Inside The Game: New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings. Kickoff is at noon Sunday at Mall of America Field

Coaches: Sean Payton (59-34 regular season; 4-2 postseason in six seasons, all with the Saints), Leslie Frazier (2-11 in first season with Vikings)

TV: Fox-8; Dick Stockton play-by-play, John Lynch color.

Radio: 870-AM, 1-5.3-FM, 830-AM (Spanish broadcast)

KEEP AN EYE ON:

THE VIKINGS’ QB

Or, more accurately, who will that Vikings quarterback be? To start, anyway, this apparently will be rookie Christian Ponder. Since the Donovan McNabb experiment yielded few positive results, Minnesota has chosen to go with its first-round selection out of Florida State. The move has produced its own mixed results. Indeed, when Vikings defensive end Jared Allen was asked about Ponder’s development last week, he steered clear of the kind of unqualified support a veteran usually offers up on such a conference call and acknowledged it has been a rocky road. Ponder has looked excellent at times — he threw for more than 300 yards against the Broncos — but more than a handful of interceptions have been sprinkled among the highlights (picks cost Minnesota that Denver game, for example). In the past two games, Ponder has been responsible for seven turnovers (five interceptions and two lost fumbles). A plethora of picks early caused Frazier to bench Ponder last week against the Lions, and his second-half replacement – no-name backup Joe Webb – nearly led the Vikings to a comeback road victory. Frazier insists Ponder remains the Man in Minneapolis, but the Saints could face a situation similar to the one that caused them some trouble in Nashville last week when the Titans had to replace starter Matt Hasselbeck with rookie Jake Locker. Locker’s athleticism allowed him to make plays, and while Webb didn’t light it up through the air in Detroit — he completed just 12 of 23 attempts for 84 yards and a touchdown — he ran for 109 yards (a club record for QBs) on just seven carries, one of them a 65-yard touchdown scamper.

SAINTS LB JO-LONN DUNBAR

Rather quietly, Dunbar has put together an outstanding year for New Orleans in his fourth season out of Boston College. Thrust into a starter’s role when Jonathan Vilma missed time because of knee surgery, Dunbar responded. In the three games Vilma was inactive, Dunbar recorded 16 solo stops and 10 assists. Last week against Tennessee, with Vilma in the lineup, Dunbar still saw lots of time and made the critical final tackle — a sack — on Locker near the goal line to salvage the win. Vilma has been limited at practice this week as the Saints try to keep his knee free of soreness, but regardless, Dunbar has earned his snaps. Should the Vikings make a move at quarterback (see above), the young and athletic Dunbar will bear scrutiny on defense.

KEY MATCHUPS

SAINTS OL vs. VIKINGS DE JARED ALLEN

Allen’s quips about New Orleans’ “Third World” appearance probably won’t motivate the Saints’ offensive line as much as the fact quarterback Drew Brees has been sacked just three times in the past five games (the last of them coming in Nashville when Brees held the ball far too long). Not coincidentally, all five of those games have been New Orleans victories. Allen will put those outstanding stats to the test. He leads the NFL with 17.5 sacks and is on a pace to beat the league record in that category held by Michael Strahan. Nor is he a flash in the pan, as his 100.5 sacks since 2004 attest. Payton said his offensive scheme will do what it can to make things tough for Allen. Brees will roll out more, for example, and the Saints will employ a variety of “launch points” for the quarterback so that neither Allen nor his colleagues on the defensive front can key on one spot. But in the end, it will come down to the Saints’ offensive linemen (with a little help from a back from time to time) making sure Brees “stays clean.” Guard Carl Nicks says he’s already fretting about the looming fight. “Basically we’ve got to double-team him, chip him with tight ends and running backs, I’m going to slide over there to help — you hate to give up all your playbook but, hey, 17.5 sacks speaks for itself. So, you’ve got to stop him. You have to. You’ve got to respect a guy like that. It’s a sin on us if we let their best guy beat us. We know he’s there, everybody knows he’s there, if we’re going to get beat, let’s have it be by somebody else, anybody but him.”

SAINTS SECONDARY vs. VIKINGS WR PERCY HARVIN

The Saints’ kicking game, in the person of punter Thomas Morstead, likely will go a long way toward neutralizing Harvin as a return man. But he still poses a threat as a receiver. Indeed, in the past month, Harvin’s 38 catches and five touchdowns lead all NFL receivers. When the Saints faced the Lions two weeks ago, they managed to neutralize Calvin Johnson, whom Payton called “the best receiver in football.” Harvin, however, presents a different problem than Johnson, who wins most battles with his size. “That’s a playmaker, that’s one of the great athletes in the NFL,” Saints cornerback Patrick Robinson said when asked the first thing that came to mind with Harvin. “Fast, strong, elusive.” Both Payton and Robinson stressed the threat Harvin presents in terms of yards after the catch. “When you’re playing a guy like that, as far as routes he’s not going to be doing post-corners or wraps or anything like that. But doing drive routes, some things to get him open, it’s his speed you’ve got to worry about.”

BY THE NUMBERS

8-18 – The Saints’ all-time record against Minnesota, the worst of any team in the NFL that New Orleans has played more than 10 times. 11/28/93 – The last time the Saints beat the Vikings in Minnesota. 2-0 – The Saints’ record against the Vikings the past two times the teams have met, including the 2009 NFC championship game. 60.3 – Ponder’s completion rate on third down, tied for 11th in the NFL. 70 – Brees’ completion rate on third down, best in the NFL.

FROM THE COACH’S MOUTH

“I think the numbers are real high. I think that’s one of our keys each week, and it’s an important statistic. It’s not the same as a turnover, but when you’re out on third down and punting the football, essentially you’ve turned the ball over to their offense. When you’re on the field defensively, have a chance for a stop and don’t get it, they obviously receive more plays. I think our players understand the significance of getting off the field on third down and being able to put together drives. I think it’s been something that we’ve improved at.” – Payton on the Saints’ third-down effectiveness on both sides of the ball.

Sentinel contributor Brian VanOchten grades the Detroit Lions following their 34-28 victory against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon at Ford Field.

OFFENSE

You start to think perhaps the Lions were meant to reach the NFL playoffs after all this season. The breaks all fell to them in a lackluster win against the Vikings, including nearly blowing a 31-14 lead at the half. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who finished 20-for-29 passing for 227 yards and a pair of touchdown passes in the first quarter, got off to a fast start for once. Detroit scored 24 points off turnovers in the first half. The offense sputtered to a halt in the second half. The running game was nothing to brag about with the loss of Kevin Smith to a high-ankle sprain last week. The Vikings limited Calvin Johnson to three catches for 29 yards, but Titus Young and Brandon Pettigrew came up with scoring receptions. The Detroit offensive line put forth another mediocre effort, surrendering five sacks. Vikings pass-rushing terror Jared Allen had three sacks and probably wishes he could line up every game against left tackle Jeff Backus. Right tackle Gosder Cherilus never gets cheated on his false starts and holding calls.

Grade: D+

DEFENSE

You are sure the Lions were meant to reach the NFL playoffs after linebacker DeAndre Levy didn’t get flagged for a facemask personal foul on the final play of regulation. The wild finish brought Minnesota to the 1-yard line with nine seconds left and the fate of the Lions resting in the hands of Vikings backup quarterback Joe Webb. The ball got moved up to the 1 after a silly encroachment flag on Lions end Cliff Avril, whose penalty stopped the clock. Levy stripped the ball and grasped Webb’s facemask, but the officials missed it. Ironically, it was Avril who ended up recovering the ping-ponging football after it got kicked halfway down the field. The Lions scored a pair of defensive touchdowns. Stephen Tulloch recovered a fumble in the end zone on Minnesota’s first play of the contest when Avril stripped rookie quarterback Christian Ponder, while Alphonso Smith later returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown. The Lions let Webb scramble 65 yards for a third-quarter TD and nearly let him steal it at the end.

Grade: D+

SPECIAL TEAMS

Stefan Logan had a 28-yard punt return in the first quarter that set up the Lions’ third touchdown in the first quarter. He also had a 42-yard kickoff return, but fielded another kickoff on the run and stepped out of bounds at the 16. Jason Hanson made a pair of short field goals. Aside from allowing a 47-yard kick return to Minnesota’s Percy Harvin, it wasn’t a complete disaster for the Lions on special teams for a nice change.

Grade: B

COACHING

The person breathing the biggest sigh of relief is Lions coach Jim Schwartz after his team played just well enough at home to defeat a bad opponent. The Lions are 8-5 and in playoff position after the Chicago Bears succumbed to some more Tim Tebow magic and lost in overtime on the road in Denver. It’s a daunting finish with matchups against Oakland, San Diego and Green Bay, but Schwartz did lead the Lions to a 4-0 finish last season.

Grade: B

Listen to VanOchten on The Huge Show on WHTC-AM (1450) and WBBL-FM (107.3) every Tuesday and Thursday from 3-6 p.m.

Looking at a game where the Detroit Lions are hosting the Minnesota Vikings, I would expect that the Lions would easily win. The Vikings were 2-10 coming into this game. The Lions were 7-5, but without their powerhouse defense with Ndamukong Suh and with a recent history of shooting themselves in the foot with dumb penalties. A strong start to the game gave false hope of an easy win. And then in the second half, the Vikings made some serious adjustments. The Lions barely held on at the end of the game, literally winning in the last few seconds.

First Half

Alfonso Smith managed to intercept a throw in the first quarter, giving the Lions a needed charge. This interception led to the Lions’ second touchdown within just over five minutes in the game. On their very next drive, at 9:06 into the game, the Lions scored their third touchdown. Minnesota finally answered with a touchdown with just under two minutes left in the first quarter. Another interception by Smith gave the Lions their fourth touchdown of the game. They led at the half 28-7.

Second Half Turnaround

Christian Ponder again threw an interception early in the third quarter and was benched. Joe Webb took over quarterback duties for the Vikings and quickly changed the tone of the game. His best play was at the end of the third quarter, with a 65-yard carry into the end zone. The Detroit defense seemed nonexistent. A half quarter later, Webb led the Vikings to another touchdown, bringing the score to 34-28 in favor of Detroit.

The Lions couldn’t hold onto their drive and allowed the Vikings one last chance at winning the game. A wild finish to the game kept all of us on the edge of our seats. The Vikings drove down the field. At two yards away from the end zone the Lions jumped into the neutral zone, inching the Vikings even closer. In the subsequent play, DeAndre Levy forced a fumble. Webb briefly recovered the ball and then fumbled it again. Cliff Avril recovered it on the 50-yard line, clinching the Lions’ win.

Penalties

The Detroit Lions continued to get a bunch of penalties throughout the game, costing them probable points. Their wild behavior seemed to be more under control, although Levy apparently got away with a facemask in that final play of the game. Jim Schwartz laid down the law this week, implementing a zero-tolerance policy on post-whistle personal fouls, at least.

Their next game is at the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 4:05 p.m.

Andrea Coventry is an NFL fan who follows many teams. Her loyalties lie with her hometown teams of the Detroit Lions and the Buffalo Bills.

More from this contributor:

Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears Rack up $62,500 in Fines: A Fan’s Commentary

What Needs to Happen to Ndamukong Suh?: A Fan’s Commentary

Ndamukong Suh’s Apology and Probable Suspension: A Fan’s Commentary

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Read More: Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions, Dec 11, 2011 12:00 PM CST

The Minnesota Vikings are starting a rookie at quarterback in Christian Ponder. Sometimes, rookie quarterbacks make throws that they shouldn’t. That was clearly the case early in the second quarter at Ford Field against the Detroit Lions.

On a second down play, Ponder dropped back to pass and once again found a wide open Alphonso Smith. As we intimated earlier on this afternoon, Smith still plays for the Lions and not the Vikings, so that’s a bad thing. Smith went untouched into the end zone for a 30-yard return, and the Lions had pushed their lead back to three touchdowns at 28-7.

It has been a rough afternoon for all three phases of the Vikings’ team thus far. The sad part? We’re only two and a half minutes into the third quarter. A long afternoon has the potential to get even longer for fans of the purple and gold.

As it stands now, we have 12:33 left in the first half of play, and the Minnesota Vikings trail the Detroit Lions by a score of 28-7, with 21 of Detroit’s points coming directly off of Minnesota turnovers.

Read More: Stephen Tulloch (LB – DET), Cliff Avril (DE – DET), Phil Loadholt (OT – MIN), Toby Gerhart (RB – MIN), Christian Ponder (QB – MIN), Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions, Dec 11, 2011 12:00 PM CST

Once again, the Minnesota Vikings have given up an early touchdown when the defense was nowhere to be found.

After allowing one first down to the Lions on their first series, Minnesota forced a punt that was taken at the 9-yard line. On the Vikings’ first play from scrimmage, Christian Ponder faked a handoff to Toby Gerhart and dropped back to pass, and Lions’ defensive end Cliff Avril beat Phil Loadholt like a drum around the right edge. Avril got to Ponder and forced a fumble that wound up bouncing into the end zone. Stephen Tulloch jumped on the fumble in the end zone, and the Lions had an early touchdown.

This is the second game in a row that the Vikings’ offense has surrendered a touchdown early, as last week the Denver Broncos got an interception for a score for their first score in Minneapolis.

We have 12:56 left in the first quarter, and the Detroit Lions have already staked themselves to a 7-0 lead.

STORY LINES

Woeful pass D: The Vikings have lost four in a row, six of their past seven, and nothing can be blamed more than their inept pass defense. Over the past seven games, the Vikings’ secondary has allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 71% of their passes and throw for 1,808 yards, 18 touchdowns and no interceptions. The Vikings’ pass defense ranks 26th overall and has only six interceptions.

Will Ponder, Peterson play? The game-time decisions of starting running back Adrian Peterson and quarterback Christian Ponder will impact the Vikings’ game plan and the Lions’ defensive scheme drastically. If Peterson, who has missed the past two games, can’t go, third-year running back Toby Gerhart will start. Gerhart is strictly a between-the-tackles runner who doesn’t have the speed to get outside like Peterson can. If Ponder can’t start due to a hip pointer, backup Joe Webb will make the third start of his career. Webb was 0-2 in two starts last season, including a 20-13 loss to the Lions.

Allen-Cunningham Feud: The Vikings’ best defensive player, Jared Allen, ripped on Detroit this past week, saying he would not want to live here because it is gloomy, among other things. Lions defensive coordinator — and Allen’s former defensive coordinator in Kansas City — Gunther Cunningham fired back at Allen on Friday, saying he’s “not good enough to live here. I know him well; he should go back to California, Los Gatos, where all those nice people live. This is too tough of a town for him.”

LAST GAME

The Vikings led in each quarter but couldn’t stop Broncos QB Tim Tebow from orchestrating another fourth-quarter comeback in a 35-32 loss. Broncos kicker Matt Prater’s 23-yard field goal as time expired capped the scoring and sent the Vikings to their fourth consecutive defeat. Vikings WR Percy Harvin had a career-high 156 receiving yards, and Gerhart gained 91 yards on 21 carries to lead the offense. Ponder was picked off twice, lost a fumble and was under constant pressure.

LAST MEETING

The Lions trailed, 20-0, at halftime in the Metrodome in September before a furious second-half comeback forced overtime. Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes in the second half, and Jason Hanson kicked a 32-yard field goal to win it in overtime. Calvin Johnson had seven catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns for the Lions, who started 3-0 for the first time since 1980. This also was the Lions’ first win at the Metrodome since 1997, snapping a 13-game skid.

Join Free Press special writer Nick Meyer for a live blog of the Lions-Vikings game Sunday at freep.com/sports.

This could get ugly.

When the Minnesota Vikings head to Michigan to take on the Detroit Lions tomorrow, there’s going to be a certain air of tension between the two teams that could turn this game into an all-out brawl.

Earlier in the week, Vikings defensive end Jared Allen gave a rather blunt rundown of his feelings about the city of Detroit.

“I don’t like going to Detroit,” Allen admitted. “I’ll be honest, it’s gloomy, it sucks. Everything is brown and then there is snow on the ground. There’s like Brownstones everywhere and I’m like, ‘Awesome.’ I don’t know, I couldn’t do it. If I had to live in Detroit, I think I’d just drown myself in the river that was across the way.”

Now, a couple days later, one of the Lions’ coaches has sent a volley of his own in Allen’s direction.

“[Allen's] not good enough to live here,” Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham responded. “This is too tough of a town for him.”

Considering that one of the Vikings’ biggest focuses needs to be putting pressure on Lions’ quarterback Matt Stafford, all Cunningham did was fuel the fire. Allen has a knack for feeding off of the words of his opponents and will certainly be doing everything in his power to get out of Detroit with a win. Expect the Vikings to put consistent pressure on Stafford and force him to make errant throws.

If they can make life uncomfortable for Stafford, the Vikings might finally notch their first interception in the last five weeks. With numerous injuries to the secondary, the Vikings have been working week in and week out with a patchwork defensive backfield. Not only did rookie Mistral Raymond get his first start of his young NFL career last weekend, but the Vikings also brought in two new safeties (Jarrad Page, Andrew Sendejo) to help alleviate some of the pain that the secondary was feeling. Slowing down Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson has been a nightmare for defenses all season long, so forcing Stafford out of his comfort zone is a must.

On offense, injuries are beginning to plague the Vikings as they head down the final straightaway. Not only is running back Adrian Peterson still questionable for Sunday, but starters Christian Ponder and Percy Harvin are also suffering from injuries that could potentially limit them against the Lions.

If Ponder can’t go for the Vikings, they’ll have to rely on Joe Webb to handle the quarterbacking duties. Webb came in late last season and made his presence felt, so don’t lose any sleep over the possibility of him getting the start over Ponder. It would be better for the Vikings to sit Ponder and see what they have in Webb as a passer instead of risking further injury to their starting quarterback.

Regardless of who’s starting at quarterback, the emphasis needs to be on exploiting the injuries that the Lions’ defense has been ailing from as of late.

To go along with the suspension of starting defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, the Lions will also be without Nick Fairley to anchor the middle of the defensive line. The defensive line, however, isn’t even their biggest weakness.

The Lions’ secondary has undergone numerous injuries throughout the second half of the season. To make matters worse, starting safeties Louis Delmas and Amari Spievey have combined for a whopping 24 missed tackles, which means that the deep half of the Lions secondary should be the Vikings’ prime target. If they can exploit their weak coverage and find some success on the ground with either Peterson or Toby Gerhart, the Vikings will definitely have at least a semblance of a chance on Sunday.

The Vikings are tied for the second-worst record in the NFL at 2-10 while the Lions are still in the playoff hunt at 7-5.

The Lions are desperate for a win and will be looking to find any Vikings weakness available for them to exploit. The Vikings, however, are bent on avoiding the worst finish in franchise history (currently 3-13 in 1984). If they want to dodge that stigma, they’re going to have to win two of their next four and a win against their rival Lions would be a huge step in the right direction.

My guess: the Vikings don’t have enough left in the tank and the Lions take it to them, winning 34-17.

Tune in tomorrow to see whether or not the Vikings have enough talent (and luck) to muster a win against the Lions.

Gil Alcaraz IV is a life-long follower of the Minnesota Vikings and the founder of TheVikingDen.com. For more Vikings/NFL coverage, follow him on Twitter or “like” The Viking Den on Facebook.

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REELING MINNESOTA

The Vikings (2-10) are a mess. They put forth a game effort in Sunday’s come-from-ahead 35-32 loss to visiting Denver and dropped their fourth straight. They’ve also been hit hard by injuries and put four players on injured reserve last week: receiver Michael Jenkins, long snapper Cullen Loeffler and safeties Husain Abdullah and Tyrell Johnson. Rookie coach Leslie Frazier is on the hot seat, and talk won’t go away about the team being sold and moved to Los Angeles.

ALL DAY DOESN’T PLAY

Four-time All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson missed his second straight game due a high ankle sprain on his left leg. Peterson entered Sunday tied for the NFL lead with 11 rushing touchdowns and said last week his soreness was “winding down,” which means he might be available against the Lions.

CHRISTIAN VS. LIONS

The Donovan McNabb experiment ended in Minnesota after six games, which means the Lions will face rookie quarterback Christian Ponder for the first time. In his sixth start, Ponder set Minnesota’s single-game rookie record with 381 yards passing, including two touchdowns to Percy Harvin. But Ponder’s throw with about 1 ½ minutes left was intercepted by Andre Goodman and set up the Broncos’ winning field goal.

JUST HALF BAD

The Vikings have had all kinds of trouble getting started in games. They finally outscored an opponent in the first half Sunday, but in the three games before that they were outscored, 58-7, in the first half. Thanks to Tim Tebow’s slow start and Ponder throwing for 192 yards in the first 30 minutes, the Vikes led, 15-7, at halftime.

ALLEN TOWN

Gosder Cherilus’ old buddy Jared Allen is humming again. He entered Sunday on a two-game sackless streak but still trailed NFL leader DeMarcus Ware by only half a sack. Allen got off the schneid and sacked Tebow for No. 14 ½ of the season, forced the fumble and recovered it. He also tackled Willis McGahee in the end zone for his fourth career safety, which tied the NFL record.

Contact Carlos Monarrez: 313-222-6697 or cmonarrez@freepress.com.

For the News-Herald

Much went right for the Lions Sunday that could define their 26-23 overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

Calvin Johnson’s over-the-shoulder catch deep along the sideline, which set up the game-winning field goal, was one of the great plays in Lions’ history. Not only was it a brilliant display of athleticism, but the timing was obviously crucial.

There was quarterback Matthew Stafford, the fastest gun in the NFL these days, taking control in the second half and during overtime. Stafford, after halftime, threw for 314 yards. He hit the Vikings short, deep, over the middle, along the sidelines. There wasn’t a throw he didn’t make. An he was often under duress. The Vikings’ defensive line, particularly end Jared Allen, clearly got the best of veteran tackle Jeff Backus and the Lions’ offensive line.

There was kicker Jason Hanson, whose career was on the line during training camp, just drilling a 50-yard field goal to tie the game. It was like it was an extra point. The Lions had lost 13 straight games at Minnesota. Hanson was there for all of them.

However, this victory was more defined by what didn’t go right for the Lions — and the manner they responded to it.

Falling behind 20-0 at halftime. Mistakes that could have been very costly. An offensive line that appeared on the brink of collapse near the end of regulation time.

Yet, winning the game at the end when Hanson hugged the left upright with a 32-yard field goal, which only haunted the Vikings more.

This was a huge win. It doesn’t matter the Vikings have made this habit, blowing similar leads during their first two games against San Diego and Tampa Bay. Continued…

The Lions continue to earn cache one victory at a time.

Also, they essentially ended the Vikings’ season. At 0-3 and being outscored, 67-6, after halftime of those losses, the Vikings are done. Minnesota’s Leslie Frazier had his Marty Mornhinweg moment (remember when as Lions’ coach he took the wind rather than the ball against the Bears in overtime), deciding to go for it on fourth and short deep in Lions’ territory — and the handoff went to Toby Gerhart rather than All-Pro Adrian Peterson. In retrospect, if the Vikings kick the field goal there, they probably win the game.

That is not the Lions’ issue. It doesn’t taint their victory. It only enhanced it because in the past, it was Lions’ who were making similar mistakes.

The Lions let the Vikings dictate the first half. That’s not necessary when they possess a receiver like Johnson. When they started to throw the ball down the field to him, it opened up their passing game.

The Lions offensive line is a concern. Backus did not fare well in one-on-one matchups with Allen. It took the Lions too long to start double teams. Overtime, actually. The Lions still don’t have much of a running attack. They clearly have to pass to set up any sort of running game, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing when the ball is in the hands of Stafford, who is playing as well as any QB in the NFL right now.

Momentum is building toward the Monday night game against the Bears on Oct. 10. The Lions are capable of beating the Cowboys in Dallas this week. They should start the season 4-0, setting up a national stage they haven’t been on, really, since the NFC championship game 20 years ago.

There are still plenty of their fans, who are fighting the urge to get really excited about the Lions because of the past.

That perception is changing.

The Lions have not had a quarterback like Matthew Stafford since Bobby Layne in the 1950s. Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh are special players. There is a really good cast surrounding the Big Three. They are well coached.

Trouble is relative in the NFL. Used to be when the Lions were down, they were out. They weren’t coming back. First sign of something gone awry, the game was over. Continued…

For the News-Herald

Much went right for the Lions Sunday that could define their 26-23 overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

Calvin Johnson’s over-the-shoulder catch deep along the sideline, which set up the game-winning field goal, was one of the great plays in Lions’ history. Not only was it a brilliant display of athleticism, but the timing was obviously crucial.

There was quarterback Matthew Stafford, the fastest gun in the NFL these days, taking control in the second half and during overtime. Stafford, after halftime, threw for 314 yards. He hit the Vikings short, deep, over the middle, along the sidelines. There wasn’t a throw he didn’t make. An he was often under duress. The Vikings’ defensive line, particularly end Jared Allen, clearly got the best of veteran tackle Jeff Backus and the Lions’ offensive line.

There was kicker Jason Hanson, whose career was on the line during training camp, just drilling a 50-yard field goal to tie the game. It was like it was an extra point. The Lions had lost 13 straight games at Minnesota. Hanson was there for all of them.

However, this victory was more defined by what didn’t go right for the Lions — and the manner they responded to it.

Falling behind 20-0 at halftime. Mistakes that could have been very costly. An offensive line that appeared on the brink of collapse near the end of regulation time.

Yet, winning the game at the end when Hanson hugged the left upright with a 32-yard field goal, which only haunted the Vikings more.

This was a huge win. It doesn’t matter the Vikings have made this habit, blowing similar leads during their first two games against San Diego and Tampa Bay.

The Lions continue to earn cache one victory at a time.

Also, they essentially ended the Vikings’ season. At 0-3 and being outscored, 67-6, after halftime of those losses, the Vikings are done. Minnesota’s Leslie Frazier had his Marty Mornhinweg moment (remember when as Lions’ coach he took the wind rather than the ball against the Bears in overtime), deciding to go for it on fourth and short deep in Lions’ territory — and the handoff went to Toby Gerhart rather than All-Pro Adrian Peterson. In retrospect, if the Vikings kick the field goal there, they probably win the game.

That is not the Lions’ issue. It doesn’t taint their victory. It only enhanced it because in the past, it was Lions’ who were making similar mistakes.

The Lions let the Vikings dictate the first half. That’s not necessary when they possess a receiver like Johnson. When they started to throw the ball down the field to him, it opened up their passing game.

The Lions offensive line is a concern. Backus did not fare well in one-on-one matchups with Allen. It took the Lions too long to start double teams. Overtime, actually. The Lions still don’t have much of a running attack. They clearly have to pass to set up any sort of running game, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing when the ball is in the hands of Stafford, who is playing as well as any QB in the NFL right now.

Momentum is building toward the Monday night game against the Bears on Oct. 10. The Lions are capable of beating the Cowboys in Dallas this week. They should start the season 4-0, setting up a national stage they haven’t been on, really, since the NFC championship game 20 years ago.

There are still plenty of their fans, who are fighting the urge to get really excited about the Lions because of the past.

That perception is changing.

The Lions have not had a quarterback like Matthew Stafford since Bobby Layne in the 1950s. Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh are special players. There is a really good cast surrounding the Big Three. They are well coached.

Trouble is relative in the NFL. Used to be when the Lions were down, they were out. They weren’t coming back. First sign of something gone awry, the game was over.

Now it’s down, but never out. We saw that Sunday.

It wouldn’t be surprising if we see it again … and again … and again.

The 3-0 start isn’t a fluke. It’s a beginning.

Pat Caputo is a senior sports reporter and a columnist for The Oakland Press. Contact him at pat.caputo@oakpress.com and read his blog at theoaklandpress.com. You can follow him on Twitter @patcaputo98.

By Pat Caputo
For The Daily Tribune

Much went right for the Lions Sunday that could define their 26-23 overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

Calvin Johnson’s over-the-shoulder catch deep along the sideline, which set up the game-winning field goal, was one of the great plays in Lions’ history. Not only was it a brilliant display of athleticism, but the timing was obviously crucial.

There was quarterback Matthew Stafford, the fastest gun in the NFL these days, taking control in the second half and during overtime. Stafford, after halftime, threw for 314 yards. He hit the Vikings short, deep, over the middle, along the sidelines. There wasn’t a throw he didn’t make. An he was often under duress. The Vikings’ defensive line, particularly end Jared Allen, clearly got the best of veteran tackle Jeff Backus and the Lions’ offensive line.

There was kicker Jason Hanson, whose career was on the line during training camp, just drilling a 50-yard field goal to tie the game. It was like it was an extra point. The Lions had lost 13 straight games at Minnesota. Hanson was there for all of them.

However, this victory was more defined by what didn’t go right for the Lions — and the manner they responded to it.

Falling behind 20-0 at halftime. Mistakes that could have been very costly. An offensive line that appeared on the brink of collapse near the end of regulation time.

Yet, winning the game at the end when Hanson hugged the left upright with a 32-yard field goal, which only haunted the Vikings more.

This was a huge win. It doesn’t matter the Vikings have made this habit, blowing similar leads during their first two games against San Diego and Tampa Bay.

The Lions continue to earn cache one victory at a time. Continued…

Also, they essentially ended the Vikings’ season. At 0-3 and being outscored, 67-6, after halftime of those losses, the Vikings are done. Minnesota’s Leslie Frazier had his Marty Mornhinweg moment (remember when as Lions’ coach he took the wind rather than the ball against the Bears in overtime), deciding to go for it on fourth and short deep in Lions’ territory — and the handoff went to Toby Gerhart rather than All-Pro Adrian Peterson. In retrospect, if the Vikings kick the field goal there, they probably win the game.

That is not the Lions’ issue. It doesn’t taint their victory. It only enhanced it because in the past, it was Lions’ who were making similar mistakes.

The Lions let the Vikings dictate the first half. That’s not necessary when they possess a receiver like Johnson. When they started to throw the ball down the field to him, it opened up their passing game.

The Lions offensive line is a concern. Backus did not fare well in one-on-one matchups with Allen. It took the Lions too long to start double teams. Overtime, actually. The Lions still don’t have much of a running attack. They clearly have to pass to set up any sort of running game, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing when the ball is in the hands of Stafford, who is playing as well as any QB in the NFL right now.

Momentum is building toward the Monday night game against the Bears on Oct. 10. The Lions are capable of beating the Cowboys in Dallas this week. They should start the season 4-0, setting up a national stage they haven’t been on, really, since the NFC championship game 20 years ago.

There are still plenty of their fans, who are fighting the urge to get really excited about the Lions because of the past.

That perception is changing.

The Lions have not had a quarterback like Matthew Stafford since Bobby Layne in the 1950s. Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh are special players. There is a really good cast surrounding the Big Three. They are well coached.

Trouble is relative in the NFL. Used to be when the Lions were down, they were out. They weren’t coming back. First sign of something gone awry, the game was over.

Now it’s down, but never out. We saw that Sunday. Continued…

By Pat Caputo
For The Daily Tribune

Much went right for the Lions Sunday that could define their 26-23 overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

Calvin Johnson’s over-the-shoulder catch deep along the sideline, which set up the game-winning field goal, was one of the great plays in Lions’ history. Not only was it a brilliant display of athleticism, but the timing was obviously crucial.

There was quarterback Matthew Stafford, the fastest gun in the NFL these days, taking control in the second half and during overtime. Stafford, after halftime, threw for 314 yards. He hit the Vikings short, deep, over the middle, along the sidelines. There wasn’t a throw he didn’t make. An he was often under duress. The Vikings’ defensive line, particularly end Jared Allen, clearly got the best of veteran tackle Jeff Backus and the Lions’ offensive line.

There was kicker Jason Hanson, whose career was on the line during training camp, just drilling a 50-yard field goal to tie the game. It was like it was an extra point. The Lions had lost 13 straight games at Minnesota. Hanson was there for all of them.

However, this victory was more defined by what didn’t go right for the Lions — and the manner they responded to it.

Falling behind 20-0 at halftime. Mistakes that could have been very costly. An offensive line that appeared on the brink of collapse near the end of regulation time.

Yet, winning the game at the end when Hanson hugged the left upright with a 32-yard field goal, which only haunted the Vikings more.

This was a huge win. It doesn’t matter the Vikings have made this habit, blowing similar leads during their first two games against San Diego and Tampa Bay.

The Lions continue to earn cache one victory at a time.

Also, they essentially ended the Vikings’ season. At 0-3 and being outscored, 67-6, after halftime of those losses, the Vikings are done. Minnesota’s Leslie Frazier had his Marty Mornhinweg moment (remember when as Lions’ coach he took the wind rather than the ball against the Bears in overtime), deciding to go for it on fourth and short deep in Lions’ territory — and the handoff went to Toby Gerhart rather than All-Pro Adrian Peterson. In retrospect, if the Vikings kick the field goal there, they probably win the game.

That is not the Lions’ issue. It doesn’t taint their victory. It only enhanced it because in the past, it was Lions’ who were making similar mistakes.

The Lions let the Vikings dictate the first half. That’s not necessary when they possess a receiver like Johnson. When they started to throw the ball down the field to him, it opened up their passing game.

The Lions offensive line is a concern. Backus did not fare well in one-on-one matchups with Allen. It took the Lions too long to start double teams. Overtime, actually. The Lions still don’t have much of a running attack. They clearly have to pass to set up any sort of running game, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing when the ball is in the hands of Stafford, who is playing as well as any QB in the NFL right now.

Momentum is building toward the Monday night game against the Bears on Oct. 10. The Lions are capable of beating the Cowboys in Dallas this week. They should start the season 4-0, setting up a national stage they haven’t been on, really, since the NFC championship game 20 years ago.

There are still plenty of their fans, who are fighting the urge to get really excited about the Lions because of the past.

That perception is changing.

The Lions have not had a quarterback like Matthew Stafford since Bobby Layne in the 1950s. Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh are special players. There is a really good cast surrounding the Big Three. They are well coached.

Trouble is relative in the NFL. Used to be when the Lions were down, they were out. They weren’t coming back. First sign of something gone awry, the game was over.

Now it’s down, but never out. We saw that Sunday.

It wouldn’t be surprising if we see it again … and again … and again.

The 3-0 start isn’t a fluke. It’s a beginning.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—After consecutive second-half stumbles to start the
season, the Minnesota Vikings came up with an encore even more painful and
stunning for them to fathom.

Matthew Stafford(notes) threw two touchdown passes in the second half to Calvin
Johnson(notes) to rally Detroit from a 20-0 halftime deficit, and Jason Hanson’s(notes) fourth
field goal of the game gave the Lions a 26-23 overtime victory over the Vikings
on Sunday.

“We have the talent. We have the ability. We have the work ethic,”
linebacker Chad Greenway(notes) said, his voice on the verge of cracking. “We’ve just
got to go out there and get the win.”

With defensive end Jared Allen(notes) vehemently leading the charge to keep their
edge, the Vikings emerged from the break with plenty of verve—only to falter
again in similar fashion. They led San Diego 17-7 at intermission and lost
24-17, then were ahead of Tampa Bay 17-0 at halftime before losing 24-20.

The signature moment for the Vikings this time was early in the fourth
quarter, facing fourth-and-1 at Detroit’s 17-yard line.

The crowd was revved up and the players on offense so determined to score
that they waved at the field-goal unit to stay off the field. Vikings coach
Leslie Frazier decided to go for it, refusing to settle for a kick with the
Lions roaring back and within three points.

Toby Gerhart(notes) was stood up at the line after a quick inside handoff, and the
Lions went the other way to tie the game. Adrian Peterson rushed for 78 yards
and a touchdown, but only 5 of those yards came in the second half.

“I thought it was a great call. Obviously as you look at it now, everyone
would say probably give the ball to Adrian,” quarterback Donovan McNabb(notes) said.
“But we thought we had a great call. Nobody expected Toby to get it. I thought
we had it.”

Johnson had seven receptions for 108 yards, including an over-the-shoulder,
Willie Mays-style 40-yard catch in overtime to set up Hanson’s winner, and the
Lions are 3-0 for the first time since 1980. They hadn’t won in the Metrodome
since 1997, snapping a 13-game road skid against the Vikings.

The Vikings were too consumed—and confused—by their own collapse to
recognize the significance of this win for the Lions.

“We’ve got the right guys on our football team. It seems dire right now,
but we’ll get it turned around,” Frazier said.

Stafford completed 32 of 46 passes for 378 yards, and he saved his best
throw of the day for his last to Johnson.

With a blitzing Greenway in Stafford’s grill, the third-year quarterback
heaved a pass off his back foot in Johnson’s direction. The 6-foot-5 Johnson
hauled in the ball with Cedric Griffin(notes) all over him, and Hanson calmly came out
to end the game.

The Vikings sacked Stafford five times, three by Allen and two by fellow
defensive end Brian Robison(notes), and held the Lions to 20 yards rushing on 19
attempts. Griffin, Chris Cook(notes) and Antoine Winfield(notes) played mostly tight coverage
on Johnson and the rest of the wide receivers, too, so Stafford used his only
option—tight end Brandon Pettigrew(notes) in the middle of the field.

Pettigrew had 11 catches for 112 yards.

“Couldn’t possibly think of messing up that bad, giving up 20-some points
in the second half. They’re not throwing anything major downfield. Just
lollipops on some of those throws. I know Calvin’s big, but good Lord, we’ve got
to do something,” said defensive tackle Kevin Williams(notes), who returned from a
two-game suspension.

The Vikings have outscored their opponents 54-7 in the first half this year.
They’ve been outscored 67-6 after halftime.

On third downs in the second half, the Vikings have converted only 1 of 15
opportunities. The other teams are 13 for 22.

“If I had to write it, maybe I’d have writer’s block,” Allen said.

He was seen yelling on the sideline in the second half as the Lions were
climbing back into the game.

“In my opinion, it’s not OK to let them score,” Allen said. “It’s not OK
to let these things snowball again. It’s not OK that we’ve lost three games in
the second half. It’s not OK that we’ve given up—what is it—a 10-point lead,
a 17-point lead and now a 20-point lead? That’s unacceptable.”

So back to work they go.

“If you’d have told me this would happen the third week in a row, I’d have
told you you were crazy,” wide receiver Percy Harvin(notes) said.

NOTES: Harvin was on the sideline for much of the fourth quarter, but this
wasn’t because of certain plays. He took a hit on a kickoff return—Frazier
said he might’ve got the wind knocked out of him—and was seen vomiting into a
garbage can. Harvin said he was fine afterward. … McNabb was bothered by a
sore right wrist after taking a shot during a sack. He blamed one missed throw
on the stiffness. … Michael Jenkins(notes) led the Vikings with nine catches for 88
yards.

“We have the talent. We have the ability. We have the work ethic,” linebacker Chad Greenway said, his voice on the verge of cracking. “We’ve just got to go out there and get the win.”

With defensive end Jared Allen vehemently leading the charge to keep their edge, the Vikings emerged from the break with plenty of verve — only to falter again in similar fashion. They led San Diego 17-7 at intermission and lost 24-17, then were ahead of Tampa Bay 17-0 at halftime before losing 24-20.

The signature moment for the Vikings this time was early in the fourth quarter, facing fourth-and-1 at Detroit’s 17-yard line.

The crowd was revved up and the players on offense so determined to score that they waved at the field-goal unit to stay off the field. Vikings coach Leslie Frazier decided to go for it, refusing to settle for a kick with the Lions roaring back and within three points.

Toby Gerhart was stood up at the line after a quick inside handoff, and the Lions went the other way to tie the game. Adrian Peterson rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown, but only 5 of those yards came in the second half.

“I thought it was a great call. Obviously as you look at it now, everyone would say probably give the ball to Adrian,” quarterback Donovan McNabb said. “But we thought we had a great call. Nobody expected Toby to get it. I thought we had it.”

Johnson had seven receptions for 108 yards, including an over-the-shoulder, Willie Mays-style 40-yard catch in overtime to set up Hanson’s winner, and the Lions are 3-0 for the first time since 1980. They hadn’t won in the Metrodome since 1997, snapping a 13-game road skid against the Vikings.

The Vikings were too consumed — and confused — by their own collapse to recognize the significance of this win for the Lions.

“We’ve got the right guys on our football team. It seems dire right now, but we’ll get it turned around,” Frazier said.

Stafford completed 32 of 46 passes for 378 yards, and he saved his best throw of the day for his last to Johnson.

With a blitzing Greenway in Stafford’s grill, the third-year quarterback heaved a pass off his back foot in Johnson’s direction. The 6-foot-5 Johnson hauled in the ball with Cedric Griffin all over him, and Hanson calmly came out to end the game.

The Vikings sacked Stafford five times, three by Allen and two by fellow defensive end Brian Robison, and held the Lions to 20 yards rushing on 19 attempts. Griffin, Chris Cook and Antoine Winfield played mostly tight coverage on Johnson and the rest of the wide receivers, too, so Stafford used his only option — tight end Brandon Pettigrew in the middle of the field.

Pettigrew had 11 catches for 112 yards.

“Couldn’t possibly think of messing up that bad, giving up 20-some points in the second half. They’re not throwing anything major downfield. Just lollipops on some of those throws. I know Calvin’s big, but good Lord, we’ve got to do something,” said defensive tackle Kevin Williams, who returned from a two-game suspension.

The Vikings have outscored their opponents 54-7 in the first half this year. They’ve been outscored 67-6 after halftime.

On third downs in the second half, the Vikings have converted only 1 of 15 opportunities. The other teams are 13 for 22.

“If I had to write it, maybe I’d have writer’s block,” Allen said.

He was seen yelling on the sideline in the second half as the Lions were climbing back into the game.

“In my opinion, it’s not OK to let them score,” Allen said. “It’s not OK to let these things snowball again. It’s not OK that we’ve lost three games in the second half. It’s not OK that we’ve given up — what is it — a 10-point lead, a 17-point lead and now a 20-point lead? That’s unacceptable.”

So back to work they go.

“If you’d have told me this would happen the third week in a row, I’d have told you you were crazy,” wide receiver Percy Harvin said.

NOTES: Harvin was on the sideline for much of the fourth quarter, but this wasn’t because of certain plays. He took a hit on a kickoff return — Frazier said he might’ve got the wind knocked out of him — and was seen vomiting into a garbage can. Harvin said he was fine afterward. … McNabb was bothered by a sore right wrist after taking a shot during a sack. He blamed one missed throw on the stiffness. … Michael Jenkins led the Vikings with nine catches for 88 yards.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

By PAT CAPUTO
Of The Oakland Press

Much went right for the Lions Sunday that could define their 26-23 overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

Calvin Johnson’s over-the-shoulder catch deep along the sideline, which set up the game-winning field goal, was one of the great plays in Lions’ history. Not only was it a brilliant display of athleticism, but the timing was obviously crucial.

Stafford rallies Lions to OT win, first at Metrodome since ’97

There was quarterback Matthew Stafford, the fastest gun in the NFL these days, taking control in the second half and during overtime. Stafford, after halftime, threw for 314 yards. He hit the Vikings short, deep, over the middle, along the sidelines. There wasn’t a throw he didn’t make. An he was often under duress. The Vikings’ defensive line, particularly end Jared Allen, clearly got the best of veteran tackle Jeff Backus and the Lions’ offensive line.

There was kicker Jason Hanson, whose career was on the line during training camp, just drilling a 50-yard field goal to tie the game. It was like it was an extra point. The Lions had lost 13 straight games at Minnesota. Hanson was there for all of them.

However, this victory was more defined by what didn’t go right for the Lions — and the manner they responded to it.

Falling behind 20-0 at halftime. Mistakes that could have been very costly. An offensive line that appeared on the brink of collapse near the end of regulation time.

Yet, winning the game at the end when Hanson hugged the left upright with a 32-yard field goal, which only haunted the Vikings more.

This was a huge win. It doesn’t matter the Vikings have made this habit, blowing similar leads during their first two games against San Diego and Tampa Bay. Continued…

The Lions continue to earn cache one victory at a time.

Also, they essentially ended the Vikings’ season. At 0-3 and being outscored, 67-6, after halftime of those losses, the Vikings are done. Minnesota’s Leslie Frazier had his Marty Mornhinweg moment (remember when as Lions’ coach he took the wind rather than the ball against the Bears in overtime), deciding to go for it on fourth and short deep in Lions’ territory — and the handoff went to Toby Gerhart rather than All-Pro Adrian Peterson. In retrospect, if the Vikings kick the field goal there, they probably win the game.

That is not the Lions’ issue. It doesn’t taint their victory. It only enhanced it because in the past, it was Lions’ who were making similar mistakes.

The Lions let the Vikings dictate the first half. That’s not necessary when they possess a receiver like Johnson. When they started to throw the ball down the field to him, it opened up their passing game.

The Lions offensive line is a concern. Backus did not fare well in one-on-one matchups with Allen. It took the Lions too long to start double teams. Overtime, actually. The Lions still don’t have much of a running attack. They clearly have to pass to set up any sort of running game, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing when the ball is in the hands of Stafford, who is playing as well as any QB in the NFL right now.

Momentum is building toward the Monday night game against the Bears on Oct. 10. The Lions are capable of beating the Cowboys in Dallas this week. They should start the season 4-0, setting up a national stage they haven’t been on, really, since the NFC championship game 20 years ago.

There are still plenty of their fans, who are fighting the urge to get really excited about the Lions because of the past.

That perception is changing.

The Lions have not had a quarterback like Matthew Stafford since Bobby Layne in the 1950s. Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh are special players. There is a really good cast surrounding the Big Three. They are well coached.

Trouble is relative in the NFL. Used to be when the Lions were down, they were out. They weren’t coming back. First sign of something gone awry, the game was over. Continued…

By PAT CAPUTO
Of The Oakland Press

Much went right for the Lions Sunday that could define their 26-23 overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

Calvin Johnson’s over-the-shoulder catch deep along the sideline, which set up the game-winning field goal, was one of the great plays in Lions’ history. Not only was it a brilliant display of athleticism, but the timing was obviously crucial.

Stafford rallies Lions to OT win, first at Metrodome since ’97

There was quarterback Matthew Stafford, the fastest gun in the NFL these days, taking control in the second half and during overtime. Stafford, after halftime, threw for 314 yards. He hit the Vikings short, deep, over the middle, along the sidelines. There wasn’t a throw he didn’t make. An he was often under duress. The Vikings’ defensive line, particularly end Jared Allen, clearly got the best of veteran tackle Jeff Backus and the Lions’ offensive line.

There was kicker Jason Hanson, whose career was on the line during training camp, just drilling a 50-yard field goal to tie the game. It was like it was an extra point. The Lions had lost 13 straight games at Minnesota. Hanson was there for all of them.

However, this victory was more defined by what didn’t go right for the Lions — and the manner they responded to it.

Falling behind 20-0 at halftime. Mistakes that could have been very costly. An offensive line that appeared on the brink of collapse near the end of regulation time.

Yet, winning the game at the end when Hanson hugged the left upright with a 32-yard field goal, which only haunted the Vikings more.

This was a huge win. It doesn’t matter the Vikings have made this habit, blowing similar leads during their first two games against San Diego and Tampa Bay.

The Lions continue to earn cache one victory at a time.

Also, they essentially ended the Vikings’ season. At 0-3 and being outscored, 67-6, after halftime of those losses, the Vikings are done. Minnesota’s Leslie Frazier had his Marty Mornhinweg moment (remember when as Lions’ coach he took the wind rather than the ball against the Bears in overtime), deciding to go for it on fourth and short deep in Lions’ territory — and the handoff went to Toby Gerhart rather than All-Pro Adrian Peterson. In retrospect, if the Vikings kick the field goal there, they probably win the game.

That is not the Lions’ issue. It doesn’t taint their victory. It only enhanced it because in the past, it was Lions’ who were making similar mistakes.

The Lions let the Vikings dictate the first half. That’s not necessary when they possess a receiver like Johnson. When they started to throw the ball down the field to him, it opened up their passing game.

The Lions offensive line is a concern. Backus did not fare well in one-on-one matchups with Allen. It took the Lions too long to start double teams. Overtime, actually. The Lions still don’t have much of a running attack. They clearly have to pass to set up any sort of running game, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing when the ball is in the hands of Stafford, who is playing as well as any QB in the NFL right now.

Momentum is building toward the Monday night game against the Bears on Oct. 10. The Lions are capable of beating the Cowboys in Dallas this week. They should start the season 4-0, setting up a national stage they haven’t been on, really, since the NFC championship game 20 years ago.

There are still plenty of their fans, who are fighting the urge to get really excited about the Lions because of the past.

That perception is changing.

The Lions have not had a quarterback like Matthew Stafford since Bobby Layne in the 1950s. Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh are special players. There is a really good cast surrounding the Big Three. They are well coached.

Trouble is relative in the NFL. Used to be when the Lions were down, they were out. They weren’t coming back. First sign of something gone awry, the game was over.

Now it’s down, but never out. We saw that Sunday.

It wouldn’t be surprising if we see it again … and again … and again.

The 3-0 start isn’t a fluke. It’s a beginning.

Pat Caputo is a senior sports reporter and a columnist for The Oakland Press. Contact him at pat.caputo@oakpress.com and read his blog at theoaklandpress.com. You can follow him on Twitter @patcaputo98.

MINNEAPOLIS (WWJ/AP) – The Detroit Lions stage a huge comeback and beat the Minnesota Vikings in overtime 26-23 on Sunday. The Lions started the game much the same way they had in previous years in Minnesota.

As heard on 97.1 The Ticket – Detroit’s sluggish start had them down by 20 points entering the second half.

Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes to rally the Lions from the 20-0 halftime deficit, and Jason Hanson kicked a 32-yard field goal in overtime that lifted Detroit to victory.

Calvin Johnson had seven catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns for the Lions, who are 3-0 for the first time since 1980. They won in the Metrodome for the first time since 1997, snapping a 13-game skid.

Adrian Peterson rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown for the Vikings (0-3), who gave away a big halftime lead for the third week in a row. Peterson managed just 5 yards rushing in the second half.

Stafford finished with 378 yards passing, and his 40-yard completion to Johnson in overtime set up Hanson’s winning kick.

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