vikings/nfl
Dan Wiederer began covering the Vikings in 2011, enthusiastically delivering insight on the team across the Star Tribune's print and digital products. Prior to joining the Access Vikings team, he spent seven seasons covering ACC basketball at The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. He also covered the Chicago Bears in 2003 and 2004. Follow him on Twitter @StribDW.
Mark Craig has covered football and the NFL the past 20 years, including the Browns from 1991-95 and the Vikings and the NFL since 2003. Since 2008, Craig has served as one of the 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. He can be followed on Twitter at @markcraignfl.
Final gun report: Vikings 34, Lions 24
Posted by: Dan Wiederer under Vikings, Bears, Lions, NFC, Adrian Peterson, Chad Greenway Updated: November 11, 2012 - 3:02 PM
Postgame snapshot from Mall of America Field where the Vikings beat the Lions 34-24
Good news: Making his NFL debut, Jarius Wright didn’t wait long to make his presence felt. On his second play in the NFL, the rookie receiver raced down the middle of the field to haul in a 54-yard completion from Christian Ponder. Two snaps later, Wright’s second catch was a 1-yard touchdown grab that put the Vikings ahead to stay. That early deep connection was huge for Ponder to keep the potential boo birds subdued and it was part of a first quarter in which the Vikings quarterback went 6-for-7 for 57 yards as the Vikings sprinted out to a 10-0 lead. Also encouraging for the Vikings was the bounce-back effort by its run defense, which limited Lions back Mikel Leshoure to 43 yards on 13 carries and held Detroit to 60 rushing yards for the game.
Bad news: The Vikings’ attempt to neutralize Lions receiver Calvin Johnson didn’t pay off. Johnson had 12 catches for 207 yards and a touchdown. The Vikings also squandered too many opportunities to feel totally at ease about their offense’s ability to capitalize. After Chad Greenway’s first-quarter interception set the Vikings up with possession at the Detroit 25, the offense lost 5 yards on the ensuing series and settled for a field goal. They also settled for Blair Walsh field goals on two other trips into the red zone, including one late in the third where they were unable to reach the end zone after a Ponder to Devin Aromashodu 31-yard grab produced first-and-goal at the 3.
Extra point: Adrian Peterson went over 1,000 rushing yards for the season on a short gainer early in the third quarter. That have Peterson his team-record fifth 1,000-yard season in six years in the league. But Peterson saved his biggest fireworks for when the Vikings most needed them. With a 24-17 lead in the fourth quarter, Peterson’s 61-yard touchdown run with 8:06 left was effectively the game-sealer. Peterson rushed for 171 yards on 27 carries and now has 1,128 yards for the season
Next up: The Vikings will have Week 11 off for their bye, then return to action on Nov. 25 in Chicago. The Bears, who currently lead the NFC North division at 7-1, host Houston tonight on “Football Night in America.”
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| Baltimore - WP: F. Garcia | 6 | FINAL |
| Toronto - LP: R. Dickey | 5 |
| Cleveland - LP: V. Pestano | 4 | FINAL |
| Boston - WP: J. Tazawa | 7 |
| LA Angels - WP: B. Buckner | 7 | FINAL |
| Kansas City - LP: J. Guthrie | 0 |
| Colorado - LP: R. Betancourt | 5 | FINAL |
| San Francisco - WP: S. Romo | 6 |
| Minnesota - WP: P. Walters | 3 | FINAL |
| Detroit - LP: D. Fister | 2 |
| Chicago Cubs - LP: T. Wood | 2 | FINAL |
| Cincinnati - WP: H. Bailey | 5 |
| Pittsburgh - WP: J. Locke | 5 | FINAL |
| Milwaukee - LP: M. Fiers | 2 |
| NY Yankees - WP: I. Nova | 4 | FINAL |
| Tampa Bay - LP: J. Lueke | 3 |
| Atlanta - WP: A. Varvaro | 7 | FINAL |
| NY Mets - LP: B. Lyon | 5 |
| Philadelphia - WP: C. Durbin | 5 | FINAL |
| Washington - LP: D. Storen | 3 |
| St. Louis - LP: S. Maness | 3 | FINAL |
| Los Angeles - WP: P. Rodriguez | 5 |
| Miami - LP: R. Webb | 1 | FINAL |
| Chicago WSox - WP: J. Peavy | 2 |
| Oakland - WP: A. Griffin | 11 | FINAL |
| Houston - LP: L. Harrell | 5 |
| Atlanta - WP: M. Minor | 6 | FINAL |
| NY Mets - LP: D. Gee | 0 |
| San Diego - WP: A. Cashner | 10 | FINAL |
| Arizona - LP: W. Miley | 4 |
| Texas - WP: D. Holland | 5 | FINAL |
| Seattle - LP: F. Hernandez | 2 |
| San Antonio | 104 | FINAL |
| Memphis | 93 |
| Philadelphia | 3 | FINAL |
| Montreal | 5 |
| Portland | 2 | FINAL |
| D.C. | 0 |
| Toronto FC | 0 | FINAL |
| New England | 2 |
| San Jose | 0 | FINAL |
| FC Dallas | 1 |
| Chicago | 1 | FINAL |
| Real Salt Lake | 1 |
| Chivas USA | 0 | FINAL |
| Colorado | 2 |
| New York | 69 | FINAL |
| Connecticut | 81 |
| Tulsa | 81 | FINAL |
| Atlanta | 98 |
- Scoggins: E.J. Henderson at peace with post-football life
- Anderson: Fire singes Bud Grant's dream
- Adrian Peterson delivers ear-catching remark on gay marriage
- Vikings' Allen confident going into a contract year
- New Vikings stadium unveiled
- With contract issues on hold, Jared Allen aiming to have big 2013
- Souhan: Urlacher knew only one way: the Bears way
- Scoggins: Turns out, $1 billion will buy quite a bit
| 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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