Lions beat Vikings 31-9, win NFC North and No. 1 seed, dropping division rivals to No. 5

DETROIT (AP) — Jahmyr Gibbs was the game-breaking player the Detroit Lions needed to get their high-powered offense in gear — and give them a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs.

Gibbs scored three of his franchise-record tying four touchdowns in the second half, and the Lions beat the Minnesota Vikings 31-9 on Sunday night to win their second straight NFC North title.

“Everybody's got to come through here, baby!” Detroit defensive end Za'Darius Smith said to the roaring crowd after the game.

The Lions (15-2) and Vikings (14-3) could meet again in two weeks.

Banged-up Detroit will have a much-needed week off, while Minnesota plays at the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams next Monday night.

In the NFL's final game before the playoffs, two teams played in the regular season with a combined 28 victories for the first time. A No. 1 seed was determined in a regular-season finale for the third time in three-plus decades.

Dallas wrapped up the 1993 regular season against the New York Giants with a 16-13 overtime win to give the Cowboys top seeding they used to their advantage as they advanced to and won the Super Bowl. The Giants, meanwhile, beat Minnesota in the wild-card round and were routed at San Francisco the following week.

Detroit desperately hopes history repeats itself. The Lions are seeking their first Super Bowl appearance and hoping to end an NFL championship drought that dates to 1957. They are a No. 1 seed for the first time in franchise history.

“It’s not the cherry on top,” quarterback Jared Goff said. “Not yet.”

Game No. 272 of the regular season was expected to be a shootout with Pro Bowl quarterbacks leading high-scoring offenses, but Goff and Sam Darnold were not at their best.

Gibbs picked up the slack for his team.

“He’s as explosive as any player in the league," Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell said.

Gibbs had 23 carries for 139 yards with a career-high three rushing touchdowns and caught five passes for 31 yards and another score.

“He was special, and we needed him to be,” Goff said.

Goff threw two interceptions after getting picked off only once in the previous seven games and Minnesota made field goals after the turnovers in the second and third quarters.

After Vikings rookie Will Reichard connected on his third kick to cut the deficit to 10-9 early in the third, Goff directed a 13-play, 70-yard drive that took 7:25 and was capped by a slick pass to Gibbs for a 10-yard touchdown on fourth-and-2.

Goff was 8 of 8 on that possession and finished 27 of 33 for 231 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

Darnold completed fewer than half his passes in the first half, missing opportunities to pick up first downs and score touchdowns. The Vikings were 0 of 3 in the red zone through two quarters to let the Lions lead 10-6 at halftime and failed to score a touchdown when they were inside the 20 for a fourth time in the second half.

The Vikings went for it on fourth down from the Lions 3 in the second quarter and Darnold, under pressure, overthrew an open Justin Jefferson in the end zone.

Darnold threw another incomplete pass on fourth down from the Detroit 2 early in the third.

“Kicking field goals isn’t going to get it done against that team,” Darnold said. “I have to hit those throws.”

O'Connell opted to attempt a 51-yard field goal late in the third, trailing by eight, and Reichard missed wide right.

Darnold was 18 of 41, a season-low 44% completion rate, and connected with Jefferson just three times on nine targets for 54 yards.

“We didn’t do a lot of the things we did well this season,” O’Connell said. “Sam has hit a lot of those plays all year and I have every bit of confidence that he will hit it the next time.”

Vikings: OLB Patrick Jones (knee) was inactive.

Lions: LB Alex Anzalone (broken forearm) and punt returner/receiver Kalif Raymond (foot) returned from injuries to play for the first time since November. ... CB Terrion Arnold (foot) and DL Pat O’Connor (Calf) were injured during the game and OG Kevin Zeitler came off the field, holding the back of his right leg late in the game.

Vikings: Visit the Rams as the NFL's first 14-win wild card. They would earn a rematch with the Lions if they are the NFC's lowest remaining seed after wild card weekend.

Lions: Host a divisional-round game after their first bye since Week 5.

Follow Larry Lage at  https://apnews.com/author/larry-lage

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Detroit Lions' Aidan Hutchinson is seen on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks Nick Mullens (12), Brett Rypien (19) and Sam Darnold (14) walk to the field before an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) walk to the field before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) runs past Minnesota Vikings cornerback Stephon Gilmore (2) for a first down during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Minnesota Vikings place kicker Will Reichard (16) reacts after kicking a field goal against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) runs for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Detroit Lions defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) celebrates after he sacked Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is sacked by Detroit Lions defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) celebrates with teammates after he ran for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Democratic state representative's health problems could complicate the vote for Pennsylvania House speaker on Tuesday as the chamber's Democrats begin a new two-year session with the same one-seat margin they had before the November election.

Rep. Matthew Gergely had a “medical emergency over the holidays requiring hospitalization,” according to Beth Rementer, the House Democratic caucus spokesperson.

Neither Rementer nor House GOP spokesperson Jason Gottesman elaborated on what happened, but Remeter said the Allegheny County Democrat would not be there as the chamber decides whether to return Speaker Joanna McClinton of Philadelphia to the dais as its presiding officer. Members also are expected to vote on the House's internal operating rules for the new two-year session.

“We’re preparing for him not to be there today and for some time,” Rementer said in an early Tuesday email.

Gergely’s absence, the close House margin and Republican control of the Senate could complicate first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s hopes of getting things done this year.

A message seeking comment was left at Gergely's district office in McKeesport.

The House had a rule during the 2023-24 session designed to limit uncertainty under the one-seat margin. Under that rule, vacancies were credited to the party that held the seat most recently until the special election results were in. It’s not clear whether this rule would extend to the 2025-26 session, if a House vote for speaker otherwise deadlocks along party lines — 101-101. There are also remote voting procedures.

Democrats won chamber control two years ago by a single seat, 102-101, and successfully defended it while several vacancies arose and were filled by special elections. In November, not one of the 203 House seats changed parties, meaning Democrats retained majority control by the slimmest of margins.

House Republicans changed leadership since November, picking Rep. Jesse Topper of Bedford County to be their floor leader. He succeeded Rep. Bryan Cutler, a former House speaker and caucus leader who remains in the House after being reelected in a Lancaster County district.

House Democrats meanwhile have five new members after Reps. Mike Sturla of Lancaster County and former House Speaker Mark Rozzi of Berks County retired; Reps. Patti Kim of Dauphin County and Nick Pisciottano of Allegheny County relinquished their seats to make successful runs for state Senate; and Rep. Kevin Boyle of Philadelphia lost in the spring primary.

House Republicans saw Rep. Dawn Keefer win a state Senate seat in York County and Rep. Ryan Mackenzie unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Susan Wild.

In other GOP caucus changes, Rep. Rob Mercuri didn't seek reelection while running unsuccessfully for Congress in Allegheny County. Reps. Jim Gregory of Blair County and Mike Cabell of Luzerne County lost in the spring primary and six others didn't run again: Donna Oberlander of Clarion County, Jim Marshall of Beaver County, Aaron Kaufer of Luzerne County, George Dunbar of Westmoreland County, Paul Schemel of Franklin County and Barry Jozwiak of Berks County.

In the state Senate, Republican Joe Picozzi unseated freshman Democratic Sen. Jimmy Dillon in a Philadelphia district. Because Kim flipped a redistricted Harrisburg area seat, Republicans still control the chamber by the same margin, 28-22. But there is currently one Senate vacancy: Sen. Ryan Aument, a Lancaster Republican, resigned at the end of December to take a top staff job with incoming U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick.

FILE - The Pennsylvania Capitol is seen, Feb. 6, 2024, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)