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DETROIT -- Matthew Stafford led another crucial drive late in the fourth quarter, and Matt Praters kicking again helped Detroit to a tight victory over Minnesota.For the second time this month, the Lions edged the Vikings. This time, they didnt need overtime.Praters 40-yard field goal on the final play gave Detroit a 16-13 victory Thursday, moving the Lions a game ahead of Minnesota atop the NFC North. Darius Slay intercepted Sam Bradfords pass with 30 seconds remaining to set up the winning kick.On Nov. 6 at Minnesota, Stafford led the Lions into range for Praters 58-yard field at the end of regulation, and Detroit went on to win 22-16 in overtime . Now the Lions (7-4) have sole possession of first place after Thursdays victory.Obviously, were in decent position, but they dont hand out trophies and things of that nature after a few wins like weve had, Detroit coach Jim Caldwell said. But were happy that we were able to find a way to pull them out, thats for sure.The Vikings (6-5) were facing third down in the final minute when Slay stepped up in coverage and intercepted Bradford. His return gave the Lions the ball at the Minnesota 20, and although there was some initial question about whether Slay fumbled at the end of the play, the call was upheld. Detroit ran the clock down, and Praters kick won it.The Vikings led 13-10 and had the Lions pinned back at their own 2 with 5:02 remaining, but Stafford made a 29-yard pass to Anquan Boldin on a crucial third down, and Detroit was able to work its way into position for Praters 48-yard field goal that tied it with 1:45 to play.The Lions have won six of their last seven, and Minnesota has dropped five of six since starting the season 5-0. Now the Vikings will have to rally to win a division that once looked like theirs for the taking.You just keep moving forward. Obviously, theres a lot of football left to play and theres still five games left, Bradford said. All we can do is worry about who we have next week and thats Dallas. Obviously, its a really big game for us.Here are a few things we learned from Detroits big Thanksgiving victory:STANDINGSThe Lions havent won a division title since 1993, and this is certainly a big opportunity for them. Not only are they one game ahead of the Vikings, but they also have the tiebreaker, having swept the season series against Minnesota. And Green Bay (4-6) has fallen back with four straight losses.However, the Vikings could still be heard from down the stretch. Minnesota hosts Dallas next, but none of its final four opponents (Jacksonville, Indianapolis, Green Bay and Chicago) has a winning record at the moment.The Lions, meanwhile, still have road games against Dallas and the New York Giants.MOBILITYStafford is having a terrific season with his arm, but he also showed some effectiveness as a runner Thursday. He ended up with 30 yards on four carries, giving the offense a boost when little else was working.He always adds a couple in there for us. I do think hes a weapon in that regard, Caldwell said. Teams that play some man-to-man in those situations and turn their back on the ball, he finds a way to find a hole and skate through it. He makes good decisions in that regard and those runs are very, very important to us.NOT ENOUGHBradford is very accurate with quick, short passes , but thats not always enough to win. He went 31 of 37 but threw for only 224 yards, and the Vikings managed only one touchdown in the game.CLUTCHThe Lions can feel confident in their kicker in important spots. All 11 of Detroits games this season have been decided by seven points or fewer, and Prater has come up big.In his career, Prater has made 18 game-winning or game-tying field goals with under 4:00 to play in the fourth quarter or in overtime. Six of those kicks have come in 2016.The 40-yarder at the end Thursday was no problem.Its still a short enough kick where you should be making that kick 100 percent of the time, he said.TOUGH UP FRONTThe Vikings defense is still looking strong. After Detroit drove 75 yards for a touchdown on the games first possession, the Lions didnt reach the end zone again. Detroit managed only 90 yards in the second half.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL .---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtristerTerron Armstead Jersey . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Zach Strief Jersey .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. http://www.customsaintsjersey.com/custom-earl-campbell-jersey-large-542e.html . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. Eli Apple Jersey . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Pat Swilling Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable.EAST LANSING, Mich. -- A doctor accused of sexual abuse by two gymnasts -- including a former U.S. Olympian -- was investigated by Michigan State University authorities in 2014 over a another allegation of misconduct, but the school found no violation of its policy.School spokesman Kent Cassella said Tuesday that local prosecutors did not file charges two years ago following an investigation by MSU police.The revelation of a complaint by the Michigan State graduate comes after two gymnasts, including a member of the 2000 U.S. womens Olympic team, said they were sexually abused as teenagers by Larry Nassar, a former longtime doctor for USA Gymnastics.Nassar is accused of sexually groping and fondling the Olympian during her elite career, according to a lawsuit filed last week in California by the athlete under the name Jane Doe.The second gymnast, Rachael Denhollander of Louisville, Kentucky, told the Indianapolis Star newspaper that Nassar sexually abused her in 2000 while she underwent treatment for lower back pain at Michigan State, where Nassar is a faculty member. She said she filed a complaint last month with university police.Michigan State temporarily reassigned Nassar, 53, from clinical and patient duties as of Aug. 30, a day after Denhollanders complaint was made to authorities. Cassella said that was the first time the school was aware of the allegation.Cassella said the school investigated Nassar previously, however.In a separate incident in 2014, MSU authorities investigated a complaint of misconduct against Larry Nassar, Cassella said in an email. The complaint, filed by a recent female MSU graduate at the time, involved an allegation of abuse during a medical procedure. An administrative investigation revealed no violation of MSU policy, and the local prosecutors office did not file charges after an investigation by MSU police.During the investigation, Nassar was temporarily reassigned from his clinical and patient duties.Nassars attorney, Matthew Borgula, defended the doctor in an email to The Associated Press on Tuesday night.MSU and local authorities conducted aan investigation and found that there was no violation of law, nor of MSU policy and no lawsuit was ever filed.ddddddddddddDr. Nassar met with authorities at the time and completely cooperated, Borgula said. This claim, like the current allegations bantered about in the press, are wholly without merit. Dr. Nassar has never conducted any medical procedure at MSU without the full consent of his patient, and if the patient is a minor, without the parents consent.He has never been sued, until the recent lawsuit filed in California, and he has never been charged with a crime, it continued. He has been a physician for over 23 years, and part of the USA Gymnastics medical team for 29. During that time, no one has ever lodged a complaint against him that he was aware.USA Gymnastics released a statement Monday night indicating that it cut ties with Nassar when the organizations President Steve Penny went to authorities immediately after learning of athlete concerns about Nassar in the summer of 2015.When asked Tuesday by the AP if it notified Michigan State or other entities affiliated with Nassar about the concerns raised, USA Gymnastics spokesperson Leslie King referred back to the organizations statement on Monday.USA Gymnastics has cooperated fully with the law enforcement agency since we first notified them of the matter, including -- at their request -- refraining from making further statements or taking any other action that might interfere with the agencys investigation, the statement read.USA Gymnastics has not identified the organization it contacted, also at the request of the law enforcement agency.USA Gymnastics said Tuesday night it was not contacted about Michigan States 2014 investigation of Nassar.Cassella said the school didnt consider contacting USA Gymnastics in 2014 because the administrative investigation revealed no violation of MSU policy and no charges were filed.---AP Sports Writer Will Graves in Pittsburgh contributed to this report. 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