Halftime analysis: Lions take slim lead, first ever North crown is within reach

MINNEAPOLIS — It hasn’t always been pretty. It definitely hasn’t been easy. But the Detroit Lions have managed to take a 17-14 lead on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, leaving them just 30 minutes from clinching their first division title since 1993.

The could have been up by so much more if they hadn’t been sliced up for a touchdown in the final month of the half, but they do have a lead. They’re at their best in these types of games, grinding down the game clock while running behind their vaunted offensive line, and taking to the air to hit defenses over the top.

They wasted no time taking an early lead in this one either, marching 75 yards on 12 plays and scoring on a 1-yard run by David Montgomery on their first series of the day. Everything Ben Johnson called seemed to work, as Jared Goff completed five passes to five different receivers, including chunk plays by Josh Reynolds and Amon-Ra St. Brown, plus a brilliant 12-yard catch-and-run by Jameson Williams that moved the sticks on second-and-long.

But the Vikings defense is so good — no one has allowed fewer points this season — and they gave Detroit some fits after that. Jahmyr Gibbs lost a fumble on the next series, then Minnesota forced a three-and-out after that, while marching back the other way for a game-tying touchdown.

Brian Branch, one of the best rookie cornerbacks in the league this season, made two huge blunders that led to that Minnesota score, first getting flagged for defensive holding on a third-down stop in the end zone, then dropping a ball that hit him squarely in both hands. For a guy who has nabbed two interceptions with one hand this season, the play was shocking, and led to a game-tying touchdown run.

But Branch avenged his error with monster plays on each of the next two drives, picking off a fourth-down pass on the following drive, then forcing a third-down fumble when he crushed Nick Mullins as the Vikings quarterback released the football.

Ifeatu Melifonwu, another young defensive back, nearly had a fumble himself and already has two sacks overall. Kerby Joseph, yet another young defensive back, atoned for some early mistakes by picking off a pass that led to the final touchdown of the half, a 14-yard run by rookie sensation Jahmyr Gibbs.

The defense has played well, all things considered, although they were gutted for three 20-yard passes on a drive right before halftime, the last of which wound up in the hands of Justin Jefferson for a 26-yard touchdown. That turned a 10-point lead into just three in the final minute of the half.

It hasn’t always been pretty. It definitely hasn’t been easy. But the Lions do lead by three points, and while it should have been more than that, they’re just 30 minutes away from eliminating Minnesota for good in the NFC North race.