Vikes clamp down on NFC North
Keenum, defense lift Minnesota to threegame division lead.
Case Keenum threw DETROIT — for two touchdowns and ran for a score all in the first half to
— — give the Minnesota Vikings a double-digit lead and they went on to beat the Detroit Lions 30-23 on Thursday.
The Vikings (9-2) took a huge step toward winning the NFC North, taking a three-game lead over the second-place Lions.
Detroit (6-5) made mistakes in every phase of the game and Minnesota took advantage.
Keenum was 21 of 30 for 282 yards with both TD passes to Kyle Rudolph that gave the Vikings a 20-3 lead late in the second quarter.
The Lions rallied to pull within four points early in the fourth quarter on Matthew Stafford’s second TD pass to Marvin Jones.
Xavier Rhodes ended Detroit’s comeback hopes with an interception at the Detroit 37 late in the game.
Detroit’s Darius Slay blocked a field goal with 1:15 left and teammate Nevin Lawson recovered the ball and returned it 77 yards for an apparent touchdown, but it was negated by Slay being offsides, and that quieted a roaring crowd at Ford Field.
By the numbers
■ Latavius Murray had 84 yards rushing and a 2-yard score, giving the Vikings a 27-10 lead early in the third quarter.
■ Minnesota’s Adam Thielen had eight receptions for 89 yards and Everson Griffen had two sacks, tying his career high with 12.
■ Stafford struggled even before he was hurt late in the game, missing open receivers, and finished 20 of 35 for 250 yards with two TDs and an interception on fourth down with just under three minutes left. Jones had six catches for 109 yards and two TDs. The Lions were held to a total of 53 yards rushing.
Injuries
■ Vikings: CB Trae Waynes left the game with an injured right shoulder but was able to return. RT Mike Remmers was inactive with a concussion and Rashod Hill replaced him.
■ Lions: S Tavon Wilson (shoulder) and C Travis Swanson (knee) left in the third quarter.