They grabbed two interceptions off Lions quarterback Jared Goff, marking only the third time all season Goff threw multiple picks in a game. Goff opened the game dicing up Vikings blitzes, but safety Josh Metellus got the upper hand when he tipped a hurried Goff throw into the air for linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. to intercept in the second quarter.
During the Lions’ first possession of the second half, safety Harrison Smith made a leaping interception on a deep throw intended for Lions receiver Jameson Williams, giving Vikings the ball back right after they were stopped on fourth down.
The Vikings offense settled for field goals off both takeaways.
Edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel nearly had a third pick-six of the season when he jumped a screen attempt, but Van Ginkel dropped the would-be interception. The Lions capped that fourth-quarter drive with a touchdown to gain a 24-9 lead.
Rookie Will Reichard, a sixth-round pick, made the first 35 kicks of his NFL career, but he was uneven again for a second week in a row. Reichard made three field goals, from 51, 31, and 25 yards, while missing another attempt from 51 yards wide right.
Last week against the Packers, Reichard missed two field goals and had a kickoff land short of the landing zone (a penalty that puts the offense at the 40-yard line). Sunday, he again gave an opponent good field position when he sent a kickoff out of bounds with 20 seconds left in the first half.