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| | | | | | | | Tuesday, November 14, 2000
Vikings 31, Lions 24
Associated Press
PONTIAC, Mich. -- Randy Moss is tough enough to cover on an
average day. When he's mad, he's virtually unstoppable.
Just ask the Detroit Lions.
|  | | Minnesota's John Davis lifts Randy Moss after he caught a 61-yard touchdown pass Sunday. |
Moss caught seven passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns to
lead the Minnesota Vikings to a 31-24 win over the Lions on Sunday.
The Vikings (4-0) remained one of two undefeated teams in the
NFC, while the Lions (3-2) lost their second game at home this
season.
Moss entered the game with just one touchdown, but was
determined to surpass that total after his play was criticized last
week on ESPN's "NFL Matchup" show.
"There's been a lot said over the last three days about how I
play ball and what I do on and off the field," Moss said. "I just
wanted to stay focused and come out here and make plays."
Suzy Kolber, host of ESPN's weekly show, said former NFL player
Merril Hoge studied Moss' play over the first three games of the
season using the same game film that NFL coaches use.
"Giving him the benefit of the doubt, Merril counted 34 plays
where Randy either jogged off the line or didn't run at all,"
Kolber said. "There were times when that got him in the way of the
play."
Moss was not ranting and raving about the subject, but it was
clear he was bothered.
"That's the first time I've ever heard somebody criticize me,"
he said. "At the same time, I didn't let it get into my head, but
I did think about it."
Moss said he didn't want to be a part of any controversy between
he and Hoge and didn't want to revisit the topic after Sunday.
"I really don't want to get into that because I think I'm a
better man," Moss said. "And I've been taught better than to
stoop down to somebody's level when criticized."
Moss may have done just as well without the extra source of
motivation. Last year, he racked up 280 yards and two touchdowns in
two games against Detroit.
He caught touchdown passes of 61, 50 and 17 yards from Daunte
Culpepper on Sunday.
"We were really focused on stopping the big plays," Detroit
coach Bobby Ross said. "And we had players in position on all of
them, but we just didn't make the plays."
Moss' last two touchdowns were caught high in the air over
double-coverage.
"We had two guys right there and just didn't stop the play,"
Ross said. "On the last one, I thought we were going to intercept
the pass, and I still think we should have done it. We have to play
those balls more athletically."
Minnesota's Robert Smith, who ran for 134 yards, was in awe of
Moss' 50-yard touchdown reception.
"I've seen Randy do a lot of impressive stuff, but that was one
of the most impressive things I've ever seen him do," Smith said.
"It was like he was saying, `That's my ball."'
Defensive backs Terry Fair and Corwin Brown looked helpless in
Moss' shadow.
"I was right on his hip, and I was sure I was going to pick off
the pass," Fair said. "But I got bumped, and the next thing I
knew, he had the catch."
Notes: Detroit lost three starters - OT Ray Roberts (dizziness),
DT James Jones (bruised knee) and S Ron Rice (sprained neck) to
injuries. Jones is expected to play next Sunday against Green Bay,
while Rice will have tests early this week to check for any serious
damage. The Lions were not sure what caused Roberts' dizziness.
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