Vikings-Lions live score updates: Sunday Night Football for the No. 1 seed

Follow along as the Vikings and Lions battle for the NFC North crown on Sunday night.

Ford Field ahead of the massive regular season finale between the Lions and Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 5 / Will Ragatz, Vikings On SI

It's almost time for one of the biggest regular season games in NFL history. And no, that's not hyperbole.

The stage is all set for the 14-2 Vikings and the 14-2 Lions to play for all the marbles here at Ford Field in Detroit. The winner of this game gets the NFC North title and the No. 1 seed in the conference, which means a first-round bye and home-field advantage beyond that. The loser falls to the No. 5 seed and has to go to Los Angeles next weekend to play the Rams in the first round, despite winning 14 games.

The way the NFL playoff format works has resulted in a regular season finale with unbelievable stakes between these two juggernaut division rivals, who can each reasonably make a case as the best team in the league. It's going to be quite the clash, full of playoff-like intensity and a playoff-like atmosphere. The loser won't be eliminated from Super Bowl contention, but it'll be a tough pill to swallow nonetheless.

When the Lions have the ball, it'll be a heavyweight fight between one of the league's elite offenses and one of its elite defenses. Detroit OC Ben Johnson is 3-0 in his matchups against Minnesota DC Brian Flores, but the Vikings have Blake Cashman in this game after being without him in the first meeting between these teams this year. Fourth down attempts and trick plays could loom large.

Vikings-Lions preview: Big questions, key matchups, and X factors

When the Vikings have the ball, it'll be Sam Darnold looking to cap off his incredible season with a 15th win in the biggest of circumstances. He's got plenty of weapons at his disposal, none more important than Justin Jefferson, who has feasted in all four games he's played at Ford Field in his career. The Lions' injury-depleted defense is strongest at the safety position (Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch) and does get linebacker Alex Anzalone back from IR tonight.

This should be an incredible one. Follow along for live updates below:

Live updates

Fourth quarter

Lions 31, Vikings 9

5:14 — Jahmyr Gibbs just scored his fourth touchdown. This one is over.

10:13 — The Vikings just punted after Darnold was blitzed and sacked. Their hopes are on life support now.

Lions 24, Vikings 9

13:06 — Jahmyr Gibbs just scored his third touchdown of the game. It's now a two-score game. The Vikings have simply missed way too many opportunities tonight against an elite team.

Third quarter

0:00 — This is major trouble now for the Vikings. They chose to kick on 4th and 4 from the 34 and Will Reichard missed wide right from 51 yards out. On the previous play, it looked like pass interference went uncalled.

Lions 17, Vikings 9

2:30 — The pressure is now on the Vikings' offense in a big way. The Lions just went 70 yards on 13 plays and scored on Jahmyr Gibbs' second touchdown of the day, this one a 10-yard reception on 4th and 2.

Lions 10, Vikings 9

9:55 — The Vikings stall out again and have to kick a field goal. Will Reichard hits it from 51 yards to make it a one-point game again.

11:50 — Second interception of the game for the Vikings. Harrison Smith snags a deep ball from Goff.

11:58 — This is just unbelievable at this point. The Vikings turned it over on downs in the low red zone again. They're now 0 for 4 in the red zone.

Second quarter

Halftime: Lions 10, Vikings 6

0:00 — Will Reichard's kickoff went out of bounds and the Lions capitalized with a Jake Bates field goal. That's a brutal mistake in a game with margins this small. Vikings get the ball after the break.

Lions 7, Vikings 6

0:20 — The Vikings have come up short in the red zone on three consecutive possessions. After another field goal, it's a one-point deficit late in the half.

3:37 — Jonathan Bullard deflects a Goff pass at the line of scrimmage on 4th and 1 for a huge turnover on downs.

Lions 7, Vikings 3

6:35 — Darnold continues to be off. An Ivan Pace Jr. deflected interception set the Vikings up with first and goal at the 7, but Darnold missed Justin Jefferson twice and Minnesota had to settle for a field goal.

10:10 — The Vikings had second and goal at the Lions' 3 and threw incomplete three straight times for a turnover on downs. Sam Darnold looks off so far.

13:10 — The Vikings' defense comes up with a massive stop. Andrew Van Ginkel had a huge hit for a TFL and Jonathan Greenard followed it up with a sack.

First quarter

0:00 — The Lions already have the ball back as the quarter comes to a close. Sam Darnold took a 17-yard sack and then missed T.J. Hockenson on third and long, so the Vikings punted again.

Lions 7, Vikings 0

1:43 — The Lions' offense is elite for a reason. After converting a fourth down, Jahmyr Gibbs races 25 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. It was always going to take plenty of points to win this game.

7:01 — After a couple first downs, the Vikings have to punt on their opening drive as well. They had a false start on the series. It's extremely loud in this building.

11:00 — The Vikings open the game with a big defensive stop. They gave up one third-down conversion but then got a Jonathan Greenard TFL to force a punt.