Vikings-Lions Live Score Updates: NFL Regular Season Week 16

Follow along as the Vikings take on the Lions on Christmas Eve.

Happy Christmas Eve, everyone. It's time for some football.

The Vikings and Lions are underway from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, where the home crowd is participating in a "winter whiteout" theme for this huge NFC North showdown. It should be a great atmosphere in Minneapolis for this one.

What's at stake for the 10-4 Lions is their first division title since 1993, which they can secure with a win or a tie. If the 7-7 Vikings win to get back above .500, they'll remain in the sixth seed in the NFC and will still be alive to repeat as division champs (if they beat the Packers in Week 17, the Lions lose to the Cowboys, and the Vikings then beat the Lions again in the regular season finale). A Vikings loss and a Seahawks win today would result in Minnesota being on the outside of the playoffs looking in.

On offense, the Vikings are once again starting Nick Mullens at quarterback. He'll be throwing to Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, and Jordan Addison, among others. Alexander Mattison is active for the Vikings, but Ty Chandler is expected to remain the lead running back this week.

Defensively, Brian Flores and the Vikings will have their hands full trying to slow down this high-powered Lions offense led by Ben Johnson and Jared Goff. Expect Flores to send a high dose of blitzes at Goff to try to force him into some mistakes. Another key matchup to watch will be the Vikings' corners going against Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams without Byron Murphy Jr.

Follow along below for live updates throughout the game.

Final score: Lions 30, Vikings 24

Read the recap here.

Live updates

Fourth quarter

0:00 — Talk about a dramatic ending. The Vikings got the stop they needed, then were driving after a miracle Justin Jefferson catch. But in the end, Nick Mullens threw his fourth interception of the game and the Lions clinched the NFC North title.

Lions 30, Vikings 24

5:19 — Greg Joseph hits a chip shot field goal to make this a one-score game again. The Vikings' defense needs a stop.

9:52 — Nick Mullens just threw his third interception, this one serving as an arm punt on third down.

Lions 30, Vikings 21

11:07 — The Lions have a two-score lead again. That was their fourth scoring drive today that lasted at least 14 plays. This one was capped by Jahmyr Gibbs' second touchdown of the afternoon. Vikings desperately need points on this next possession to give themselves a chance.

Third quarter

3:01 — The Vikings have ruled out both Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, so the Lions are paying even more attention to Justin Jefferson. That led to targets for Johnny Mundt and C.J. Ham on their most recent series.

Lions 23, Vikings 21

4:28 — Now the Lions are back on top after another methodical 75-yard touchdown drive. They converted a pair of 4th and 1s on that possession and capped it with an Amon-Ra St. Brown touchdown. The extra point was blocked by Theo Jackson, which could be significant.

Vikings 21, Lions 17

11:56 — That was surgical from the Vikings to open the second half. Nick Mullens hit T.J. Hockenson for 24 yards, then threw a 47-yard bomb to K.J. Osborn that set up a touchdown pass to Osborn. The Vikings have the lead.

Second quarter

Lions 17, Vikings 14

0:29 — Justin Jefferson is so unbelievably good at playing football. He just caught a diving 26-yard touchdown after previously having catches of 22 and 29 yards on the drive. The Vikings are right back in the game.

Lions 17, Vikings 7

1:48 — Jahmyr Gibbs just cut outside and scored from 14 yards out, expanding the Lions' lead.

2:00 — Nick Mullens threw another interception. This has been tough to watch. He had Jordan Addison open deep.

Lions 10, Vikings 7

5:05 — The Lions are back on top after kicking a field goal. They benefited from a very questionable roughing the passer call on the drive.

12:03 — Both teams have gone three and out since the Mullens interception. The scoring pace has slowed after a hot start.

First quarter

0:16 — Nick Mullens had two near-turnovers in the first quarter and now actually has one, throwing an interception to Brian Branch on a fourth down attempt.

2:02 — There's a big takeaway from the Vikings' defense. Camryn Bynum forced a Jahmyr Gibbs fumble and Ivan Pace Jr. was there to scoop it up. The offense now has excellent field position.

Lions 7, Vikings 7

2:51 — And that was quite the response by the Vikings' offense. They just ripped off a 75-yard opening touchdown drive of their own, needing nine plays to do it. Nick Mullens was cooking until he nearly threw an interception in the end zone. Ty Chandler punched it in to tie the game.

Lions 7, Vikings 0

7:13 — That was quite the opening statement by the Lions' offense. They just marched 75 yards on 14 plays, taking a 7-0 lead on a one-yard David Montgomery plunge. Jared Goff was 5 of 6 for 61 yards, hitting open receivers underneath the Vikings' zones with ease.