Scouting report: Vikings vs. Detroit

Updated: November 7, 2012 - 8:09 PM

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game 10

VIKINGS

VS. DETROIT

noon Sunday

Mall of America Field

TV: Ch. 9

(100.3-FM, 1130-AM)

Line: Lions by 2

ABOUT DETROIT

RECORD: 4-4

• The Lions, who will end a stretch of four of five games on the road against the Vikings, had a season-high 149 yards rushing in Sunday's 31-14 victory at Jacksonville.

• The Vikings beat the Lions in Detroit 20-13 on Sept. 30. Percy Harvin (105-yard kickoff return) and Marcus Sherels (77-yard punt return) scored special teams touchdowns for the Vikings, who were outgained 341-227 in the game.

• The Lions have 3,287 offensive yards, the most they've had through eight games.

•In their past eight trips to the red zone, the Lions have scored touchdowns.

PLAYER TALK QUARTERBACK MATTHEW STAFFORD

Stafford is sixth in the league in passing yards per game (299.1) after his breakout 2011 season, during which he passed for 5,038 yards.

• On the Lions' improvement since the last Vikings game: "We're just being more efficient, just continuing drives on third down, and pushing in at the end with touchdowns in the red zone, that's been the big difference."

• On WR Calvin Johnson, slowed by a knee injury: "Defenses are also doing a lot to try to take him away, and we are hurting the defenses with some other guys. Obviously, he's not a true 100 percent."

• On avoiding the injuries that plagued him in his first two seasons in the league: "I probably protect myself a little bit better but, honestly, those happen. It's the NFL, it's football, it's part of the game."

COACH SPEAK

JIM SCHWARTZ

• On early struggles: "We lost a couple of games particularly because of special teams. We didn't score a lot of points offensively, and defensively gave up two [special team] scores in two consecutive games to Minnesota and Tennessee."

• On running back Mikel Leshoure, who rushed for three first-half TDs on Sunday: "He's basically a rookie right now. He was injured [Achilles tendon surgery] all last year. Consistency is the name of the game in the NFL. He's striving for consistency, and this will be the first time in his career he has played a team for the second time."

CHRIS MILLER

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explore the Vikings/NFL

Full Scoreboard

NY Mets - WP: M. Harvey	3	FINAL
Chicago Cubs - LP: E. Jackson	2	FINAL

Cincinnati - LP: S. Marshall	3	FINAL
Philadelphia - WP: J. De Fratus	5	FINAL

Houston - LP: E. Gonzalez	4	FINAL
Pittsburgh - WP: J. Wilson	5	FINAL

Seattle - LP: L. Luetge	3	FINAL
Cleveland - WP: V. Pestano	6	FINAL

Toronto - LP: M. Buehrle	0	FINAL
NY Yankees - WP: H. Kuroda	5	FINAL

Tampa Bay - WP: J. Hellickson	12	FINAL
Baltimore - LP: J. Hammel	10	FINAL

Arizona - WP: T. Cahill	9	FINAL
Miami - LP: K. Slowey	2	FINAL

Los Angeles - LP: P. Rodriguez	5	FINAL
Atlanta - WP: P. Maholm	8	FINAL

Detroit - WP: R. Porcello	2	FINAL
Texas - LP: N. Tepesch	1	FINAL

Boston - WP: A. Wilson	3	FINAL
Minnesota - LP: J. Roenicke	2	FINAL

Milwaukee - LP: W. Peralta	6	FINAL
St. Louis - WP: J. Garcia	7	FINAL

San Francisco - LP: M. Bumgarner	9	FINAL
Colorado - WP: J. De La Rosa	10	FINAL

Chicago WSox - WP: C. Sale	3	FINAL
LA Angels - LP: C. Wilson	0	FINAL

Kansas City - LP: J. Shields	1	FINAL
Oakland - WP: S. Doolittle	2	FINAL

Washington - WP: R. Soriano	6	FINAL
San Diego - LP: H. Street	5	FINAL

Full Scoreboard

Ottawa	3	FINAL
Pittsburgh	4	FINAL

Date/Opponent	Time	W	L	Score
2013 preseason
Aug 9 - vs. Houston	7 pm
Aug 16 - at Buffalo	6 pm
Aug 25 - at San Francisco	7 pm
Aug 29 - vs. Tennessee	7 pm
2013 regular season
Sep 8 - at Detroit	Noon
Sep 15 - at Chicago	Noon
Sep 22 - vs. Cleveland	Noon
Sep 29 - vs. Pittsburgh (in London)	Noon
Oct 6 - Bye
Oct 13 - vs. Carolina	Noon
Oct 21 - at. NY Giants	7:40 pm
Oct 27 - vs. Green Bay	7:30 pm
Nov 3 - at Dallas	Noon
Nov 7 - vs. Washington	7:25 pm
Nov 17 - at Seattle	3:25 pm
Nov. 24 - at Green Bay	Noon
Dec 1 - vs. Chicago	Noon
Dec 8 - at Baltimore	Noon
Dec 15 - vs. Philadelphia	Noon
Dec 22 - at Cincinnati	Noon
Dec 29 - vs. Detroit	Noon

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