ESPN NFL

MINNEAPOLIS -- Would you believe that Adrian Peterson rushed for 160 yards Sunday in part because ... the Detroit Lions challenged him to? That's the way Peterson's quarterback saw things after the Minnesota Vikings' 24-10 victory at the Metrodome.

"Believe it or not," quarterback Brett Favre said, "without watching the tape, it seemed like today and the last two games ... there were teams that were kind of daring us to run the ball a bit more. Not that they feel threatened by our passing game, but it's really how teams [have played]."

Vikings coach Brad Childress took it a step further, suggesting the Vikings checked out of several downfield passing plays because the Lions' defensive alignment lent itself more to a running play.

"You don't want to put round pegs in square holes," Childress said. "You don't want to throw up the field just to throw up the field."

A true cynic might suggest Favre and Childress were offering elaborate excuses for why their passing game has stumbled throughout the first month of the season. Sunday, Favre threw two more interceptions, bringing his season total to six, and had two other turnovers each nullified by a Lions penalty. "We're not near as good as we were last year," he said, speaking both of himself and the Vikings' passing game.

And yet, the Lions, New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins have defended them largely with two-deep coverages designed to keep receivers from getting downfield at the possible expense of giving Peterson more favorable looks than he is used to. The result? On the strength of a career-long 80-yard touchdown run Sunday, Peterson is off to the best three-game start of his career and -- importantly -- has yet to fumble. (See the chart to your right for details.)

It seems blasphemous to take that approach, especially considering the offense's disjointed start. Frankly, it was Peterson's struggles last season -- he lost six fumbles and went the final seven games without a 100-yard game -- that forced a philosophical shift toward Favre and the passing game in the first place.

But staring down their first 0-3 start in eight years, the Vikings made no secret of their plan to pull back and ride Peterson. The Lions entered the game tied for the NFL lead in sacks, and Favre's lone downfield pass was a 25-yard touchdown to Percy Harvin against a busted coverage. He completed 23 of 34 passes for a modest 201 yards.

Peterson, on the other hand, busted a 19-yard run in the first quarter and then put the game away with the 80-yard run with 3 minutes, 14 second remaining in the third.

"Running has always been our identity," right guard Anthony Herrera said. "Coach Childress will never get away from that. We have Brett and we'll use him, but we're always a run-first team."

Last season's numbers wouldn't bear that out, but here's how I would put it: The Vikings will be a running team for as long as it takes Favre to get untracked. If it doesn't happen at all, it will be Peterson's offense.

"That's the mentality I have," Peterson said. "When things aren't going well, I want to be able to get the guys going up front and settle the run game. So we've been pretty productive."

Indeed, Peterson has never had as many as 392 yards after Week 3, even after putting 180 yards in the books. And remarkably, his big run Sunday came on a play he said the Vikings have never used before.

Peterson said it was called "65 U-back" and that two different players -- left guard Steve Hutchinson and tight end Jeff Dugan -- approached him on the sideline to suggest he could break it for a long gain by cutting back.

"They were telling me the backside would be there," Peterson said. "They said, 'Just make sure you press it. Let it develop the way you know [it should].' "

Peterson hasn't always been known for his patience, but Sunday he pushed into the left side of the line even though he knew if the play was going to break, it would be down the right side line. He ran five yards behind Hutchinson, drawing safety C.C. Brown his way, and then cut back against Brown. Last season, former Lions cornerback Phillip Buchanon caught Peterson from behind on a long run. Buchanon plays for the Washington Redskins now, and the Lions had no one Sunday with a chance to catch Peterson from behind.

"That sure takes a lot of pressure off of me and the passing game when you can do that," Favre said.

The big question is not whether Peterson bailed out the Vikings on Sunday. He most certainly did. It's whether he can do it, and whether he will need to, indefinitely. Favre suggested that the next step should be taking advantage with play-action. But Peterson has other plans. Asked Sunday if he thought a 2,000-yard season was reasonable -- he's on pace for 2,090 -- Peterson offered an alternative answer.

"Twenty-five hundred," he said. "I focus on being the best player I can be to help my team. That's where I set my bar and then I go out and play."

Based on the way Peterson has run in September, I wouldn't rule it out. In this era of our Air and Space division, I'm not sure anyone can win over time without getting more production from the passing game than the Vikings are. But Adrian Peterson as your Plan B? That's an awfully nice alternative -- especially if opponents are giving it to you.

Detroit's decision to revamp its secondary has led it to invite free agent Lito Sheppard for a two-day visit beginning Wednesday night, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Sheppard's stock fell in 2009 during his first season with the New York Jets, but the Lions offer a wide-open opportunity to resurrect his career. They're likely to have three new starters around safety Louis Delmas after releasing cornerback Phillip Buchanon and, to this point, failing to re-sign starting cornerback Will James.

Veteran Chris Houston, acquired last month from Atlanta, is a likely starter at one cornerback position but there are no obvious candidates for the second role. Veteran Dante Wesley, signed earlier this month, was more of a special-teams addition.

Sheppard played in 11 games last season after Philadelphia traded him to the Jets, finishing with one interception and eight deflections on the NFL's top-rated defense. But the Jets released him rather than pay a $10 million roster bonus and replaced him by acquiring Antonio Cromartie from San Diego.

Sheppard turned 29 last week and should still have several productive years left. He doesn't have the upside of another cornerback the Lions have evaluated, veteran Adam "Pacman" Jones, but he is certainly a safer option.

I'm a little surprised Detroit released cornerback Phillip Buchanon -- not so much because of his 2009 performance, which was disappointing, but because the Lions were already so thin at the position.

Their other primary starter last season, Will James, is a pending unrestricted free agent. I'm not saying the Lions' dreadful pass defense should return intact next season, but you need to feel relatively assured you can elevate your personnel before you start jettisoning your incumbent players.

Between the draft, free agency and a potential trade for San Diego's Antonio Cromartie, the Lions must feel pretty confident they can do just that.

After Detroit’s 37-23 loss to Chicago, here are three (mostly) indisputable facts I feel relatively sure about:

1. The Lions hired two well-respected defensive minds last winter in head coach Jim Schwartz and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham. But in the end, opponents gashed them at nearly the same rate as they did last season. After the Bears put up 418 total yards Sunday, the Lions once again finished last in the NFL in yards allowed (392.1) and points (30.9) per game. Their run defense actually improved slightly, moving up from No. 32 to No. 25, but their pass defense plummeted to No. 32. Opposing quarterbacks had an incredible 107 passer rating. Of all the players directly involved in pass defense this season, only one stood out as a long-term keeper: Rookie safety Louis Delmas. The Lions have a long way to go on that side of the ball.
2. The most positive aspect of the Lions’ season was the emergence of multiple members of their draft class, with Delmas at the top of the list. Delmas, linebacker DeAndre Levy, quarterback Matthew Stafford and defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill all figure as starters in 2010. The same goes for tight end Brandon Pettigrew when he returns from knee surgery. But the Lions’ talent pool is so thin that it will take several years of similar drafts to pull its roster to NFL standards.
3. Backup tailback Maurice Morris rushed for 228 yards in three starts after Kevin Smith was lost for the season, including 65 yards Sunday against the Bears. That represented an uptick from Smith’s 13-game production, but it’s still hard to avoid the conclusion that the Lions must address their offensive line more seriously in future offseasons. Their decision to mostly stand pat last winter was not rewarded. Perhaps this is the year they find a replacement for left tackle Jeff Backus, who could then move to left guard.

And here is one question I’m still asking:

What kind of season would the Lions have had if they didn’t finish the year with 17 players on injured reserve? That list includes significant contributors like Stafford, Pettigrew, Smith, right guard Stephen Peterman and cornerback Eric King. Linebacker Ernie Sims, receiver Calvin Johnson and cornerback Phillip Buchanon were also limited by injuries for much of the season. From the first day of training camp, the Lions were the most hobbled team in the NFC North. I imagine the Lions will spend a good part of their offseason evaluating their training, strength and conditioning practices.

Getting inside the final Friday injury report of the 2009 season. (Sniff, sniff….)

Chicago Bears: Safety Al Afalava (knee), receiver Johnny Knox (ankle) and safety Danieal Manning (calf) are all listed as doubtful and not expected to play Sunday at Detroit. All other active players, including safety Craig Steltz (foot) should be available. Defensive tackle Israel Idonije (foot) and cornerback Charles Tillman (ribs) were placed on injured reserve earlier this week.

Detroit Lions: Linebacker Larry Foote (foot) won’t play against the Bears. Safety Louis Delmas (knee) and cornerback Phillip Buchanon (shoulder) are questionable. Delmas seems likely to play. Buchanon will be a Sunday decision.

Green Bay Packers: Safety Derrick Martin (ankle) is out and linebacker Brandon Chillar (back) is doubtful for Sunday’s game at Arizona. Nose tackle Ryan Pickett (hamstring) is listed as questionable, but it will be a surprise if he plays. Fullback Korey Hall (elbow) and defensive end Michael Montgomery (ankle) are questionable.

Minnesota Vikings: Nose tackle Pat Williams (elbow) made it through a week of practice and coach Brad Childress said he thinks Williams might be over the hump with the injury. His primary backup, Jimmy Kennedy, isn’t likely to play Sunday against the New York Giants because of a thumb injury. Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (thigh) is questionable but expected to play.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Greetings from the snowy Upper Midwest. I’ve been in three of the four NFC North locales in the past 36 hours -- Minnesota, Chicago and Green Bay -- and I can tell you we’re all getting pretty well socked.

It snowed for most of my drive from the O’Hare area to Green Bay, and flurries are forecast to continue here through Sunday. But we push through such things around here, so in that spirit, let’s catch up on news that has taken place during the holiday weekend.

Chicago Bears: Safety Kevin Payne (ankle) is listed as doubtful for Monday’s game against Minnesota, and fellow safety Al Afalava (knee) is questionable. According to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago, Josh Bullocks and Craig Steltz might end up being the Bears’ starting safety duo against the Vikings. Receiver Devin Hester (calf) is questionable.

Detroit Lions: The Lions signed free-agent quarterback Patrick Ramsey to give them a full depth chart behind starter Drew Stanton for Sunday’s game at San Francisco. Ramsey takes the roster spot of Matthew Stafford, who was placed on injured reserve this week. … Cornerback Phillip Buchanon (shoulder) won’t play against the 49ers.

Green Bay Packers: Nose tackle Ryan Pickett (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday’s game against Seattle. His status will be determined Sunday morning. B.J. Raji would start in his place.

Minnesota Vikings: Nose tackle Pat Williams (elbow) is listed as questionable for Monday night’s game but is expected to play.

As we catch up on some Christmas Eve news, please note that all four NFC North teams have altered their weekly schedule to ensure they won’t practice on Christmas Day.

Chicago Bears: Safeties Al Afalava (knee) and Kevin Payne (ankle) missed their second consecutive day of practice. Running back Adrian Peterson (illness) and cornerback Charles Tillman (not injury related) both missed practice. Linebacker Lance Briggs (back) and tight end Desmond Clark (illness) returned to full practice Thursday. Receiver Devin Hester (calf) was limited.

Detroit Lions: As we noted earlier, the Lions announced that quarterback Matthew Stafford will undergo season-ending surgery on his knee next Tuesday. Three defensive starters were not on the field during the early portion of practice, according to Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press: Linebacker Larry Foote (foot), safety Louis Delmas (ankles) and cornerback Phillip Buchanon (shoulder).

Green Bay Packers: Nose tackle Ryan Pickett (hamstring) and cornerback Trevor Ford (knee) did not practice. Linebacker Brandon Chillar (back) was limited but is expected to play Sunday against Seattle. Cornerback Charles Woodson (shoulder) returned to practice on a limited basis.

Minnesota Vikings: All players participated in at least a portion of practice. … Tailback Adrian Peterson said he loves playing at Soldier Field, where he has rushed for 345 yards and five touchdowns in two previous games. “Just being a Walter Payton fan, I’m always pumped up for that game, especially in Chicago,” Peterson told Minnesota reporters. “It’s also that I love playing on grass fields.”

Let’s take a look at a couple of plays from Week 10, starting with a call that caused much controversy during our Tuesday chat over at SportsNation.

We all know that Detroit cornerback Phillip Buchanon made an exceptional play on Minnesota tailback Adrian Peterson at the Metrodome, catching him from behind on a breakaway and forcing a fumble. A secondary element of that play, however, escaped our original inspection.

Before punching the ball loose, Buchanon used his left hand to grab Peterson by the collar. This happened at about the 20-yard line, and Buchanon held Peterson’s shoulder pads firmly in this manner until ultimately bringing him down at the 5-yard line.

Was this an illegal horsecollar tackle? Vikings coach Brad Childress, among others, thought it was.

During our Tuesday chat, Shannon of Minnesota and Jim of St. Cloud disagreed. Both suggested the NFL’s horsecollar rule was intended to prevent the dangerous “yanking” process that could lead to injury. And as we’ve noted, Buchanon didn’t bring Peterson to the ground until 15 yards after original contact.

Here’s how the NFL rule book defines the horsecollar penalty:

Grabbing the inside collar of the back of the shoulder pads or jersey, or the inside collar of the side of the shoulder pads or jersey, and immediately pulling down the runner. This does not apply to a runner who is in the tackle box or to a quarterback who is in the pocket.

I contend that Buchanon was trying to tackle Peterson all along, if for no other reason than to keep him from recovering the fumble. He was trying to yank him down, but Peterson’s strength prevented that from happening immediately. That rare dichotomy shouldn’t exonerate Buchanon on that instance. To me, technically, it was still a horsecollar and should have been called thusly.

Our second play occurred in the fourth quarter of Green Bay’s 17-7 victory over Dallas. I know it’s been covered elsewhere, but we haven’t really discussed in this space a strategic lapse by Packers coach Mike McCarthy. (Referee Jeff Triplette, meanwhile, should be embarrassed. We’ll get to that in a minute.) As you might recall, McCarthy challenged a 4th-down reception by Cowboys receiver Patrick Crayton -- even though he had used both of his available challenges earlier in the game.

Triplette compounded the problem by beginning the review process before realizing, after several minutes, that the Packers were out of challenges. He then failed to apply this penalty required in the NFL rule book (stated in bold print, by the way):

Penalty: For initiating a challenge when all of a team’s time outs have been exhausted or when all of its available challenges have been used: Loss of 15 yards.

The incident should have given the Cowboys a first down at the Packers’ 14-yard line. I’m not saying this would have changed the course of the game, but it would have put the Cowboys closer to the end zone as they tried to come back from a 17-0 deficit.

McCarthy acknowledged earlier this week that he “made a mistake” on challenging the play. Every team handles challenges differently; I know I’ve seen some coaches hand the red flag to a sideline assistant when they’re either out of challenges or have entered the two-minute period where they can only be initiated by the replay official in the booth.

The Packers were fortunate the mistake didn’t hurt them, and Triplette is lucky that the game never got close enough for those 15 yard to matter. On that note, let’s update our weekly Challenge Tracker:

Detroit cornerback Phillip Buchanon lingered a bit longer than usual in the Lions’ locker room at halftime Sunday, receiving treatment for a minor injury. Really, there was no rush. The Lions were scheduled to receive the second-half kickoff, and Buchanon wasn't a member of the return team.

But these are the Lions, and seemingly on cue, tailback Kevin Smith fumbled on their first offensive play. With Buchanon temporarily unavailable as the defense took the field, Detroit coaches sent out newcomer Jack Williams. Earlier in the week, Williams had become the seventh cornerback to pass through the Lions’ revolving door dating back to the start of the season, yet another attempt to elevate their talent level.

On his first play, a 27-yard run by Minnesota tailback Adrian Peterson, Williams suffered a season-ending knee injury. He will be placed on injured reserve this week.

Alas, Detroit is no luckier -- and only one victory better -- since compiling the NFL’s worst-ever season in 2008. I’ve seen the Lions play in person three times this season, most recently on Sunday. There have been a few encouraging signs, but overall I’m mortified by what seems to be a tremendous talent gap across most positions.

I can only assume that’s what coach Jim Schwartz was referring to last week during a conference call with Minnesota reporters. Asked to encapsulate his first season with the Lions, Schwartz said, “I’m certainly not discouraged but there hasn’t been a whole lot of encouraging either. I think the best word is determined. We know what our issues are. We are going to work hard to get through them. We still have a lot of work to do. We know that and we are determined to get done.”

The Lions could and probably should pick up their second victory Sunday when they host Cleveland. But a realist would say their best-case scenario for 2009 is 4-12, and even that might be stretching it. More importantly, as Schwartz seems to admit, the Lions remain deeply encumbered by a talent shortage brought on by a decade of poor drafting.

So while the topic is fresh in all of our minds, I thought I would scan the Lions' roster and divide the players into three categories:

1. Keepers. These are players the Lions can build their future around.
2. Worth Learning More About. For various reasons, I wouldn’t give up on the players in this group.
3. Others. This one is pretty self-explanatory.

You can see the results of this exercise below. (No sense calling out the Others by name. It’s their island, anyway.)



A few notes and thoughts:

• As you can see, I came up with only seven nucleus-type players, along with seven more who have the potential to be part of a core group. Keep in mind that every team has a relatively small nucleus with a bunch of complementary players around it. I don’t think I was a particularly tough grader here, but a nucleus should represent more than 13 percent of your players.
• Cornerback is a position that many NFL teams have trouble establishing. But for the Lions not to have one nucleus-type player on either of their lines, at least by my reckoning, is most troublesome. It takes years to develop a good, cohesive lines. Last Sunday’s matchup against Minnesota provided an exaggerated example of the issue: Quarterback Matthew Stafford got pummeled while the Vikings' offense rushed for 152 yards and passed for 344 with only one sack. There’s a reason why the cliché still exists: It really does all start up front.
• For me, the Lions’ next step is to spend the rest of this season performing a similar exercise: Which players can Schwartz build around? Which ones are toast? Then you just start in one corner and start working your way out. If it were me, I would make linemen on both sides of the ball the top (and perhaps single) priority this winter.
• There are some good complementary players whom I left off this list because, based on age or history, it’s hard to envision them as more than short-term solutions. That group includes Buchanon, tight end Will Heller, cornerback William James and linebacker Larry Foote.
• I realize linebacker Ernie Sims isn’t on this list. I think he is and can be a good NFL player, but he might better suited to play in more of a Tampa 2 style scheme. Even before he started dealing with shoulder and hamstring injuries, it has seemed the Lions were intent on moving rookie DeAndre Levy past him. I could be wrong about that and am willing to listen to alternate theories and evaluations.
• I can’t say I had any specific criteria for making these selections. They’re based on what I’ve seen, along with what I’ve heard from people I trust. I consider this list a jumping-off spot for future discussion. I know some in our Lions audience are still mad at me for bailing on training camp, but hopefully we can move past that.

Let me know what you think, and we’ll continue to revisit the topic through the second half of the season and into the winter.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Falling

1. Jay Cutler, Chicago quarterback: You knew there was no way to omit Cutler from this list. Even though his last game was five days ago, it was a doozy. A five-interception night at San Francisco might have scuttled the Bears’ playoff hopes. Even after last weekend's games, Cutler’s 17 interceptions still lead the NFL by a wide margin. He has a long wait until Sunday night’s game against Philadelphia, and all of Chicago is holding its collective breath. Cutler has thrown 70 percent of his interceptions (12 of 17) in three prime-time games this season. Eagles defenders no doubt are licking their chops.

2. Bryant Johnson, Detroit receiver: In an offense that also includes receiver Calvin Johnson, Bryant Johnson should have ample opportunity for high production. But he has proved underwhelming in that role, and dropped what would have been a touchdown pass late in the second quarter of the Lions’ 27-10 loss at Minnesota. Overall this season, Johnson has caught only 22 of the 56 passes thrown his way. That ratio puts him among the 10 least-efficient receivers in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Looked at another way, Johnson has cost the Lions far too many yards and first downs.

3. Gosder Cherilus, Lions right tackle: He took a pretty good beating Sunday at the hands of Minnesota defensive end Ray Edwards and was briefly replaced by veteran Jon Jansen. Cherilus was one of many Lions offensive linemen who struggled, but you tend to get singled out when the player across from you has a career game. Cherilus had no answers for Edwards’ speed or power rushes. The Lions’ top pick of the 2008 draft deserves more time to develop, but Sunday was certainly a learning experience for him.

Rising

1. Charles Woodson, Green Bay cornerback: Defensive coordinator Dom Capers set Woodson loose Sunday against the Dallas offense, and Woodson responded with what might have been his best game in a Packers uniform. He finished with a team-high nine tackles, including a sack. He also forced two fumbles and made an interception in a 17-7 victory. It was a beautiful response from Woodson, who suggested earlier this year that Capers wasn’t blitzing as often as he should. In a must-win situation, a team relies on its best players not only for leadership but for exceptional performances. Woodson provided both Sunday.

2. Ray Edwards, Minnesota defensive end: When Detroit focused its attention elsewhere Sunday, Edwards pounced with a two-sack performance and lost a third on a questionable roughness penalty. He finished with four total hits on quarterback Matthew Stafford and also a forced fumble. The Lions tried to adjust with Cherilus, but he couldn’t keep leverage on Edwards’ outside rush. Edwards quietly has compiled 5.5 sacks this season, giving him a chance for a 10-sack year. (Sorry, Vikings fans. I’m over my Sidney Rice quota for the season.)

3. Phillip Buchanon, Detroit cornerback: No one can doubt that Buchanon still has elite speed after he caught Minnesota tailback Adrian Peterson from behind and knocked the ball loose Sunday. Based on the video replay, Peterson had a 4-yard head start once he broke into the open field. Buchanon, who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.31 seconds while in college, sprinted 25 yards to catch Peterson. He probably should have been flagged for a horsecollar tackle, but it was such a surprising display of speed that no official seemed prepared for the play to stop short of the end zone. Speed is a precious commodity in the NFL, and Buchanon’s effort was the kind of play that can single-handedly extend a career.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Sorry. I'm a sucker for symbolism. Sometimes these things just pop into my noggin. So as I descended into the Metrodome basement after Minnesota's 27-10 victory over Detroit , all I could think about was the Phillip Buchanon play.

Surely you've seen it by now. Minnesota tailback Adrian Peterson broke into the clear at the Lions' 47-yard line during the second quarter. Pretty much every time that's happened in Peterson's career, the result has been a touchdown. But Buchanon, the Lions' cornerback who once ran a 40-yard dash in 4.31 seconds, gave chase for 25 yards before catching up.

The NFL rushing champion was stunned as Buchanon tackled him with his left hand and punched the ball loose with his right. The Lions recovered for a touchback.

“I was caught off guard,” said Peterson, adding that he was “sick” about the play and jokingly saying he wanted to “punch” Buchanon. “Overall,” Peterson said, “I feel like we've got a lot to learn from this game.”

Indeed, the Vikings overmatched the Lions in every way Sunday and ultimately overwhelmed them. They are 8-1 and have a three-game lead in the NFC North. This season is rapidly shaping up as a once-in-a-generation combination of opportunity and chance, putting the Vikings on a pretty short list of candidates to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

But lest anyone get too convinced of that destiny, remember this: If Adrian Peterson can get caught from behind, anything can happen.

“He just made a great play,” Peterson said. “Those guys on the other side of the ball, sometimes those guys are fast, too.”

But the second lesson/reminder of Sunday was that Minnesota has the offensive firepower to overcome even a series of similar occurrences. (It helped to be matched against the Lions' horrid pass defense, which has allowed quarterbacks to complete 71 percent of their passes on the way to a 107.8 rating.)

Minnesota gashed the Lions for 492 total yards, an average of 7.8 yards per play. Five of them went for 40 or more yards. Quarterback Brett Favre passed for 344 yards, receiver Sidney Rice totaled 201 receiving yards and Peterson finished with 133 rushing yards.

I understand the Vikings won't be playing the Lions' defense every week, and certainly not in any postseason game. But as they continue to compile elite offensive numbers, the confidence of the players surrounding Favre will only improve. Let's take a closer look at what we saw Sunday:

Rice should no longer surprise any opponent. Entering this year, many of us considered Rice a possession/red zone receiver. Although he does not have elite speed, it should now be clear he has the ball skills to catch passes at any point on the field. On Sunday, his seven receptions included catches of 56, 43, 43, and 21 yards.

Rice outmaneuvered Buchanon (or gently shoved, depending on your team allegiance) for a 43-yard reception in the second quarter. In the fourth quarter, Lions safety Ko Simpson stood flat-footed in the middle of the field as Rice blew past him. “He told me afterwards that he thought I was going to break off my route,” Rice said.

A possession receiver might do that, but we really shouldn't consider Rice that way anymore. In nine games this season, he is averaging 17.9 yards on 44 catches. He said Sunday that his favorite NFL receiver is Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald, who has maximized his receiving skills to offset speed that falls short of elite.

“As far as deep threats go,” said Favre, “Sidney ranks right up there with the best.”

To my good fortune, at least for this post, Rice's day ended with a bit more symbolism. With the game in hand at the 5:37 mark of the fourth quarter, the Vikings realized Rice was 9 yards away from Sammy White's team record of 210 receiving yards. Coach Brad Childress agreed on a short passing play that would give Rice the record, but Rice dropped the pass from backup quarterback Tarvaris Jackson.

“My bad,” Rice said.

Yes, there is always room for improvement.

Not to be outdone, rookie receiver Percy Harvin turned a short slant pass into a 40-yard play in the fourth quarter. Against a four-man defensive line, Favre opted against audibling to a running play based on his faith that Harvin could make an open-field play.

Harvin bounced off a strong hit from Lions rookie linebacker DeAndre Levy, kept his balance and beat the rest of the Lions' defense to the sideline.

“They actually played the pass on that play,” Favre said. “By rule you would have thought, ‘Hey, let's go to the run.' It helps when you have players that make plays. I said, ‘Hey, give Percy a chance.'”

Buchanon's play against Peterson overshadowed a tremendous run from Peterson, who clearly had live legs coming out of the Vikings' bye.

On the play, Peterson ran through four would-be tacklers, two at the line of scrimmage and two more at the Vikings' 47-yard line. (Levy actually had two chances at him.) Nine times out of 10, it would have been a spectacular 61-yard touchdown, replayed endlessly on highlight shows for the next 24 hours.

“That was one of the better runs, I don't want to say that I've ever seen, but in recent memory,” Favre said. “It seemed like the best I've ever seen at the time. ... Adrian, he'll be killing himself all night over that. But the guy is amazing, the way he can stop and go.”

Speaking as if he knew what I would be writing about Sunday, Peterson offered a final bit of perspective.

“In the NFL,” he said, “you definitely know it's going to be up and down. You can't be caught up and still looking behind you. You have to play the next play.”

That's what Minnesota did Sunday. After a little reminder.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Power rankings: Preseason: 32. This week: 29

2009 Schedule/Results

Where they stand: The Lions (1-7) snapped their losing streak with a victory Sept. 27 over Washington but have lost five consecutive games since. The past two weeks have been especially exasperating: A loss to then-winless St. Louis followed by a 32-20 loss at Seattle, where the Lions had jumped out to a 17-0 first-quarter lead. Anecdotally, the Lions appear to be improved this season but so far they have only one victory to show for it.

	Jerry Lai/US Presswire
	Quarterback Matthew Stafford has been under pressure for much of his rookie season.

Disappointments: Running back Kevin Smith was supposed to take pressure off rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford, but instead Smith has been unable to establish any consistency as a runner. A shoulder injury has played a role in his sophomore slump, but the bottom line is a 57.5-yard per game average for a player the Lions hoped could be a 1,200-yard back this season. Cornerback Phillip Buchanon, expected to be the team’s top cover man, has been benched several times this season. Defensive end Cliff Avril, who the Lions hoped would serve as a strong edge pass-rusher, has been slowed by injuries and has 2.5 sacks. Receiver Bryant Johnson has a pair of touchdown receptions but unofficially has five drops on the season.

Surprises: Stafford has thrown 12 interceptions and is completing 52 percent of his passes, but most of his mistakes have been from aggression rather than lack of understanding. Stafford appears to have a strong grasp of the Lions' offense and enough football instincts that, even at 21, he’s never looked out of place as an NFL starter. Rookie linebacker DeAndre Levy has been battling veteran Ernie Sims for the starting weakside linebacker spot and has made perhaps the most positive contribution of any Lions rookie this season. Levy moves well, hits hard and has a bright future.

Outlook: The Lions might be out of the playoff hunt, but they can make some inroads on next season by establishing young starters at a variety of positions. The continued development of Stafford, Levy, safety Louis Delmas, tight end Brandon Pettigrew and defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill would give them something tangible to build off for 2010.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Falling

1. Detroit’s offensive line: We’ve singled out Lions tailback Kevin Smith several times for his minimal production, and Sunday he was limited to 53 yards on 20 carries. He’s now averaging 3.1 yards per rush this season. But after watching Sunday’s game, it’s hard to blame Smith for running into brick walls. He isn’t seeing much daylight. On Sunday, the Lions also allowed quarterback Daunte Culpepper to be sacked seven times. The Lions notably left their offensive line out of their offseason personnel overhaul, but it’s clear it also has its limitations. Right tackle Gosder Cherilus missed the game because of injury and was replaced by veteran Jon Jansen. But let’s be clear: No offense will get very far with a limited offensive line.

Tauscher

2. The Mark Tauscher move: It’s going to be difficult for Green Bay to emerge in a positive light from the decision to re-sign Tauscher. If he re-claims his starting job soon and plays well, the Packers will appear to have decided simply to bide their early-season time while waiting for him to recover from a knee injury rather than identity a long-term replacement. That decision contributed to an NFL-high 20 sacks over that span. If Tauscher demonstrates he either isn’t ready to play or can’t sustain a high level, you could come down on the Packers for not finding a better solution to their early-season problems. Consider it media semantics, but one way or the other, we’ll find something to criticize.

3. Detroit’s pass defense: There’s no way to single out one player for a group effort that has allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 73.3 percent of their passes for 15 touchdowns and three interceptions. The Lions have made some improvement against the run, but they are totally vulnerable to the pass. To this point, personnel shuffling has done no good. Cornerback Phillip Buchanon has been in and out of the lineup, and the Lions have also inserted rookie linebacker DeAndre Levy as a starter. But the big problem is they have no one who has established a consistent pass rush. Using 240-pound linebacker Julian Peterson as a defensive end hasn’t worked to this point.

Rising

Jennings

1. Greg Jennings, Packers receiver: Jennings has always appeared to be a classy player with a far more laid-back personality than many top NFL receivers. So that’s why his words Monday should strike everyone as commendable and necessary. In a professional way, Jennings told reporters the Packers need to get him the ball more to ensure success for the long haul. He also didn’t shy away from suggesting alternative ways to prevent pass protection woes from scuttling the entire offense. You know it’s not Jennings’ nature to speak out. So when he makes a strong statement, you should take it to heart.

Rice

2. Sidney Rice, Minnesota receiver: People forget that when the Vikings drafted Rice in 2007, he was 20 years old. He didn’t turn 21 until five months after the draft. What you’re seeing now is the combination of a healthy, and now experienced, receiver who has developed exceptional ball skills despite mid-range speed that doesn’t get him separation from many defensive backs. Rice caught a season-long 47-yard pass Sunday at St. Louis and has already surpasses his production from last season. Most importantly, Rice seems to have earned the trust of quarterback Brett Favre and has convinced him to throw his way even though he might appear covered. That’s the true test of any pro receiver: Can he catch the ball in traffic? Rice has shown he can.

3. Minnesota’s special teams: We’ve never failed to point out the nine touchdowns the Vikings have allowed on special teams over the past 21 games. So it’s only fair to point out that this season, they are having a positive impact on field position. The kickoff return team has helped the Vikings start their average drive at the 31.8-yard line, third best in the NFL. And their kickoff coverage team is forcing opponents to start their average drive at the 24.4-yard line, the 10th-best mark in the league. Sunday in St. Louis, the Rams started six drives inside their 21-yard line.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Several interesting developments came out of Detroit on Thursday.

Levy

Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham told reporters that rookie linebacker DeAndre Levy is going to start Sunday against Pittsburgh. But with all three of the Lions’ current starters healthy, Cunningham wouldn’t say who is getting benched.

Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com writes that it’s unlikely that middle linebacker Larry Foote will lose his job, leaving outside linebackers Julian Peterson and Ernie Sims as the remaining candidates. John Niyo of the Detroit News suggests Sims could be the target.

Regardless, the move will continue a pattern of weekly personnel shake-ups. The Lions benched cornerback Phillip Buchanon two weeks ago, and this week coach Jim Schwartz inserted rookie Derrick Williams as his primary kick returner. Sims and Peterson were both thought to be cornerstones of the Lions’ new defense, but it appears Levy has earned himself a role -- somewhere.

Cunningham: “If we're going to follow the philosophy of the head coach, the best player should be out there and I darn sure think [Levy] is one of the best players we've got right now. Right now, the thought is to not take him off the field on any package.”

Quarterback Matthew Stafford missed practice for the second consecutive day, increasing the likelihood that he will miss Sunday’s game. Schwartz is keeping information flow on his status to a minimum, but Stafford’s dislocated kneecap is probably too significant of an injury to let him back on the field.

“Just got to keep rehabbing and try to get it ready,” Stafford said during a guarded interview with local reporters. (Watch the video here.)

The Lions announced they sold out Sunday’s game, giving them two sellouts in their first three home games.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

I’m pretty convinced that current Minnesota and Green Bay players aren’t nearly as affected by the rivalry between the teams as their predecessors were. Free agency, business arrangements and other modern-day advents have softened the emotions involved in such things.

But the feelings remain strong among alumni from both sides. We’re already well aware what former Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton thinks of Brett Favre’s arrival in Minnesota. Thursday, Greg A. Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published the reaction of former Packers players.

Hall of Fame defensive end Willie Davis said, “I just don’t understand why he went to Minnesota.” Former safety LeRoy Butler, meanwhile, said he cringes at the thought of watching ESPN highlights of Favre beating the Packers.

“It's going to be on every station, if they lose to the Vikings, for four days,” Butler said. “I don't want to see that. I don't want to see the four-letter network have Brett's picture up and the lovefest. 'Ah, he's this. He's that. He just loves playing the game.’ Nope, sorry Brett. You're on the other side now."

Former guard Jerry Kramer blamed the Packers’ handling of the situation last summer for creating the vengeance he believes Favre feels now. And former receiver Antonio Freeman believes vengeance is the sole reason Favre decided to play this season in Minnesota.

Favre is scheduled to speak Thursday afternoon at the Vikings’ training facility. I’ll be there and will relay you the latest. For now, let’s take a spin around the NFC North:

• Former Tampa Bay coach and current ESPN analyst Jon Gruden believed Favre would end up with the Bucs last summer, writes Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee.
• The Vikings have long been aware of Percy Harvin’s history of migraines, writes Judd Zulgad and Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune. They have bothered him since he was in middle school.
• Minnesota officials are scheduled to make an economic impact presentation on the potential for a new stadium Thursday, writes John Shipley of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• So far, writes David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune, the decision by Bears coach Lovie Smith to get more involved in the defense has paid off.
• Bears receivers are averaging four more catches per game than they did last year, notes Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald.
• Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago takes a look at linebacker Jamar Williams, who likely will make his second career start Sunday against Detroit.
• Detroit defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham acknowledged the Lions benched cornerback Phillip Buchanon for performance reasons last Sunday against Washington. John Niyo of the Detroit News has more.
• The Lions aren’t a good matchup for Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, writes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.