There was a point in the fourth quarter Thursday at U.S. Bank Stadium that Minnesota’s offense – including penalties to the good and bad – had moved the ball a grand total of 70 yards over the course of the contest.

Yet the Vikings led 13-10 at that juncture.

That shouldn’t be possible, but it was reality due to a dominant Vikings defense that flustered one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses all afternoon.

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (15) celebrates his tackle of Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) for a loss in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025. The Minnesota Vikings beat the Detroit Lions, 23-10. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

Detroit entered the Christmas matinee averaging the third most yards per game in the league (378.7). It closed Thursday’s 23-10 loss to Minnesota with 231 yards. The Lions averaged 3.6 yards per play while committing six turnovers.

The Vikings, on the other end, could do nothing with the ball. The Max Brosmer-led offense compiled 161 yards, more than half of which came over the final two drives of the game, highlighted by a 65-yard Jordan Addison touchdown on an end-around to push the advantage to 20-10.

Beyond that play, Minnesota’s offense effectively just stood in place for four quarters. And that was enough to win the game.

“Seemed like it was going to be a game where we were going to win with special teams and defense, protect the football,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said.

Which only makes you wonder if that could have been the case all season.

It’s a travesty this defense won’t participate in the postseason. It’s a championship-caliber unit, one that was torpedoed by the two other phases of the game on a week-to-week basis.

Minnesota entered Week 17 ranking fifth in total yards allowed per game (296.8), including fewer than 170 through the air.

The only reason the Vikings are allowing north of 20 points per game is because the team leads the NFL in turnovers with 29, three more than the next-highest team entering the week.

The offense didn’t even threaten to move the ball Thursday, but it also didn’t give the ball away. So, in totality, that performance was somehow a massive improvement on what it delivered throughout the fall as it consistently set up the defense to fail.

The blowout loss to the Los Angeles Chargers was a total system failure for Minnesota. As for the rest of the defeats, well, let’s run through them:

Atlanta, Week 2

Minnesota trailed 6-3 before an interception gifted the Falcons a 9-3 lead. Then, trailing 12-6, Minnesota lost a fumble that resulted in another Falcons field goal to extend the deficit to two scores.

Pittsburgh, Week 4

Trailing by eight with five minutes to play in the third quarter, rather than playing conservatively and pinning the Steelers deep in their own territory, Minnesota threw the ball. It resulted in an interception. Pittsburgh drove just 35 yards for a touchdown to go up 21-6.

Philadelphia, Week 7

Trailing 7-3 early in the second quarter, Minnesota threw a pick-six on third down to extend the deficit to 14-3.

Baltimore, Week 10

Thirteen of the Ravens’ 27 points came off turnovers. Minnesota led 10-9 to open the second half that opened: Vikings interception, Baltimore field goal, Vikings fumbled kickoff return, Baltimore 23-yard touchdown “drive.”

Chicago, Week 11

Trailing 7-3 in the second quarter, a Vikings interception led to a Bears field goal that didn’t require a first down from the Chicago offense. Then, when Minnesota claimed the lead late, a massive kickoff return set up the Bears’ game-winning field goal that, again, didn’t require moving the chains a single time.

Green Bay, Week 12

Minnesota trailed 10-6 at the half. After the defense forced a stop, the Vikings muffed a punt that Green Bay recovered at the Vikings’ 5-yard line. The Packers scored a touchdown two plays later. Green Bay extended its lead to three scores later in the half on a 19-yard “drive” after a punt return set up the Packers’ offense at Minnesota’s 40 yard line.

Seattle, Week 13

Trailing 3-0 to what’s now the top seed in the NFC, Minnesota’s defense produced a strip sack to give its offense the ball at the Seahawks’ 13 yard line. But the Vikings went for it on fourth down on the ensuing drive and threw a pick six. Ten additional Seattle points came off turnovers that day, not including another Seattle field goal that required only 17 yards of offensive movement thanks to elite field position.

It all begs the question: What would Minnesota’s record have been this season had it handed the ball off every down, let every punt bounce and neglected to return a single kickoff?

OK, obviously that’s too far. But if the best teams play complementary football, what the Vikings’ offense and special teams produced through most of this season was, umm, combative?

Teams with elite kickers, punters and – most importantly – defenses should play into mid-January, and beyond. Minnesota checked all those boxes in 2025, yet was officially eliminated weeks ago. The Vikings were persistently too aggressive and careless, and it cost them week after week.

The Pioneer Press column after that Week 2 loss against Atlanta was titled: “Vikings offense needs to get out of the way.”

Had it done just that, and nothing else, the Vikings would be playoff bound.

For proof, look no further than Thursday’s victory – a resounding reminder of what could’ve, nay should’ve, been.

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Which BenQ projector is best?

There are few things more exciting than watching your favorite superhero dish out justice to nefarious villains, or tracking an aerodynamic pass from the quarterback to a wide receiver for a perfect touchdown. Of course, the best way to see all the action is on a massive TV.

But those can be impractical or prohibitively expensive. The next best solution? A much smaller projector that produces a larger-than-life 100-inch display. BenQ has fantastic options, but you can’t go wrong with the BenQ HT3550 4K Home Theater Projector. It has the highest resolution available and you can mount it to the ceiling.

What to know before you buy a BenQ projector

Consider your projection resolution

You naturally want the best viewing experience, but the highest resolution isn’t always practical. Consider what you’ll watch the most, and select a suitable projector. For example, if you only want to look at home videos and family pictures, then a BenQ projector with a 720p or 1080p resolution is perfect. However, for Hollywood blockbusters on movie night, you want a 4K resolution projector.

Projectors need a lot of space

Unlike TVs, a projector needs a fair bit of space for a clear image. This is called the throwing distance and indicates the optimal separation between the projector and the canvas or wall. For example, a BenQ short-throw projector can produce a 100-inch image from around 8 feet. You might need to move others further back to get the same visual dimension.

Portable devices use battery power

Complex BenQ projectors draw power from a wall socket, but if you want to watch content wherever you are, you might look at a portable projector.

Be aware, though, that these operate through a built-in battery that needs constant recharging. On average, you can get about three hours of viewing time from a 4,800-milliampere battery (that’s almost four times the battery capacity of an iPhone 13 Pro).

What to look for in a quality BenQ projector

Wi-Fi connection

You’re not always going to view content from a USB drive or a memory card. Especially for movie nights or family gatherings, you want a few options. For that reason, a good-quality BenQ projector can connect to a Wi-Fi network to access Netflix or YouTube. Some have Bluetooth to pair them with an additional speaker.

Image brightness matters

All projectors, not just BenQ’s, work best when the environment is as dark as possible. But sometimes you need to turn up the brightness to see things clearly. The native brightness of a projector is measured in lumens. Generally, the higher the indicated lumens, the brighter you can adjust the projector. A good-quality BenQ projector is at least 2,000 lumens.

Mounting options

You can easily place family-sized projectors on a table to produce an image, but sometimes you need a permanent solution. A good-quality BenQ projector has attachments and accessories to mount it to your ceiling. That way, it is out of sight when not used and will always be at the best throwing distance from the wall.

How much you can expect to spend on a BenQ projector

The price depends on its functions and additional features. A projector with a built-in speaker and a resolution of 720p costs $300-$500. However, a powerful 4K projector costs $1,400-$1,600.

BenQ projector FAQ

Which connections do BenQ projectors support?

A. In addition to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, many BenQ projectors can connect to HDMI sources and USB-C devices. This makes it easier if you want to mirror a mobile phone or a computer.

Do BenQ projectors have built-in speakers?

A. Most do, but the quality isn’t great. You’d be better off connecting an external speaker through Bluetooth or a 3.5-millimeter audio jack.

What’s the best BenQ projector to buy?

Top BenQ projector

BenQ HT3550 4K Home Theater Projector

What you need to know: It has a true 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels) and factory-calibrated color settings for crisp, clear visuals.

What you’ll love: The projection lens has a 10-element array to ensure the correct light level is produced, improving the sharpness and clarity. The projector only needs 8.2 feet distance to produce a 100-inch display. It has a maximum brightness of 2,000 lumens. A remote control and a power cable are included in the box.

What you should consider: Although it supports HDMI and USB, it lacks Bluetooth or Wi-Fi functions for wireless streaming.

Worth checking out

BenQ HT2060 Home Theater Projector

What you need to know: With 2,200 lumens of brightness and a maximum resolution of 4K, this is an excellent choice for home entertainment.

What you’ll love: In addition to watching films, it has a low-latency mode for playing video games. It connects to media sources through HDMI and USB and is compatible with 3D content. It has a short throwing distance, projecting a 100-inch image from 8 feet away.

What you should consider: It has a single 10-watt speaker, which isn’t sufficient for video games or high-quality films.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.

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By WILL WEISSERT Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump said Thursday night that he’d launched a “powerful and deadly” U.S. strike against Islamic State forces in Nigeria, after spending weeks accusing the West African country’s government of failing to rein in the persecution of Christians.

“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” the president posted on his social media site.

His post did not include information about how the strike was carried out, nor what effects it had. But the U.S. Africa Command posted on X that it had “conducted a strike at the request of Nigerian authorities in Soboto State killing multiple ISIS terrorists.”

“Lethal strikes against ISIS demonstrate the strength of our military and our commitment to eliminating terrorist threats against Americans at home and abroad,” its post said.

The Defense Department did not immediately answer requests for comment.

In response to Trump’s previous criticisms, Nigeria’s government says that people of many faiths, not just Christians, have suffered attacks at the hands of extremists groups.

Still, last month, Trump said he’d ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria following the claims of Christian persecution. The State Department has also announced it would restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members involved in mass killings and violence against Christians in the West African country.

And the U.S. recently designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act.

“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,” Trump wrote in his Christmas night post.

He said that U.S. defense officials had “executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing” and added that “our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.”

Nigeria’s population of 220 million is split almost equally between Christians and Muslims. The country has long faced insecurity from various fronts including the Boko Haram extremist group, which seeks to establish its radical interpretation of Islamic law and has also targeted Muslims it deems not Muslim enough.

But attacks in Nigeria often have varying motives. There are religiously motivated ones targeting both Christians and Muslims, clashes between farmers and herders over dwindling resources, communal rivalries, secessionist groups and ethnic clashes.

The U.S. security footprint has diminished in Africa, where military partnerships have either been scaled down or canceled. U.S. forces likely would have to be drawn from other parts of the world for any military intervention in Nigeria.

Trump has nonetheless kept up the pressure as Nigeria faced a series of attacks on schools and churches in violence that experts and residents say targets both Christians and Muslims.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted Thursday night on X: “The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end.”

Hegseth said that U.S. military forces are “always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas” and added, “More to come…Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation” before signing off, “Merry Christmas!”

This might be the end of the road for veteran safety Harrison Smith.

Though he hasn’t made any sort of formal announcement garnering a farewell tour — or really even hinted at his plans for the future — it wouldn’t surprise anybody if Smith decided to retire upon the conclusion of this season.

It’s fitting then that Smith turned back the clock on Christmas in what could end up being the penultimate game of his career.

Never mind that Smith is a 36-year-old who has seen pretty much everything there is to see in the NFL. He looked more like a 26-year-old in his prime while leading the Vikings to a 23-10 win over the Detroit Lions on Thursday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The stats spoke for themsleves as Smith finished with one sack, two tackles for a loss, one interception, and three passes defended. That vintage performance from Smith served a catalyst for a dominant defensive display that featured the Vikings forcing six turnovers as the Lions suffered a loss that dropped them into the cellar of the NFC North.

That made up for a historically bad offensive output that included rookie quarterback Max Brosmer completing 8 of 15 passes for 41 yards while taking seven sacks for a loss of 48 yards. It marked the first time a team has won a game with negative net passing yards since the Houston Texans beat the Oakland Raiders on Dec. 3, 2006.

It wasn’t so much that Brosmer couldn’t get anything going when he dropped back to pass. It was that it started to feel like something bad was going to happen whenever the ball was in his hands.

Luckily for the Brosmer, defensive coordinator Brian Flores made life equally miserable for veteran quarterback Jared Goff on the other end. It looked like Goff’s brain melted as he threw two interceptions in the game and lost three fumbles.

The writing was on the wall from the onset as the Vikings took control after edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel dove on a loose ball deep in enemy territory.  A few plays later, veteran running back Aaron Jones plunged into the end zone, pushing the Vikings in front 7-0 in the early stages.

The only positive momentum the Lions could generate in the game came on an 80-yard drive that took 10 minutes, 8 seconds off the clock. It ended with Goff finding receiver Isaac TeSlaa for a touchdown that tied the game at 7-7.

That held up as the score at halftime with the Vikings only gaining 36 yards of total offense at that point in the game. It was the lowest yardage for any team leading or tied at halftime in the past 20 years.

The defensive dominance from the Vikings coming out of the locker room was something else. It started with cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. hauling in an interception before Smith made an incredible break on a ball to record an interception of his own.

Both of those takeaways led to long field goals from kicker Will Reichard as the Vikings went in front 13-7.

Just when it looked like the Lions might claw their way back into the game, the Vikings forced another turnover, this time with Van Ginkel and edge rusher Dallas Turner teaming up for a strip sack before defensive tackle Jalen Redmond recovered the fumble.

After the Lions netted a field goal to cut the deficit to 13-10, the Vikings put the game away when receiver Jordan Addison took a jet sweep 65 yards to th house to make it 20-10.
Fittingly, the Vikings finalized the score at 23-10 after one final turnover by the Lions.

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