A questionable
pass interference penalty on
Leigh Bodden put Minnesota’s
woeful offense in position for a
26-yard field goal by Ryan
Longwell with 9 seconds to go
that lifted the Vikings to a
12-10 victory Sunday, keeping
the Lions winless on the season.
Detroit (0-5) seemed to outplay
the Vikings for the entire game
in a spirited effort, but the
Vikings (3-3) got a boost from a
call by field judge Mike Weir.
Trailing 10-9 in the final 3
minutes, the Vikings had a
second-and-20 from their 32. Gus
Frerotte threw deep down the
sideline for Aundrae Allison,
and the ball fell incomplete.
But Weir whistled cornerback
Leigh Bodden for pass
interference despite what
appeared to be minimal
contact...more
Scoring Summary
DET - MIN
1st Quarter
0:18
MIN
SY
Dan Orlovsky sacked for a safety
0 - 2
2nd Quarter
1:56
DET
FG
Jason Hanson kicked a 40-yard field goal
3 - 2
3rd Quarter
8:22
DET
TD
Dan Orlovsky passed to Calvin Johnson to the right for
12 yard gain (Jason Hanson made PAT)
10 - 2
4:33
MIN
TD
Gus Frerotte passed to Bernard Berrian to the left for
86 yard gain (Ryan Longwell made PAT)
10 - 9
4th Quarter
0:09
MIN
FG
Ryan Longwell kicked a 26-yard field goal
10 - 12
Team Statistics
DET
MIN
First Downs
6
17
Passing
4
10
Rushing
2
5
Penalty
0
2
Third Down Efficiency
2-13
3-15
Fourth Down Efficiency
0-0
0-0
TOTAL NET YARDS
212
392
Total Plays
51
69
Average Gain Per Play
4.2
5.7
NET YARDS RUSHING
100
135
Rushes
24
31
Average Per Rush
4.2
4.4
NET YARDS PASSING
112
257
Completions-Attempts
12-21
18-33
Yards Per Pass Play
4.1
6.8
Times Sacked
6
5
Yards Lost to Sacks
38
39
Had Intercepted
0
1
PUNTS
9
8
Average Punt
45.8
51.9
PENALTIES
5
7
Penalty Yards
96
99
FUMBLES
3
4
Fumbles Lost
1
2
TIME OF POSSESSION
27:28
32:32
Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News
Preview:
Though his team has been thoroughly overmatched this season,
wide receiver Roy Williams still thinks the Detroit Lions have a shot at
reaching the playoffs.
Before considering that lofty goal, they probably should focus on ending one of
the NFL's longest active road losing streaks against an opponent.
On Sunday, the woeful Lions will try to snap a 10-game slide at the Metrodome as
they meet the Minnesota Vikings, who will try to build off their biggest win of
2008.
Poor play and front-office turmoil this season have established the Lions as
perhaps one of the worst teams in recent memory
...
LIONS: The Lions
have to find some way to keep from falling behind so badly. Four games,
four awful deficits - 21-0, 21-0, 21-3, 31-0. They tried a no-huddle
offense Sunday against Chicago, but expect them to go back to a more
traditional running game with play-action passes, roll outs and
bootlegs. The defense must stop running back Adrian Peterson, but even
if the Lions find a way to do that, they could be in trouble. They rank
last against the pass. They have only four sacks and no interceptions
this season...FULL
STORY
VIKINGS: The
Vikings should dominate on both sides of the ball against what appears
to be another awful Detroit club. One would certainly think the Vikings
running game could get back on track after being held to 44 yards on 26
carries by the Saints on Monday night. The Lions are last in the NFL in
total defense and 30th against the run. Their pass defense isn't much
better at No. 29. This should be good news for running back Adrian
Peterson, who averaged only 1.5 yards per carry against the Saints, but
had 116 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns in a 42-10 victory over
the Lions last December at the Metrodome...FULL
STORY
Since division
realignment in 2002, the Vikings hold an 11-1 record against the Lions
and Detroit hasn't won a game in Minnesota since a14-13 win in 1997
Detroit has run the ball just 66 times
(16.5 per game) in 2008, fewest among all teams in the league
Adrian Peterson is averaging 115.4
yards per game at home since joining the league in 2007, best of any
player in football
23.2
19.4