Detroit Lions film review: What went right for defense in red zone and third down, plus some additional observations

One thing above all others fueled the Detroit Lions’ top-seed-clinching victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday: Red zone defense.

The Vikings made four trips inside the 20-yard line, had first-and-goal on three occasions, and came away with nine measly points. For all of Detroit's defensive ups and downs this season, their ability to protect the end zone has been steady. Opponents have translated just 50.9% of their red-zone trips into touchdowns, ranking seventh in the league.

Additionally, the Lions capped off a season’s worth of success on third down, holding the Vikings to 3-for-13 on those critical plays, as well as an additional 0-for-3 on fourth down.

For the season, no defense was better than the Lions on third down. Opponents converted just 32.4% in 2024, a 5% improvement from the previous season.

For this week's film review, we're going to break down the red zone trips, plus Minnesota's third- and fourth-down plays to determine why Detroit was able to have so much success.