11/15/09. Lions @ Vikings. 1:05 PM, FOX. Week 10.

[Shinma]

No end in sight...

Presents the following thread:

(1-7) @ (7-1)

Your Detroit Lions
AT
The Minnesota Vikings

NFC Conference
Week 10

Location: Mall of America Field, Minneapolis, Minn.
Date: November 15th, 2009
Time: 1:05pm EST

This game is a presentation of:

Television Broadcast Provided by:

DirecTV channel 711
DirecTV HD channel 711-1

Radio Broadcast Provided by:

155 (DET) 91 (MIN)

Video highlights of the Lions week 9:
NFL Videos: Seahawks 32, Lions 20

Desperate Seahawks score 25 unanswered points to rally past Lions

SEATTLE -- Matt Hasselbeck had a throbbing shoulder, to go with broken ribs.

His Seahawks had even bigger issues. Faster than you can say "road kill," they were down 17-0 at home to the Lions. "It was like, 'You've got to be kidding me.' Seriously?'" Hasselbeck said, raising his voice as high as he then raised his game. Told by coaches to win the game himself, the ailing, three-time Pro Bowl passer did. He rallied Seattle to 25 consecutive points with a franchise-record 39 completions, and the desperate Seahawks held off Detroit 32-20 Sunday to avoid the indignity of being the first home team to lose to the Lions in more than two years.

"I don't care who you're playing, if you have Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, whoever at quarterback -- Troy Aikman -- you don't want to get down 17-0. We're just fortunate," said T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who caught a 2-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter to finally put Seattle ahead.
Yet he still thought his team was going to win. "It could be that we were playing Detroit," Houshmandzadeh said. Yep, could be. Seemingly headed for their first road win since Oct. 28, 2007, at Chicago, the Lions (1-7) instead flew home unhappy. Again.

"It's super tough, man," said Detroit cornerback William James. "We were so close. We're always so close. I'm tired of being so close." Josh Wilson returned an interception 61 yards for a touchdown with 22 seconds left, the last of five INTs by rookie Matthew Stafford. Playing his second game since missing two weeks with a knee injury, Stafford was 22 of 42 for 203 yards. When he wasn't forcing long throws, Stafford watched passes clang off the hands of tight end Casey FitzSimmons and others.

Starting at his own 5 with no timeouts remaining and 2:03 left, he moved Detroit to midfield before his final, decisive mistake. He stood on the sideline with his hands on his hips and silver helmet popped halfway off his head. He spat into the ground. For a while, no teammate or coach came near him. "You have to understand, I can't turn the ball over. I (gave) it right back to them," Stafford said.

Asked if the top overall pick regressed against a defense that had shared the NFL low with three interceptions in seven games, coach Jim Schwartz said, "I agree in some part. We also need to do a better job helping our quarterback out." Hasselbeck banged his shoulder making a tackle following the interception he threw on Seattle's first play. He then relied on short throws until his shoulder loosened and finished with the first 300-yard passing game in two seasons for the Seahawks (3-5). He was 39 of 51 for 329 yards. "He shows his true leadership to me. He showed everything that he is," said Seattle coach Jim Mora, who's been in the league 26 years. "I don't know if I have had any more respect for any player I've ever coached."

So what did Hasselbeck do to celebrate keeping Seattle at least within sight of the NFC West-leading Cardinals (5-3), heading into next weekend's game at Arizona? He took his family to Krispy Kreme. Sure beat the doughnut he and his team swallowed in that first quarter. Seattle's first six plays included the interception, a lost fumble by Justin Griffith forced by former Seahawks linebacker Julian Peterson, two negative-yardage runs by Julius Jones, then another for no gain on a fourth-and-inches gamble in his team's own end by a desperate Mora. "I'd had enough," Mora said.

Stafford turned the interception into a 7-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Pettigrew. Bryant Johnson made a diving, one-armed catch in the back of the end zone for a 29-yard score off Griffith's fumble. Then, after Larry Foote denied Jones on fourth down, Jason Hanson atoned for missing from 34 yards at the end of a 14-play opening drive by making a field goal. Detroit had its largest lead on the road since Sept. 7, 2007, in the third quarter of an eventual 15-point win at Oakland. And the Seahawks had their formerly lovable home fans booing them off the field. Seattle was helped late in the third quarter by a 16-yard pass-interference penalty on James when Hasselbeck's pass skidded 20 yards past Nate Burleson on third-and-3. That set up Houshmandzadeh's go-ahead score. "He said I impeded his progress," James said in expressing his displeasure at the call by side judge Keith Washington.

Notes:
It was only the second time this decade Seattle had five INTs in a game. ... Detroit WR Calvin Johnson caught just two passes for 27 yards in his first game since Oct. 11 following a right knee injury.

NFC North Standings:
Minnesota Vikings (7-1, .875)
Green Bay Packers (4-4, .500)
Chicago Bears (4-5, .444)
Detroit Lions (1-7, 1250)

Lions Injury News:
Ernie Sims LB Hamstring Did Not Participate In Practice Out
Jordon Dizon LB Neck Limited Participation in Practice Questionable
Larry Foote LB Knee Limited Participation in Practice Questionable
Dewayne White DE Toe Limited Participation in Practice Questionable
Joe Cohen DT Ankle Full Participation in Practice Probable
Jerome Felton RB Ankle Full Participation in Practice Probable
Sammie Lee Hill DT Toe Full Participation in Practice Probable
Jason Hunter DE Knee Full Participation in Practice Probable
Calvin Johnson WR Knee Full Participation in Practice Probable
Grady Jackson DT Knee Limited Participation in Practice Probable
Matthew Stafford QB Knee Limited Participation in Practice Probable

Vikings Injury News:
Antoine Winfield CB Foot Limited Participation in Practice Out
Bernard Berrian WR Hamstring Limited Participation in Practice Questionable
Jasper Brinkley LB Hamstring Full Participation in Practice Probable
Brett Favre QB Hip Full Participation in Practice Probable
E.J. Henderson LB Knee Full Participation in Practice Probable
Darius Reynaud WR Hamstring Full Participation in Practice Probable

[Shinma]

Harvin is going to burn the Lions at least once today.

The special ed teams for the Lions is a glaring weakness.

[sportz4life]

Thanks Shinma, excellent job.

[Mschottey1985]

Live from the Metrodome Here's the Deactivation from the sheet they give us in the press box

Lions:
Stanton (3rd QB)
Aaron Brown
Anthony Henry
Ernie Sims
Daniel Loper
Ephraim Salaam
Cliff Avril
Landon Cohen

(Levy Will start at OLB)

Vikings:
Sage Rosenfels (3rd QB)
Jaymar Johnson
Antoine Winfield
Albert Young
Erin Henderson
Jon Cooper
Jayme Mitchell
Letroy Guion

(B. Sapp will start at LCB)

[Mschottey1985]

[sportz4life]

Avril, Cohen and Brown..hmm..must be hurt. Also, I guess the idea that Stanton moved ahead of Culpepper on the depth chart has been dispelled.

[Shinma]

My Fantasy WR's today:

Colston, Marques WR NO, @STL - Dome
Fitzgerald, Larry WR ARI, SEA - Dome
Ward, Hines WR PIT, Cin
Rice, Sidney WR MIN, DET - Dome

I have to say I like my chances...

[Mschottey1985]

Classy move by Minnesota Vikings PA, playing "What's New Pussycat" as the Detroit Lions enter

[Chaz]

well, Go Lions!!! it could be ugly..oh, it will ugly

[Commish]

Obviously not looking for a win, just hoping to see Stafford recover from last week and put together four quarters of consistency. Hopefully they'll hang around long enough to be able to run the ball a little more, so Stafford doesn't have to throw 45 times.

[JMB]

Could someone PM a link to watch today's game? Living in Ukraine makes it difficult to keep up with my teams...

[sinister porpoise]

Surprising inactives for Lions -- Aaron Brown, Cliff Avril and Landon Cohen | Detroit Lions - - MLive.com

Surprising inactives for Lions -- Aaron Brown, Cliff Avril and Landon Cohen

By Tom Kowalski

November 15, 2009, 12:10PM

MINNEAPOLIS -- Three players who were expected to play significant roles for the Detroit Lions this season are listed as inactive for today's game against the Minnesota Vikings. Rookie running back Aaron Brown is inactive which could be an indication the LIons are going to go with a power running game and try to control the clock and keep Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson off the field. With both fullbacks -- Jerome Felton and Terrelle Smith -- active, the Lions could use a lot of two-tight end and two-back formations.

The benchings of Avril and Cohen are more surprising. Someone on the defensive line had to sit so the Lions could get more help on special teams (from a guy like Vinny Ciurciu, for example). The surprise is that two second-year draft picks would be put down while free agents like Jason Hunter, Turk McBride and Joe Cohen are active.

[jonjd]

Vikings having little trouble moving the ball in the opening drive.

[Commish]

Looks like a lot of hard snap counts, trying to get the Lions to jump. Finally got them there.

[drownwithyou]

Originally Posted by JMB

Could someone PM a link to watch today's game? Living in Ukraine makes it difficult to keep up with my teams...

I wouldn't mind a link either...

[jonjd]

Low marks for Schwartz's jacket. Questionable fashion decision.

[jonjd]

NICE play from James. Excellent coverage on the very disappointing Berrian.

[Commish]

Sorry guys, I'm watching it on the TV today. The Lions are on the road, so no blackout this week! I actually look forward to road games now for this reason.

Nice 3rd down stop in the red zone!!

[Buddha]

Cliff Avril is inactive? But he's SOOOOOOOOOO good....

[drownwithyou]

Whoa, the game's on tv here!

At least that wasn't a TD...

[Shinma]

Originally Posted by drownwithyou

Whoa, the game's on tv here!

At least that wasn't a TD...

Here too. I'm stunned.

[drownwithyou]

I can't remember the last time I could watch a Lions game on my TV when it wasn't Thanksgiving.

[Shinma]

Kevin Smith with a nice run and a decent stiff arm.

[drownwithyou]

Smith seems to be running hard today.

[jonjd]

Keep on moving the ball forward... no three and outs. That's all I ask for. POSITIVE yards.

[tigerkid23]

Nice job to avoid the pressure by Stafford there.

[jonjd]

It's always good to hear Tim Ryan commenting on your favorite team's game. I think he's one of the best, both on the radio and on TV.

[Shinma]

Calvin with the drop...

[Shinma]

Vikings force Stafford to get the ball out early and the Lions dont have time to run the full routes..

[jonjd]

So rare to see a Lions-like penalty called on the opposition. Love it.

[drownwithyou]

Yes bailed out! Let's get a score here....

[Shinma]

Vikings offsides on the 4th down punt for the Lions anf give the Lions a 1st down.

Might as well be a turnover.

[tigerkid23]

Offsides on the punt gives the Lions a first down. Beautiful. Now, execute.

[Shinma]

The Lions get enough to get into Hanson's range.

... no good.

[Buddha]

Has father time caught up to Jason Hanson?

[drownwithyou]

Bleh. Even MVP is missing this year.

[tigerkid23]

****. Hanson used to be automatic from there. He's showing his age a little bit this season.

[Chaz]

ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! mr mvp crud

anyone need a stream?

[CapitalTigers]

Lions may want to sign Brent Swenson from MSU, he made two 52 yarders yesterday. Hanson is showing his age; he has to put more into his kicks now it appears, which causes his accuracy to go down.

[tigerkid23]

Peterson is ****ing unreal. He is so damn good.