Check out the news and notes from the Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
Mr. Hippe Weather Report:
The Minnesota Vikings have never lost at Ford Field, holding a record of 5-0. The last time the Vikings played at Ford Field they walked out with a 30-20 win on December 10, 2006. The Vikings set a team record by holding the Lions to -3 rushing yards in the game. RB Artose Pinner, in his 1st start as a Viking, became only the 9th player in team history to rush for 3 touchdowns in a game and also rushed for 125 yards. Rookie Cedric Griffin earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors by forcing a fumble, recovering another, and nothing an interception. S Dwight Smith also intercepted a Jon Kitna pass and returned it 47 yards, the Vikings longest interception return of the season.
Minnesota won the toss and elected to receive.
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Shaun Cody intercepted Tarvaris Jackson to stop the Vikings first drive of the game. The interception marks the first of Cody’s NFL career.
An interception sealed the Lions first drive of the game as well. Vikings safety Darren Sharper nabbed a Jon Kitna pass in the corner of the endzone. Sharper made a great play dropping his toes to get both feet in bounds. The interception was the 50th of Sharper’s career, his 14th as a Viking safety and 10th verse the Detroit Lions.
2nd QUARTER
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson was intercepted for the second time with 14:48 remaining in the second quarter. Lions cornerback Keith Smith picked off the pass intended for Vikings receiver Robert Ferguson. Smith was downed at the Detroit 49. The interception was the second of Smith’s career.
The Lions opened the scoring with 11:13 remaining in the first half. Quarterback Jon Kitna found wide receiver Roy Williams in the middle of the endzone in-between Vikings defenders. Detroit moved 51 yards on six plays and took 3:39 off the game clock. Jason Hanson connected on that PAT and the Lions held a 7-0 lead.
Starting Lions tight end Dan Campbell suffered an elbow injury and his return today is questionable.
Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson evened the score with a 1-yard scramble around the right side. The Vikings drive went 43 yards on seven plays and took 2:44 off the game clock. Wide receiver Troy Williamson set up the drive with a nice 56-yard kickoff return. Ryan Longwell connected on the PAT. With 8:25 remaining in the first half, the score is tied 7-7.
Former Vikings quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan is now under center for the Lions. Kitna was hurt on the touchdown pass and his return is questionable.
Detroit’s kicker Jason Hanson connected on a 30-yard field goal to regain the lead for the Lions. O’Sullivan moved the offense 55 yards on eight plays and took 2:24 off the game clock. With 1:09 remaining in the half the Lions held a 10-7 lead.
3rd QUARTER
Early in the third quarter Darren Sharper recorded his second interception of the game. Lions quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan attempted a deep pass down the middle of the field intended fro Calvin Johnson. Sharper jumped in front of Johnson to pull down the football and start a Vikings drive at the Minnesota 30.
Vikings wide receiver Troy Williamson suffered a leg injury and his return is questionable.
One play following Sharper’s second interception, Tarvaris Jackson was picked off for the third time. Jackson was hit trying to deliver the football. Detroit’s free safety Gerald Alexander made the easy interception and returned it 34 yards to the Minnesota 31.
Detroit opened the seconded half scoring with a touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Calvin Johnson. O’Sullivan threw a jump ball to the left side of the endzone where Johnson out-jumped Vikings cornerback Cedric Griffin for six. The Lions moved 31 yards on seven plays and took 3:23 off the game clock. The pass marked O’Sullivan’s first career touchdown pass. Hanson hit the PAT and with 10:06 remaining in the third quarter Detroit held a 17-7 lead.
Minnesota kicker Ryan Longwell cut into the Lions lead with a 32-yard field goal. The Vikings moved 27 yards on eight plays and took 4:09 off the game clock. With 5:57 remaining in the quarter, Detroit 17, Minnesota 10.
The Vikings defense did it again scoring a touchdown with 5:08 remaining in the quarter. Defensive tackle Kevin Williams broke through the line and disrupted O’Sullivan who fumbled on the play. Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards scooped up the loose ball and returned it nine yards for the score. Longwell hit the PAT to tie the game 17-17.
In the last seven years the Minnesota Vikings defense has scored seven touchdowns against the Detroit Lions.
Safety Dwight Smith recorded the Vikings fourth turnover of the game when he intercepted an O’Sullivan pass with 1:11 remaining in the third quarter.
4th QUARTER
Detroit’s safety Idrees Bashir intercepted Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson for the fourth time with 8:30 remaining in the game. The Lions started another offensive drive at their own 35.
On a productive Detroit drive, wide receiver Roy Williams fumbled the ball with 7:00 remaining in the game. Minnesota cornerback Antoine Winfield recovered the loose ball and Minnesota took over at their own 19.
Lions kicker Jason Hanson attempted a 48-yard attempt with 50 seconds remaining in the game but missed it wide left. The Vikings have the ball at their own 38.
Minnesota Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell was brought onto the field with seven seconds remaining in the game. Longwell’s kick had the distance but hit the left goal post and bounced out.
On the first offensive play of the overtime period, Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson injured his groin and back-up quarterback Brooks Bollinger took control of the offense. Jackson’s return is questionable.
The Vikings fumbled a snap on the center exchange when they ha it third and eight from midfield with 11:35 remaining in overtime.
With 9:27 remaining in overtime, Detroit’s kicker Jason Hanson split the uprights from 37 yards out to defeat the Vikings 20-17. The Lions moved 31 yards on five plays for the winning score.