Night of firsts: The Lions won back-to-back division titles for first time in franchise history. They clinched the NFC's No. 1 seed for the first time ever. Detroit swept their division (6-0) for the first time. They also set single-season records in total yards (6,962), rushing touchdowns (29) and most games (10) with 30-plus points. It's been a heck of a season so far and hopefully it's far from over.
Aaron Glenn masterpiece: For any of the teams looking for a new head coach this cycle, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has to be near the top of the list. The job he's done all year patch-working this defense together despite the injuries has been remarkable. He came up with a terrific plan for an explosive Vikings offense and his players executed it to perfection. It was special stuff. He's a leader of men who inspires his players and that's job No. 1 for any head coach.
Robertson comes up big: How good was Amik Robertson Sunday night? His versatility has been such a big asset for this team all season with his ability to play inside in the slot and out wide. He was given the assignment early in the week to cover Vikings All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson and gave up three catches on nine targets for 54 yards. He was awarded his first-ever game ball by head coach Dan Campbell, and it was so well-deserved.
Record setting season: Second-year running back Jahmyr Gibbs has propelled himself into the conversation as one of the best running backs in the NFL. He's 22 years old. Gibbs totaled 170 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns vs. Minnesota and became just the fourth player in NFL history to produce a season with at least 1,900 scrimmage yards, 16 rushing touchdowns and four receiving touchdowns, joining David Johnson (2016), Marshall Faulk (2000) and O.J. Simpson (1975).
Anzalone back: The reception Alex Anzalone got from the Ford Field crowd when his name was called with the starters was electric. His play on the field for the next three hours was even more electric. He provided a huge spark for the defense and did a great job all night playing the run and the pass. He drew the assignment of covering Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson most of the night and Hockenson finished with two catches for nine yards on eight targets. Anzalone had seven tackles, a quarterback hit and a pass defended. It was good to see No. 34 back in the lineup.
Front seven got after it: Credit the front seven on defense for getting after Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold Sunday and making things tough on the veteran all night. The Lions hit Darnold 10 times and pressured him countless more as Sunday was one of the best examples all year of this defense mirroring the rush and coverage to perfection.
Go inside the Detroit Lions locker room following the team's division-clinching victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell celebrates after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) celebrate after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions General Manager and Executive Vice President Brad Holmes celebrates after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions guard Kevin Zeitler (71), Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60), Detroit Lions offensive lineman Christian Mahogany (73), Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77), Detroit Lions guard Kayode Awosika (74), Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58), Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68), Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75), Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70), Detroit Lions offensive lineman Michael Niese (62), and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) celebrate after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) and Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) celebrate after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) and Detroit Lions General Manager and Executive Vice President Brad Holmes celebrate after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) and Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell celebrate after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell celebrates after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) and Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell celebrate after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions guard Kevin Zeitler (71), Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60), Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77), Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58), and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) celebrate after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) is awarded a game ball after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Michael Niese (62), Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68), Detroit Lions guard Kevin Zeitler (71), Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13), Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58), Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26), Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60), Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77), Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5), Detroit Lions guard Kayode Awosika (74), and Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70) celebrate after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell and Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70) celebrate after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell celebrates after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) and Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) celebrate after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) receives a game ball after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell celebrates after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell celebrates after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) and Detroit Lions General Manager and Executive Vice President Brad Holmes celebrate after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell awards Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) a game ball after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) is awarded a game ball after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34), and Detroit Lions General Manager and Executive Vice President Brad Holmes after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Got-to-have-it situations: The Vikings went 0-for-4 in the red zone, which included an 0-for-3 showing in goal-to-go situations. Conversely, Detroit rolled in the red zone, with a perfect 3-for-3 showing that included punching it into the end zone in their lone goal-to-go opportunity.
Field position optimization specialist: Pro Bowl punter Jack Fox set the single-season NFL record in net average (46.2) while finishing sixth in gross average (51.0). He became the first punter in NFL history to average at least 51.0 gross yards and 46.0 net yards per punt in a season.
Pressure cookers: What a game for Levi Onwuzurike Sunday. The fourth-year defensive lineman lived in the backfield most of the night and racked up eight quarterback hurries. Al-Quadin Muhammad had five hurries and Za'Darius Smith chipped in three. Detroit had 33 total pressures and 22 hurries in the contest as they dominated the line of scrimmage against the Vikings.
