Three keys to the Vikings' 31-9 loss to the Lions in the regular-season finale

Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs

Gibbs was unstoppable Sunday night, scoring all four of Detroit’s touchdowns and accounting for 170 of his team’s 394 total yards.

He carried the ball 23 times for a season-high 139 yards. He rushed in touchdowns from 25, 13 and 4 yards and had a non-scoring chunk play of 47 yards when he burst out past the line toward the right sideline, unable to be tackled by Vikings safety Camryn Bynum. That play pushed him over the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season.

Gibbs added 31 yards and a touchdown receiving.

Vikings' failed red-zone fourth-down attempt on the opening drive of the second half

The Vikings started the second half with the ball trailing a manageable 10-6. They moved 68 yards downfield, the most they had all game, powered by a 58-yard rush by running back Cam Akers.

On first-and-goal at the Lions 5-yard line, the Vikings handed off to Akers for no gain and then running back Aaron Jones, who picked up 3 yards. Quarterback Sam Darnold’s pass went incomplete on third.

Between the second and third quarters, the Vikings had six drives finish in Detroit territory, four in the red zone and three inside the 10.

They never once reached the end zone. That early third-quarter drive was the closest the Vikings got, and they came up empty-handed.

3 catches on 9 targets

Darnold connected with wide receiver Justin Jefferson on only a third of his targets. Jefferson was targeted nine times but finished with only three receptions. Three of his targets that did not turn to completions came consecutively in the end zone during the second quarter when the Vikings were down 7-0.

Both players shared blame in the failure to connect. Jefferson couldn’t haul in a few close calls he typically would and dropped one late, though the Vikings were already out of the game by then. Darnold finished the night 18-for-41 for just 166 yards, his fewest of the season.

The Vikings once again come off a loss to the Lions and head west to face the Rams, who fell to the NFC’s fourth seed with a loss against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday while playing backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Last time the two teams met in Week 8, it was a Thursday night matchup creating a quick-turn week for the Vikings, who lost 30-20.

Sept. 8: W, 28-6 at N.Y. Giants

Sept. 15: W, 23-17 vs. San Francisco

Sept. 22: W, 34-7 vs. Houston

Sept. 29: W, 31-29 at Green Bay

Oct. 13: Bye

Oct. 20: L, 31-29 vs. Detroit

Oct. 24: L, 30-20 at L.A. Rams

Nov. 3: W, 21-13 vs. Indianapolis

Nov. 10: W, 12-7 at Jacksonville

Nov. 24: W, 30-27 OT at Chicago

Dec. 1: W, 23-22 vs. Arizona

Dec. 8: W, 42-21 vs. Atlanta

Dec. 16: W, 30-12 vs. Chicago

Dec. 22: W, 27-24 at Seattle