Week #5: @ Minnesota Vikings

[racosun]

This game looks like it could be an offensive slugfest. Many points will be scored because of these two teams' offensive defenses. The Vikes don't have much of a running game, but it wouldn't have mattered if they did. The Lions have a fantastic run defense. Detroit's main problem will be figuring out how to stop a really old QB from throwing multiple long touchdown passes. Minnesota has a legit deep-threat in second-year WR Troy Williamson. He was the guy the Vikings drafted to replace Randy Moss when they traded him to Oakland. He doesn't have the great hands, but he has tons of speed, which might be the downfall of the Lions this week. Brad Johnson has the patience and know-how to abuse the Lions secondary and their big patches of unpatrolled football field.

And vice versa. Jon Kitna has looked pretty decent so far this season, much better than Joey Harrington ever looked in a Lions uniform. He throws a fairly accurate football, and plays smart football. Kitna's also seemed to have developed a chemistry with both Mike Furrey and Roy Williams. Both of those WR's have done a good job making plays, and Kitna is rewarding them with many looks their way. Kevin Jones has been pitching in by pounding for good yardage, keeping defenses honest and opening up opportunities for the passing game. Jones hasn't been getting many carries over the course of an entire game, but if he does this offense could be even more exciting to watch. We'll just have to find another good show on TV for when the Lions are trying to play defense.

[racosun]

On a television programming note, this game could possibly be moved to Monday night. The Vikings share the Metrodome with MLB's Twins, who are currently in the playoffs. The Twins hold stadium usage rights over the Vikings, and get first crack at any game dates. The Twins are down in their five game series against the Oakland A's by a 2-0 margin, and would have to win both road games in order to push the Lions-Vikings game to Monday. I'll post it here and change the team schedule as soon as something is set in stone.

*EDIT*
The Twins were swept out of the MLB playoffs, so the Lions-Vikings game will go on as scheduled.

[racosun]

OUT
Lions - G Frank Davis (neck); S Kenoy Kennedy (foot); LB Alex Lewis (knee)
Vikings - none

QUESTIONABLE
Lions - G Ross Verba (hamstring); T Rex Tucker (knee)
Vikings - CB Antoine Winfield (thigh); S Darren Sharper (quad); LB Ben Leber (knee); QB Tarvaris Jackson (knee)

PROBABLE
Lions - S Terrence Holt (back)
Vikings - TE Jermaine Wiggins (hamstring)

[racosun]

Yet another loss, this one uglier than the last one. The Lions played some fairly decent football up until the fourth quarter, a quarter in which they entered up 17-3. As you can see from the final score above, it wasn't a good quarter at all. The offense was hampered all day, most likely due to the loss of Roy Williams early in the game. He seemed to have injured his shoulder or neck, and didn't return. There was also no sighting of the other Williams (Mike), either. Why they don't release him is beyond me. Kevin Jones was useless today, getting absolutely pounded by Minnesota's run defense, and finally succumbing to injury late in the fourth quarter. We finally got Fernando Bryant back, but lost him again to an undisclosed injury. This was not a good-looking game, and it's not a good-looking season. The fourth quarter was typical Lions football. A true Lions fan almost had to expect that to happen.

The Lions and Vikings play the re-match on December 10th @ Ford Field.

[racosun]

Minnesota Vikings 26, Detroit Lions 17
Passing:
Lions - Jon Kitna, 23-for-42, 225 yards, 1 TD, 3 picks
Vikings - Brad Johnson, 26-for-34, 201 yards, 1 TD, 1 pick

Rushing:
Lions - Jon Kitna, 1 rush, 8 yards, 1 TD, 1 fumble lost; Kevin Jones, 10 rushes, 8 yards, no TD's
Vikings - Chester Taylor, 26 rushes, 123 yards, no TD's

Receiving:
Lions - Az-Zahir Hakim, 8 catches, 92 yards, no TD's; Dan Campbell, 1 catch, 12 yards, 1 TD
Vikings - Travis Taylor, 4 catches, 44 yards, 1 TD, 1 fumble lost

Kicking:
Lions - Jason Hanson, 1-for-1 FG's, 2-for-2 XP's
Vikings - Ryan Longwell, 2-for-2 FG's, 2-for-3 XP's

[tigers527]

WOW!!!! That one was something, being a life long Lion fan...Which BTW someone should of called family services on my family for doing that to me. The Lions not only shoot themselves in the foot, they chop off the toes pour salt on the wounds and then take a garden weasle to their achilles tendon.

That was one of the more EPIC Lion meltdowns. After the kickoff return for a touchdown that was called back, I knew the game was over. Then Kitna right on freaking q fumbles/gets picked off for a touchdown (I was listening to the 4th in my car).....This one goes right up there with the missed extra point to tie the game, after Joey Freaking Harrington led the team down for a late score, a few years back. In the Lions v Vikings lore.

The one thing I think the Lions need to do, more then the obvious ones. FIRE MONTE CLARK!!!!! How many of you out there know that man is still working for the Lions? As some sort of special consultant, unbelievable. We all know of the Fords and Millen, but still hanging to Monte Clark???? Too many chiefs and not enough indians...The Lions need a singular vision, if they are ever going to get it right.