Counting Snaps: Lions 16, Vikings 14

Thoughts while counting snaps from Sunday's 16-14 loss to the Lions at Ford Field …

OFFENSIVE SNAPS: 69.

QUARTERBACK: Teddy Bridgewater 69, Christian Ponder DNP.

Thoughts: Norv Turner's game plan and Bridgewater's execution was perfect for a loud road venue against a vicious pass rush that the Vikings' rag-tag offensive line had no chance of matching up with physically. The heavy dose of five-wide sets out of the shotgun spread the Lions out and enabled Bridgewater to fire quick slants and screens to nullify the pass rush. Turner also threw in the right amount of plays in which he moved the pocket and rolled Bridgewater away from the blind side. Things were going brilliantly when the Vikings led 14-0 on two long scoring drives before the Lions registered a first down. But then the inevitable rookie moment arrived when Bridgewater let the Lions back into the game by handing them 10 points on interceptions on back-to-back passes. But, overall, as a learning experience, this was a good game for Bridgewater's development.

OFFENSIVE LINE: LT Matt Kalil 69, LG Vladimir Ducasse 69, C John Sullivan 69, RG Joe Berger, RT Mike Harris 69, Austin Wentworth 2, T Carter Bykowski INA, G David Yankey INA, G Charlie Johnson INA.

Thoughts: Turner did an outstanding job protecting a beat-up line that, even when healthy, can't match up to the best D-line in football. There were leaks in the line and Bridgewater was sacked four times. But the line held together well enough to win the game with how well the defensive was playing. When the Vikings hold Detroit to 33 points in two games and go 0-2, it's a pretty good indication of where the offseason priorities will be this year.

RECEIVERS, TIGHT ENDS: WR Greg Jennings 65, WR Charles Johnson 64, TE Kyle Rudolph 61, WR Jarius Wright 44, TE Rhett Ellison 24, WR Cordarrelle Patterson 8, TE Chase Ford 2.

RUNNING BACKS: RB Matt Asiata 45, RB Ben Tate 13, RB Joe Banyard 11, FB Jerome Felton 3, Line INA.

Thoughts: Asiata gained only 36 yards on 11 carries, but he wasn't tackled for a loss, which is essential to maintaining a semblance of balance against the Lions, which the Vikings did for three quarters. Tate got three fourth-quarter carries and lost yardage on two of them. One of them was a first-and-goal from the 7. One has to question why Asiata didn't get that carry, since his strength gets stronger the closer he gets to the goal line. Felton playing only three snaps and continuing a trend of not playing much really raises the question of why the Vikings have two fullbacks, one of which (Line) has been inactive for 10 games, on the practice squad for three and not with the team for one.

DEFENSIVE SNAPS: 51.

LINEBACKERS: Gerald Hodges 51, Chad Greenway 51, Jasper Brinkley 17, Anthony Barr INA.

Thoughts: Playing every snap for the third straight week, Greenway had five tackles. If the game-book stats hold up, which they rarely do for tackles, Greenway's team lead shrank by one. Safety Harrison Smith had six tackles, moving past the injured Robert Blanton into second with 107. Greenway has 110. Hodges played every snap for the second straight week as he filled in for the injured Barr. Also of note: Rookie Brandon Watts was active for the first time this season. That leaves Yankey as the only player to be inactive for every game day this season.

Thoughts: Rhodes played well in his debut as a corner assigned to cover one particular receiver out wide on both the left and right sides of the defense. Really well considering it was Calvin Johnson. Munnerlyn no doubt played a role in holding the Lions without a first down until midway through the second quarter. But the veteran corner didn't appear on the stat sheet. Prater came in one one particularly interesting third-and-long defensive call. The alignment and extra DBs took away QB Matthew Stafford's deep to intermediate options and led to a receiver being tackled short of the first down. Blanton missed his first game of the season. He had played all but four snaps all season.

DEFENSIVE LINE: DE Everson Griffen 46, DE Brian Robison 46, NT Linval Joseph 40, NT Shamar Stephen 29, DT Tom Johnson, DE Corey Wootton 12, DE Justin Trattou 6, DT Sharrif Floyd INA.

Thoughts: Griffen continues to play a lot of snaps at a high level. Johnson got a start in place of Floyd, who was finally held out because of the lingering knee bruise he's had. Trattou played only six snaps but had one of the team's four quarterback hurries.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Most snaps: 16, Trattou.