GAME RECAP:  Minnesota Vikings 20 Detroit Lions 13

SCOREBOARD	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	FINAL
VIKINGS	10	3	7	0	20
LIONS	3	3	0	7	13

SCORING SUMMARY:

First Quarter  MIN - Percy Harvin runs 105 yards for a kick return (Blair Walsh kick is good) @ 14:48.  DET - Jason Hanson makes a 40 yard kick @ 13:06. Drive: 4 plays, 58 yards in 1:42.  MIN - Blair Walsh makes a 49 yard kick. Drive: 7 plays @ 1:16, 60 yards in 3:53. Second Quarter  MIN - Blair Walsh makes a 27 yard kick @ 8:14. Drive: 11 plays, 82 yards in 4:56.  DET - Jason Hanson makes a 31 yard kick. Drive: 14 plays @ 1:46, 67 yards in 6:28. Third Quarter  MIN - Marcus Sherels runs 77 yards for a punt return (Blair Walsh kick is good) @ 13:09. Fourth Quarter  DET - Matthew Stafford runs for 1 yard (Jason Hanson kick is good) @ 2:56. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards in 3:12.

NFL.com Game Links:    Game Center    Game Info    Drive Chart    Highlights

DETROIT LIONS GAME BALLS:

DeAndre Levy	Stephen Tulloch	Joique Bell
OLB lead team with 9 tackles, 8 of them solo including a few on AP	MLB had six solo tackles and helped keep Vikes O from getting a TD	Wayne State grad lead Lions with 72 yards receiving on 6 catches

TEAM STATISTICS	49ERS	LIONS
1st Downs	15	23
Rushing	9	2
Passing	4	17
Penalty	2	4
3rd-Down Conversions	3-12	6-16
4th-Down Conversions	0-0	1-3
Punts-Average	6-43.2	5-39.6
Return Yards	186	35
Punts-Returns	1-77	3-35
Kickoffs-Returns	2-109	0-0
Int.-Returns	0-0	0-0
Penalties-Yards	5-87	5-72
Fumbles-Lost	0-0	1-1
Time Of Pos.	29:18	30:42
">Total Net Yards	227	341
Total Plays	56	76
Average Gain	4.1	4.5
Net Yards Rushing	127	55
Rushes	28	20
Avg. Per Rush	4.5	2.8
Net Yards Passing	100	286
Comp.-Att.	16-26	30-51
Yards Per Pass	3.6	5.1
Sacked-Yards Lost	2-11	5-33
Had Intercepted	0	0
Touchdowns	2	1
Rushing	0	1
Passing	0	0
Other	2	0
Extra Points	2-2	1-1
Kicking	2-2	1-1
Field Goals	2-3	2-2
Red Zone Efficiency	0-1-0%	1-3-33%
Goal To Go Efficiency	0-1-0%	1-2-50%
Safeties	0	0

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATS:

Passing

Rushing

Receiving

GAME SUMMARY:

Danny Crossman must go! After a horrible special teams performance in Tennessee, the Lions repeated that dreadful performance again in Detroit giving up a kickoff return to open the game and a punt return to start the second half for the Vikings. Those gaffes helped the Vikings match their entire 2011 win total at three just four weeks into the season with a 20-13 win over the Lions in Detroit. This isn't acceptable, changes need to be made immediately. After a 5-0 start last year, the Lions have lost 10 out of their last 16 including the playoff loss to the Saints. Detroit had 341 yards of offense compared to just 227 for the Vikings, however, the Lions still continue to struggle to score touchdowns against a two deep safety approach. The defense held the Vikings without a touchdown. It was all for not as big returns would once again doom the Lions and lead to another defeat.

The Lions would find themselves trailing by seven after 12 seconds. For the second straight week Detroit would surrender a return for a touchdown. The Lions would get a deep pass interference from a pass to Johnson on a free play after the Vikings defensive line jumped. As usual, the Lions would have to settle for a Jason Hanson field goal to get points on the board. The Vikings would get a deep pass interference of their own thanks to Bentley but like the Lions come away with only three points. Another long PI call on Bentley would set up yet another Vikings field goal to push the lead to ten. The Lions would drive deep into Vikings territory around the two minute mark but Johnson would get the ball knocked from his hands on an apparent touchdown and Pettigrew would simply drop a great Stafford pass on the next before Hanson would do his thing once more.

The Lions would pick up one first down before having to punt. Like in the first half, the Vikings would open their first touch with a return touchdown. Logan would get to the returner before he could make a move but miss the tackle, no other Lions would do any better as the Viking would expand their lead to 20-6. It was the first punt return for the Vikings since 2008. That would be the only scoring in the third quarter. A Mikel LeShoure fumble would end the Lions only decent drive of the quarter and the Vikings would start driving on the Lions to end the quarter.

The Vikings would miss a 46-yard field goal attempt early in the quarter. The Lions would drive inside the Vikings ten on their next possession but come away empty with Calvin Johnson on the sideline after taking a big hit to the helmet earlier on the drive. Matt Stafford would punch it in from one-yard after an 11-play, 75-yard drive to close the gap to seven with three minutes remaining. With 1:43 remaining and no timeouts the Lions would get the all at their own two. Detroit would move it towards midfield, but no further. Game over as the Vikings move to 3-1 while the Lions fall to 1-3.

NFL teams break the season into fourths and after four games the Lions sit at 1-3. On offense the quarterback has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns. The running game is grounded and the team lead the league in drops heading into the game and continued the trend. On defense the secondary is still in flux and the vaunted defensive line isn't as disruptive as in seasons past. As for special teams, at least we have Jason Hanson but this unit has cost Detroit the last two games.

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Stephen Tulloch tackles Adrian Peterson.

NEXT GAME:

The Detroit Lions have a bye next Sunday and return to action on October 14 at to face the Philadelphia Eagles at 1:00 PM in Philly.

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Written by: Paul Donaghy, Senior Writer