MINNEAPOLIS -- Even when Sidney Rice is tightly covered, Brett Favre isn't afraid to fire a pass downfield.
Favre's new favorite receiver just keeps fighting through the contact and coming up with the ball, perhaps finally making Minnesota fans forget Randy Moss.
Favre passed for a season-high 344 yards, 201 to Rice, and the Vikings overcame several self-inflicted setbacks to beat the Detroit Lions 27-10 on Sunday.
"Sidney never surprises me," said Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns. "I have a nickname for him, and it's 'Showtime.' He's got it tattooed on his arm. It fits him well."
Thanks to Favre's arrival at quarterback and a summer spent working out with some of the game's greatest receivers, Rice has emerged as quite a threat for the surging Vikings (8-1). What he lacks in speed he has made up for with precision, position and poise.
"It seems like each game he's getting better and better," said left tackle Bryant McKinnie. "Some of those catches are definitely Randy Moss-esque."
The Lions (1-8) joined the Houston Oilers, from Nov. 21, 1982 through Nov. 4, 1984, as the only NFL teams to lose 31 games in a 33-game stretch, according to STATS.
After a slew of injuries and more poor pass coverage, the Lions dropped their 12th straight at the Metrodome despite keeping another game close for three quarters.
"We came in with our first goal, which was to stop Adrian Peterson, but with Favre landing bombs like he did it was kind of hard," linebacker DeAndre Levy said. "It throws off everyone, from the D-line to the cornerbacks."
Peterson lost a fumble and threw a bad pitch to Percy Harvin for another turnover, both inside the Detroit 20 in the first half. The Vikings committed a season-most 13 penalties, totaling 91 yards.
"We're not here to try to impress people," linebacker Ben Leber said. "We're here to get some wins."
The Favre-Rice combination has been impressive, particularly in the past month. In the past four games, Rice has 27 receptions for 553 yards.
"Anyone can be stopped, but he sure is difficult to cover," Favre said. "The type of plays he makes I think is what we all expect him to do."
Rice wasn't healthy much of last season, but he never found that connection with Tarvaris Jackson. Fittingly, when Jackson relieved Favre late in the game, Rice dropped his first throw.
Rice compared jockeying for the ball to boxing out for a rebound in basketball, a sport he considers his second favorite. Beyond that, what's the secret to his success with Favre?
"Just communication and trust," Rice said.
Matthew Stafford has had a rough rookie season, learning on the go with the Lions still dogged by glaring weaknesses a year after becoming the first 0-16 team in NFL history. This was his second game without an interception even against a fierce Vikings pass rush, though, and his receivers dropped a handful of passes.
"I'm not worried about Matt," coach Jim Schwartz said. "Good gracious. We don't need to sit there and worry about him every single time. It's about this team, and we didn't handle their pressure well."
Kevin Smith's fumble -- forced and recovered by Ray Edwards, who was all over the field -- on the first play of the third quarter set up Peterson for a 27-yard run and a 1-yard score to stretch the lead to 17-3.
Stafford finished 29 for 51 for 224 yards and one touchdown, which brought the Lions within 17-10. They were going for it on fourth-and-1 at the Minnesota 48 late in the third quarter, but with the crowd roaring they called timeout to talk it over and then decided to punt.
Early in the fourth, Favre found Rice open for a 56-yard pass to set up a short touchdown toss to Jeff Dugan, essentially sealing the victory and moving the Vikings closer to clinching the NFC North.
Notes:
Rice's drop cost him the team single-game record, set by Sammy White with 210 yards against the Lions in 1976. He punished himself on the sideline afterward with 25 pushups. ... The Lions held FS Louis Delmas out with an infected tooth, and his replacement Marquand Manuel left later after hurting his shoulder. ... Edwards was flagged for unnecessary roughness after hurdling a cut block with a Superman-style leap to take down Stafford and force an incompletion on third down at the 13, leading to Detroit's only TD. Childress called NFL officiating VP Mike Pereira after the game to complain about that call, and he said Pereira agreed with him that it wasn't a penalty.
NFC North Standings:
Minnesota (8-1) .889
Green Bay (5-4) .556
Chicago (4-5) .444
Detroit (1-8) .111
Lions Injury News:
Kalvin Pearson S Hamstring Did Not Participate In Practice Out
Stephen Peterman G Ankle Did Not Participate In Practice Out
Ernie Sims LB Hamstring Did Not Participate In Practice Out
Zack Follett LB Neck Did Not Participate In Practice Questionable
Dewayne White DE Toe Did Not Participate In Practice Questionable
Derrick Williams WR Hip Limited Participation in Practice Questionable
Grady Jackson DT Knee Did Not Participate In Practice Probable
Joe Cohen DT Ankle Full Participation in Practice Probable
Louis Delmas S Tooth Full Participation in Practice Probable
Jerome Felton RB Ankle Full Participation in Practice Probable
Phillip Buchanon CB Knee Limited Participation in Practice Probable
Jordon Dizon LB Neck Limited Participation in Practice Probable
Larry Foote LB Knee Limited Participation in Practice Probable
Jason Hunter DE Knee Limited Participation in Practice Probable
Calvin Johnson WR Hand Limited Participation in Practice Probable
Ko Simpson S Knee Limited Participation in Practice Probable
Matthew Stafford QB Knee Limited Participation in Practice Probable
Browns Injury News:
Steve Heiden TE Ankle Did Not Participate In Practice --
Dave Zastudil P right Knee Did Not Participate In Practice --
Joshua Cribbs WR Neck Limited Participation in Practice Questionable
Rex Hadnot G Knee Limited Participation in Practice Questionable
Jamal Lewis RB Ankle Limited Participation in Practice Questionable
Lawrence Vickers RB Shoulder Limited Participation in Practice Questionable
David Bowens LB Knee Full Participation in Practice Probable
Kenyon Coleman DE Groin Full Participation in Practice Probable
Alex Mack C Wrist Full Participation in Practice Probable
Shaun Rogers DT Back Full Participation in Practice Probable
Robert Royal TE Finger Full Participation in Practice Probable
John St. Clair T Shoulder Full Participation in Practice Probable
Chansi Stuckey WR Calf Full Participation in Practice Probable
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2010 AAT: P Jared Gayhart, 2009 Stats: 6-4, 2.63 ERA, 85.2 IP, 1.10 WHIP, 2.39 K/BB
No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me.
Til He returns, or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
If anyone were to accidentally stumble across a link that happened to be showing the lions game, I am a glutton for punishment and would appreciate a pm....
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I'm Mikeshoe21, and I approve of this post.
If anyone were to accidentally stumble across a link that happened to be showing the lions game, I am a glutton for punishment and would appreciate a pm....
__________________ "People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~ Roger Hornsby
The Browns are averaging around 8 points per game and are driving through the Lions defense like butter.
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"Clete Thomas always has a crazy look on his face. His eyes are just huge. He looks like at any minute he could snap and kill a guy..... or hit a baseball 422 feet" ...ScrubBeaterUpper
Has anyone found a stream yet?
I think this is like the Rams game where noone cares to stream it.
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"Clete Thomas always has a crazy look on his face. His eyes are just huge. He looks like at any minute he could snap and kill a guy..... or hit a baseball 422 feet" ...ScrubBeaterUpper
These have to be the worst announcers in history. Errors made so far. They've already said repeatedly that James got hurt on the kick-off. No, it was then Lewis ran him over on the first play. They also called Landon Cohen, George Cohen. I'm sure they'll keep piling up.
Our defense does look bad. Corners look bad. Shocker, I know.
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"Clete Thomas always has a crazy look on his face. His eyes are just huge. He looks like at any minute he could snap and kill a guy..... or hit a baseball 422 feet" ...ScrubBeaterUpper
Opening play from scrimmage = a pass to Smith for 63 yards. Not bad.
__________________ "People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~ Roger Hornsby
And we're going to have to settle for a FG attempt. Bah.
__________________ "People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~ Roger Hornsby
G.D. it all.....Calvin Johnson has a step on a crossing route and Stafford hits the defender (Brodney Pool) in the chest. He needs to calm down, at home, against the Browns.
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"Clete Thomas always has a crazy look on his face. His eyes are just huge. He looks like at any minute he could snap and kill a guy..... or hit a baseball 422 feet" ...ScrubBeaterUpper
This ****ing defense is pitiful. Are you serious? The Browns? Seriously?
__________________ "People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~ Roger Hornsby
G.D. it all.....Calvin Johnson has a step on a crossing route and Stafford hits the defender (Brodney Pool) in the chest. He needs to calm down, at home, against the Browns.
I agree. That was a horrible throw. 4 yards away with a very clear passing lane. I could have made that throw.
G.D. it all.....Calvin Johnson has a step on a crossing route and Stafford hits the defender (Brodney Pool) in the chest. He needs to calm down, at home, against the Browns.
The Lions do not have a weakness at QB this year!
THis game might actually be fun to watch. Both teams are so bad, the comedy element must be amazing.
__________________
Berlin Wall: What they told us about communism was a lie, sadly, what they told us about capitalism was true.
I just sent you one, not sure how good it is, pay it forward
__________________
2010 AAT: P Jared Gayhart, 2009 Stats: 6-4, 2.63 ERA, 85.2 IP, 1.10 WHIP, 2.39 K/BB
No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me.
Til He returns, or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
Browns go ahead 10-3...Buchanon missed the press and thought he had help over the top...Simpson just wasn't there. Can't tell who that was on. I'll blame both.
__________________ "People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~ Roger Hornsby
11/22/09. Browns @ Lions. 1:00 pm. CBS. Week 11.
Linear Mode
