In Case they forgot, Vikes remind Lions who rules NFC North

DETROIT — Case Keenum and the Minnesota Vikings are breezing through this difficult stretch on their schedule. Now they can lose a game or two and still win the NFC North. Keenum threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns, and the Vikings never trailed in a 30-23 victory over Detroit on Thursday. Minnesota extended its lead atop the division to three games over the Lions, and the Vikings have won seven straight since a 14-7 loss to Detroit on Oct. 1. “We knew how important it was to win this game, especially after they beat us at home,” tight end Kyle Rudolph said. “This means that every goal we had at the start of the season is still on the table.” Minnesota won at Washington and beat the Los Angeles Rams before coming to Detroit and winning. The Vikings (92) now have road games against Atlanta and Carolina. But they’re sitting pretty compared to the Lions (6-5), who are now probably going to need a wild card to make the playoffs. Another slow start cost Detroit, and quarterback Matthew Stafford appeared to hurt his ankle in the fourth quarter. Stafford came back into the game, but the Lions couldn’t