Some Lions accuse Vikings of 'headhunting'

Calvin Johnson dismissed it, but several Lions players and coaches thought the Vikings were using unsavory tactics Sunday.

November 12, 2012 at 8:13PM
Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) (Associated Press - Ap/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson didn't think anything illegal was going on, but head coach Jim Schwartz and some of his players weren't happy with the Vikings' defensive tactics during Sunday's game.

Meanwhile, Lions fans weren't too thrilled with the play of their team in the 34-24 Vikings victory.

Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reported that, on two occasions after catching passes, "Johnson took shots to the head -- one, by safety Harrison Smith and another by linebacker Jasper Brinkley. He ducked out of the way of a couple other flying tackle attempts. Remember, it was against the Vikings in Week 4 that Johnson suffered a stinger on a helmet-to-helmet hit by linebacker Chad Greenway."

Schwartz told the News: "They hit him in the head twice. Only one (Brinkley) got flagged."

Johnson, who caught 12 passes for 207 yards, didn't think there was intent to injure.

You can read his response here.

About the hits to the head, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford said he didn't know if the Vikings were targeting Johnson's head. "Calvin is a tough guy and he stayed in and made some big plays. But there is no place for that in this league."

While you're reading, you should go down to the comments at the bottom of the page. Lions fans talking about Stafford and his receivers (other than Johnson) sound a little bit like many Vikings fans talking about Christian Ponder and his receivers (other than Percy Harvin).

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about the writer

about the writer

Howard Sinker

Digital Sports Editor

Howard Sinker is digital sports editor at startribune.com and curates the website's Sports Upload blog. He is also a senior instructor in Media and Cultural Studies at Macalester College in St. Paul.

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