Greenway's sack was a turning point in the game

DETROIT – Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was 7-for-8 for 128 yards and two touchdowns when Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway executed an "add blitz" on the play that started Stafford's figurative and literal downfall during the Vikings' 28-19 victory at Ford Field on Sunday.

When offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas reported as an eligible receiver to bolster Stafford's protection on second-and-16 early in the second quarter, Greenway knew he had a chance to get a momentum-shifting sack that could finally break Stafford's rhythm.

Greenway's first responsibility in that situation is to cover the tight end if he releases. But in this case, that was unlikely because Lucas was filling that role.

"I know he's not really going to release, so we kind of schemed that up all week," Greenway said. "If he stays in and blocks, I'm the 'add blitz.' He stays in, I go. And I went."

Stafford never saw him coming and was sacked for the first of seven times. The game was never the same after that moment.

The Lions punted for the first time after opening with back-to-back possessions that produced 155 yards and two touchdowns on 11 plays. Over their next seven possessions, they would produce 9 yards of total offense and three points that were set up by an Adrian Peterson fumble near midfield.

"That's obviously what we're capable of," Greenway said. "We just had to find a way to turn it around."

The season-high seven sacks were the key, when Stafford lost 59 yards. Two were on third down and all of them contributed to unfavorable downs and distances, which were a big reason the Lions went 1-for-10 in third-down conversions.

Rookie middle linebacker Eric Kendricks had two sacks, giving him four on the season and at least one in each of the past three games.

"I think Chad's sack came at the right time and we just fed off of that from there," Kendricks said. "We all heated up and calmed down after that."

Defensive end Everson Griffen, who missed last week's game because of a last-minute illness, returned with 1 ½ sacks. Both came after he left briefly because of a minor injury.

"You get dinged up, but it didn't keep me down," Griffen said. "I'm a fighter and I'm going to fight."

Also notching sacks were defensive tackle Tom Johnson, who started in place of the injured Sharrif Floyd, safety Harrison Smith and linebacker Anthony Barr, who had half a sack. Of the seven sacks, 4 ½ were from the back seven players.

"It's awesome," Smith said of playing in coach Mike Zimmer's defense. "I don't know how many times I've said it, but playing safety for Zimmer and [defensive coordinator George] Edwards, in this defense, you get to do everything. It makes it fun."

It wasn't fun for the first 17 minutes. But after that, well, Griffen might have put it best.

"We calmed down," he said. "And we were dominating."