Seth Udinski, FISM News
The biggest headline from week 13 in the NFL was that the formerly winless Detroit Lions won a game for the first time since December of 2020, much to the delight of Lions fans nationwide. The team won 29-27 in dramatic fashion against their hated rivals, the Minnesota Vikings.
After squandering a 20-6 lead, the Lions got the ball with less than two minutes to play, down 27-23 after the Vikings had taken the lead on a short Kirk Cousins touchdown pass to Justin Jefferson. Lions veteran QB Jared Goff marched the team down the field reaching the Vikings’ 11 yard line with only four seconds left, just enough time for one final shot at the end zone. Goff took the snap and fired the game-winning walk off touchdown pass to Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, sending the hometown crowd at Ford Field in Detroit into a frenzy.
GOFF TO ST. BROWN AND THE LIONS WIN AT THE BUZZER! #OnePride #MINvsDET pic.twitter.com/duobP8B2ZK
— NFL (@NFL) December 5, 2021
The Vikings’ playoff hopes took a huge blow, as the team dropped to 5-7. Detroit, on the other hand, improved to 1-10-1 on the year.
In other NFL news, the Philadelphia Eagles stayed afloat in the NFC playoff picture thanks to an impressive performance from backup quarterback and fan favorite Gardner Minshew, who filled in for an injured Jalen Hurts. Minshew completed his first 11 passes and guided the Eagles to a 33-18 win over the New York Jets, improving to 6-7. This puts them only a half-game behind their division rivals, the Washington Football Team, for the final NFC wild card spot.
Washington conquered the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday in the late window, improving to 6-6 and dropping Las Vegas to the same record. Philadelphia and Washington will play each other twice before the season ends, in two contests that will likely be instrumental in the NFC wild card picture.