting at Minnesota, Vikings rookie WR Sammy Write set a Minnesota single-game receiving record with 210 receiving yards, contributing to the Vikings' victory over the Lions. The record would be surpassed by WR Justin Jefferson in a 2022 season game, coincidentally against the Lions.
In the 1978 season on December 9 in Detroit, the Lions put together one of their most dominating wins against the Vikings. They beat the Vikings 45–14, their most points scored in a game against the Vikings. Lions QB Gary Danielson finished with 5 passing touchdowns, becoming the first Lions quarterback to throw for five touchdowns in a game.
In the 1980 season, the Lions beat the Vikings in Detroit and improved to a 4–0 record, one of their best starts in franchise history. However, the Vikings got their revenge in Minnesota, where they shutout the Lions 34–0 to record the first shutout in the series. The Vikings defense sacked Gary Danielson seven times and forced eight Lions turnovers. The final score, 34–0, is also the Vikings' largest victory against the Lions with a 34–point differential. Despite a strong start from the Lions and a poor start for the Vikings, both teams finished the season with 9–7 records. However, the Vikings had the better conference record than the Lions, allowing them to clinch the NFC Central, their 11th in 13 years, while also eliminating the Lions from playoff contention.
In the 1981 season, the Vikings won the first meeting in Minnesota, when K Rick Danmeier kicked the game-winning 20-yard field goal with four seconds left. However, in the meeting in Detroit, the Lions exacted revenge where they recorded one of their most dominating victories against the Vikings, winning 45–7. They recorded their largest victory over the Vikings with a 38–point differential and tied their most points scored in a game against the Vikings since the 1978 game.
Due to the 1982 NFL Players strike, the game scheduled in Minnesota was canceled, making this the only season in which the Lions and Vikings did not face each other at least twice in the regular season.
Despite losing the first meeting in 1983, the Lions won the second matchup against the Vikings, a victory that helped them clinch the NFC Central Division title, their first division championship since the 1957 season. Meanwhile, the Vikings, who started the season 6–2, missed the playoffs after finishing 2–6 in their final eight games.
In the 1984 season on October 21 at Minnesota, Lions RB Billy Sims suffered a catastrophic injury to his right knee. During the game, he became the franchise's all-time leading rusher with 5,106 yards, a record later surpassed by Barry Sanders. The injury ultimately ended Sims' career, as he never played again and officially retired in 1986.
The 1985 season marked Bud Grant’s final year as head coach of the Vikings. He finished his career with a 26–8–1 record against the Lions, which included a thirteen-game winning streak, the longest in the rivalry, and a 15–2–1 record at home.
1986–1990: Vikings continue their dominance
Even after Bud Grant's departure, the Vikings continued to make playoff appearances and maintained a strong record against the Lions. This was particularly evident during the 1988 season. In their November 6 matchup in Minnesota, the Vikings defeated the Lions 44–17, their most points scored in a game against the Lions. Later that season, during their Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit, the Vikings shut out the Lions 23–0. The Lions managed only 60 total yards in the game, setting a franchise record for the fewest total yards in a single game. They also finished with 3 first downs, tying a franchise record. Meanwhile, the Vikings tied a franchise record for the fewest yards allowed in a game and set a franchise record for fewest first downs allowed with 3. By the end of the decade, the Vikings had a 7-game winning streak over the Lions.
1991–1999: Lions and Vikings compete for playoffs
Both teams were strong contenders in the 1990s, regularly vying for playoff spots and the NFC Central division title.
During the 1991 NFL season, the Lions hosted the Vikings in a memorable matchup in which the Lions overcame a 20–3 fourth quarter deficit. After a Vikings field goal extended their lead to 20–3 with 8:38 remaining, the Lions mounted a dramatic comeback. RB Barry Sanders scored the game-winning touchdown on a 15-yard run, securing a 24–20 victory for Detroit. Sanders finished the game with 116 rushing yards on 25 carries, his fourth consecutive 100-yard performance, and added 9 receptions for 76 receiving yards.
In their next meeting that season, held in Minnesota, the Lions delivered one of their strongest performances against the Vikings. The Lions' defense intercepted QB Rich Gannon three times and recorded six sacks. On offense, Barry Sanders had one of the most outstanding games of his career, rushing for 220 yards and four touchdowns as he led the Lions to a 34–14 victory. The 220 rushing yards set a franchise record for the most in a single game by a player, a mark Sanders would later surpass himself in 1994. His four rushing touchdowns also set a franchise record for the most in a single game by a player, a record that still stands. The victory completed a season sweep of the Vikings for the first time since the 1962 season, ending a 29-year drought.