Tate's TD sends Lions past Vikings in OT
MINNEAPOLIS -- Golden Tate's tackle-breaking, leaping touchdown in overtime gave the Detroit Lions a 22-16 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
On third-and-8, Tate caught a pass from Matthew Stafford and spun away from Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes, who dived at Tate and missed. Tate pulled away from a tackle attempt from safety Harrison Smith along the sideline and then leaped into the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown with 8:34 left in OT as he was hit by safety Andrew Sendejo.
Detroit's offense came alive when needed in a sluggish affair as the Lions (5-4) won for the third time in four games. Matt Prater sent the game to overtime with a 58-yard field goal with two seconds left in regulation.
Stafford threw for just 219 yards but also connected with Anquan Boldin for a touchdown, and the Lions' defense stifled the Vikings under new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.
Minnesota took its first lead of the game with 23 seconds left when tight end Rhett Ellison scored on a 1-yard run to cap a 13-play, 79-yard drive that made it 16-13. Ellison lost the ball on a big hit after crossing the goal line but held on long enough for the touchdown.
Stafford's 27-yard touchdown pass to Andre Roberts set up Prater's 58-yard field goal for the tie in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter.
Sam Bradford was 31-of-40 passing for 273 yards and a touchdown to Kyle Rudolph for the Vikings.
Stefon Diggs caught a career-high 13 passes for 80 yards for Minnesota (5-3), which lost its third straight game after it was the NFL's last unbeaten team with a 5-0 start.
Detroit's Theo Riddick had a 42-yard run on the game's opening drive that led to a Prater field goal.
After Stafford was battered in the two games between the teams last season, Detroit put more emphasis on the running game with Riddick splitting time with Dwayne Washington.
Riddick had 14 carries for 70 yards and Washington added 26 yards rushing on 10 carries.
Stafford's 1-yard touchdown to Boldin capped a 17-play, 84-yard drive late in the second quarter that took 9:45 as the Lions went up 10-3 at halfftime.
Bradford came out with several quick completions in the second half to set up Rudolph's 1-yard touchdown catch. But Blair Walsh missed the extra-point attempt off the upright.
On the Vikings' next drive, Walsh had a 46-yard field-goal attempt blocked by Detroit lineman Tyrunn Walker. After Glover Quin returned the block 32 yards, the Lions went three-and-out and Prater hit a 53-yard field goal.
Minnesota was surprised during the week with offensive coordinator Norv Turner's resignation. The Vikings' offense had struggled behind a suspect offensive line that was missing three starters most of the season and had left guard Alex Boone out Sunday with a concussion.
The Vikings emphasized a quick, short passing attack with Shurmur and Bradford. Ten different players had catches for the Vikings.
Lions defensive end Kerry Hyder had two sacks to boost his season total to seven.
NOTES: Minnesota CBs Captain Munnerlyn and Marcus Sherels left the game in the first half and didn't return. The team announced Munnerlyn was having X-rays while classifying the injury as knee/ankle. Sherels, the team's punt returner, was out with an ankle injury. S Andrew Sendejo also left in the first half but returned after halftime with an unannounced injury. ... Detroit was without starting CB Darius Slay, LB DeAndre Levy and RT Riley Reiff. ... Vikings QB Sam Bradford caught a pass in the first quarter when he reacted quickly and snared a tip at the line of scrimmage. Bradford ran for five yards on his first career reception. ... Vikings first-round pick Laquon Treadwell caught his first career pass, a 15-yarder for a first down. ... Golden Tate had 11 catches for 79 yards and surpassed 400 receptions for his career.