Vikings vs. Lions live scores, highlights, and more on Thanksgiving

Score

Final score: Lions 16, Vikings 13

Highlights

Aretha Franklin’s beautiful rendition of the national anthem took 4 minutes and 30 seconds.

Watch Matthew Stafford find Anquan Boldin for a touchdown in the first quarter.

Sam Bradford threw a last-minute interception that sealed the game for the Lions.

Before the game

After halting their four-game losing streak last Sunday, the Vikings enter a rematch against an NFC North rival that piled onto their month-long slide: the Lions.

Three weeks ago, Minnesota was trying to rebound from back-to-back losses with a home game against Detroit that saw both offenses go stale before the Lions scored a touchdown in overtime for a 22-16 victory.

Now both teams enter a Thanksgiving showdown in Detroit with identical 6-4 records that ties them atop the division. And the way this season has gone for both sides, this could either be a shootout or snoozefest.

When the Lions and Vikings met in Minnesota, neither team was able to pass the 100-yard rushing mark while their quarterbacks attempted at least 35 passes each. Matt Stafford completed 23 of 36 passes for 219 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, while Sam Bradford connected on 31 of 40 passes for 273 and a touchdown.

A victory on Thursday would start to feel like a course correction for the Vikings, who started the season 5-0 before things began breaking down after their Week 6 bye. Minnesota will face just one team that is currently above .500, giving it an easier road to an NFC North title than Detroit, which will face the Cowboys, Giants, and Saints down the stretch.

If the Vikings are going to set themselves up to clinch the division, they’ll have to rely on a defense that is ranked third-best in the NFL (and takes the second-fewest penalties). Also helping their case is the fact that Minnesota’s weakness on defense, stopping the run, will face a Lions team that ranks third to last in rushing (3.6 yards per carry average). Minnesota is currently the worst rushing team in the league (2.7 yards per carry average), so it’s rather safe to say this one will be decided through the air.

This game will air on CBS at 12:30 p.m. ET on Thursday.

Week 12 NFC playoff picture: Lions move up to the No. 3 seed (Pride of Detroit)

A Look At Minnesota Vikings Thanksgiving History (Daily Norseman)

The history of Thanksgiving football goes back longer than just Detroit (SB Nation)