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Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, Oct. 12 // Noon // Metrodome // Minneapolis, Minn.
Game Summary
After gaining their second win last weekend at New Orleans, the Minnesota Vikings (2-3) will return to the comfort of the Metrodome to take on the Detroit Lions (0-4) in the Vikings second divisional game of the 2008 season.
The Vikings have won 17 of the last 20 contests between the two teams and hold a 61-30-2 lead in the overall series. Sunday’s matchup features the Vikings ninth-ranked defense against the Lions 28th-ranked offense. The Vikings are currently third in the league against the run and eighth in first downs allowed.
Head Coach Brad Childress is 3-1 against the Lions since taking over in 2006, with his only loss coming in overtime at Detroit in Week Two last season, 20-17.
Before The Game
Prior to the game the Vikings will honor former LB Wally Hilgenberg, who passed away on Tuesday, September 23, from ALS. Hilgenberg’s family will be present on the field to sound the Gjallarhorn, and the Vikings will observe a moment of silence.
Originally drafted by Detroit in 1964, Hilgenberg played for the Vikings from 1968-1979 and started 116 of the 157 games in which he played. He played in all four Vikings Super Bowl appearances and ranks 12th in team history (7th among Vikings linebackers) with 739 total tackles.
A Win Would...
- Improve the Vikings overall record against the Lions to 62-30-2.
- Give the Vikings a 34-12-1 home record against Detroit.
- Increase Minnesota’s current winning streak against the Lions at the Metrodome to 11.
- Improve the Vikings record against the NFC North to 157-121-5.
- Give the Vikings an all-time record of 105-85-1 in October.
- Give the Vikings their first back-to-back wins since December 2007 (Dec. 17-23).
ThinkPink!
With October designated as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the team has declared Sunday’s game as the Vikings THINKPINK!® Game and has teamed up with Zeta Tau Alpha’s Twin Cities Alumnae Chapter to distribute 25,000 pink ribbons and educational materials to help raise awareness about breast cancer as part of the ZTA THINKPINK!® campaign.
In conjunction with the pink ribbons, the Vikings will use PA announcements and matrix board messages to give fans pertinent information on how to help in the fight against breast cancer. Vikings cheerleaders will use pink pom-poms while team ownership and staff will wear ZTA Think Pink ribbon pins.
Broadcast Information - Radio
KFAN AM 1130 // Pregame show begins at 10 a.m.; game broadcast begins at Noon
KTLK FM 100.3 // Picks up coverage at 11 a.m.; game broadcast begins at Noon
Click here to view the 2008 Minnesota Vikings Radio Network Information for those that live outside of the Twin Cities area.
Don't live within the listening area? Sign up for the NFL Field Pass and you can listen to every Vikings game live.
Broadcast Information - Television
KMSP Channel 9 - Pregame show begins at 11 a.m.; game broadcast begins at Noon
Other Notes
Pregame Collections: Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity – THINK PINK!® Campaign to Support Breast Cancer Education and Awareness. The Twin Cities ZTA Alumnae Chapter has teamed up with the Minnesota Vikings for the past four years supporting the ZTA THINK PINK!® campaign and distributing over 60,000 pink ribbons to football fans. Thank you fans for your generous contributions to the ZTA THINK PINK!® campaign on your way into the Metrodome today. Donations will be used to help fund breast cancer awareness programs and educational materials. For more information on the ZTA Foundation, or to find out how you can help, please visit www.zetataualpha.org.
Don’t forget to bring your non-perishable food donations to the next Vikings home game on Sunday, November 2 versus the Houston Texans. Volunteers will be collecting Food Drive donations outside of all Metrodome gates.
Honorary Vikings: Prior to each home game, one privileged individual will serve as the Honorary Viking and sound the Gjallarhorn to signal “THE VIKINGS ARE COMING”. In remembrance of the late Wally Hilgenberg, today’s Honorary Vikings are members of the Hilgenberg family.
#58 Wally Hilgenberg was a talented linebacker and played for the Vikings from 1968-1979. During his career in Minnesota, the hard-hitting, feared linebacker was one of few players to appear in all four Vikings Super Bowl appearances. Hilgenberg, one of the franchise’s all-time great players and one of its most respected family members, passed away on September 23 after a battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). On behalf of its coaches, players, staff and fans, the Minnesota Vikings extend their deepest sympathy to the Hilgenberg family.
Vikings of Tomorrow Pregame Scrimmage: St. Croix Valley Athletic Association Youth Football
Vikings of Tomorrow Postgame Scrimmage: Big Lake vs. Monticello Youth Football
National Anthem: Guitar Slinging International Recording Artist Shannon Curfman
Color Guard: Anoka County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard
Honorary Captains: Karen Collier, Breast Cancer Survivor and Lisa Dierbeck, ZTA Think PINK!® Campaign Representative
Halftime Entertainment: Vikings of Tomorrow Mascot Challenge
Other Information
Tailgating near the Metrodome? Click here to get the latest forecast and weather information.
For more information on tailgating around the Metrodome, including info on purchasing a season pass, click here.
Click here view information on the activities that will be happening on the Metrodome Plaza before the game starts.
Metrodome Driving Directions // Game Day Security // General Information
Get up-to-the-second traffic information via Mn-DOT.
Single Game Tickets - All Games
Detroit / Green Bay Two-Game Pack
Single Game Tickets vs. Detroit
Group Tickets
Vikings TicketExchange
Lions at Vikings Press Release // 3 MB PDF
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Fantasy Focus
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Vikings-Lions Preview
Vikings Blog: Update From Winter Park
NFC North Notebook
Depth Chart