Vikings-Lions Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

Culpepper faces old team, but Peterson will steal the showThe Vikings have a chance to take the lead in the NFC North, while the Lions are playing for pride as well as to stop their 12-game losing streak. The Vikings appear to be peaking at just the right time as they finish out the season and can't afford to stumble against a Detroit team that has nothing to lose and is apt to throw everything at the Vikings. Expect the Vikings to unleash RB Adrian Peterson and one of the strongest ground games against a team that gives up more rushing yards than any other team in the NFL.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
MIN	10-6	379	333	6-2	4-4	4-2	8-4
DET	0-16	268	517	0-8	0-8	0-6	0-12
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Minnesota Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Favre 69.7 2482 21 3 Jackso... 66.7 159 1 0

Detroit Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Staffo... 55.2 1911 11 14 Culpep... 56.5 384 1 2

Minnesota Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Peters... 205 999 4.9 11 Taylor 63 212 3.4 1

Detroit Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Smith 162 560 3.5 3 Morris 38 141 3.7 1

Minnesota Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Rice 50 875 17.5 4 Harvin 36 501 13.9 4

Detroit Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Johnso... 39 597 15.3 2 Pettig... 29 334 11.5 2

Full Player Stats: Minnesota | Detroit

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	MIN	331.0
	DET	268.0
Yards Passing	MIN	184.8
	DET	185.0
Yards Rushing	MIN	146.1
	DET	83.3
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	MIN	292.4
	DET	404.4
Pass Yds Allowed	MIN	215.6
	DET	232.3
Rush Yds Allowed	MIN	76.9
	DET	172.1

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Minnesota leads 14-2
Oct 12, 2008	MIN 12, @DET 10
Dec 2, 2007	MIN 42, @DET 10
Sep 16, 2007	MIN 17, DET 20
Dec 10, 2006	MIN 30, DET 20
Oct 8, 2006	MIN 26, @DET 17
Dec 4, 2005	MIN 21, DET 16
Nov 6, 2005	MIN 27, @DET 14
Dec 19, 2004	MIN 28, DET 27
Nov 21, 2004	MIN 22, @DET 19
Nov 23, 2003	MIN 24, @DET 14
Sep 21, 2003	MIN 23, DET 13
Dec 29, 2002	MIN 38, DET 36
Oct 13, 2002	MIN 31, @DET 24
Dec 16, 2001	MIN 24, DET 27
Oct 14, 2001	MIN 31, @DET 26

With a one-game lead in the NFC North, the Minnesota Vikings need every victory they can get to remain atop the division. Having a pair of Pro Bowl defensive linemen on the field instead of the sideline certainly can't hurt their cause.

After a federal judge at least temporarily blocked the NFL from suspending them, Kevin and Pat Williams will likely be available to the Vikings on Sunday for their road game against the winless Detroit Lions.

Kevin Williams and Pat Williams were among six NFL players suspended for four games Tuesday for testing positive for a banned diuretic, which can be used as a masking agent for steroids.

On Wednesday, a Minneapolis judge issued a temporary restraining order against the suspensions at the players' request, though the NFL got the case moved to federal court. That led to Friday's decision by U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson, who blocked the suspensions because he needed more time to consider the case after several hours of arguments from the league and the NFL Players Association.

With the Williamses -- who are unrelated -- anchoring their defensive front, the Vikings (7-5) boast the league's No. 2 rushing defense, allowing 73.1 yards per game. In the 60 games they've played together, Minnesota has allowed just three individual 100-yard rushing performances.

If the suspensions are ultimately upheld, the Vikings will look to Fred Evans, Ellis Wyms, Letroy Guion and the newly signed Jimmy Kennedy to fill in for their Pro Bowl pair.

"When you go through a season, you know somewhere you're going to have adversity," Minnesota coach Brad Childress said. "That's our deal to contend with, and that's why you have a team. We expect the guys that are moving into those positions to do a great job and everyone to do the job behind them."

With last Sunday's 34-14 home victory over Chicago, the Vikings moved a game ahead of the Bears in the NFC North, and their now-suspended defensive linemen played a role in a pivotal goal-line stand.

Minnesota stopped the Bears on four plays from the 1-yard line, including three runs. On the next play, Gus Frerotte connected with Bernard Berrian on a 99-yard touchdown pass to give Minnesota a lead it never relinquished.

Thanks to that 99-yard touchdown pass, Frerotte had his first 200-yard performance in five starts.

In his last meeting with Detroit -- a 12-10 win on Oct. 12 at the Metrodome, Frerotte completed 18 of 33 passes for 296 yards and a touchdown. He has thrown for at least 245 yards in each of his three career starts versus the Lions.

Berrian had a career-high 131 yards on five catches, including an 86-yard TD, in the October matchup.

Adrian Peterson moved into the league rushing lead after gaining 131 yards on 28 carries against Chicago last week. He has 1,311 yards and needs 31 more to top his production from last season, when he was the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The Vikings running back has scored six touchdowns in the last six games, and rushed for 100 yards or more in five of the last seven. He has 227 yards in his last two meetings with Detroit.

The Lions (0-12) will not have played for 10 days heading into Sunday's game, and they might have needed that time to get over the worst loss of their miserable season.

Tennessee embarrassed Detroit 47-10 on Thanksgiving Day, holding the Lions to a season-low 154 yards total offense. The Titans scored 28 points in the first 15:40 to put the game out of reach early.

"We only confirmed what everybody was thinking about us as far as outside of Detroit and in Detroit," kicker Jason Hanson said. "I know everybody in here feels embarrassed that we did that on national TV."

The Lions produced six first downs and 23 rushing yards, while Daunte Culpepper was sacked twice.

The former Vikings quarterback has three touchdowns, six interceptions and a 53.6 passer rating in four games since coming out of retirement to sign a two-year contract with Detroit on Nov. 3.

He has faced his former team once, in a 29-22 loss for the Oakland Raiders on Nov. 18, 2007. Culpepper went 23-for-39 for 344 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Thanksgiving Day's only positive for the Lions might have been Hanson tying the league record for most career 50-yard field goals. With a 53-yarder in the first quarter -- Hanson's 40th from 50 yards or more -- he matched Morten Andersen's mark.

The Vikings have won 12 of their past 13 meetings with the Lions overall, and five of the last six matchups in Detroit.

Vikings' Berrian, Peterson limited in practice

Vikings wide receiver Bernard Berrian (hamstring) and cornerback Antoine Winfield (foot) were listed as limited in practice Wednesday, as was running back Adrian Peterson (ankle).

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Breaking up is so very hard to do, but even this die-hard Lions fan knows his favorite team has outlived its usefulness on Thanksgiving Day.

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Roderick Rogers on Monday, a day after completing their three-day mandatory minicamp, leaving 84 players on the roster.

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Fran Tarkenton's rips on Brett Favre for the way he's mercilessly toyed with the Minnesota Vikings certainly can be justified.

NFL players union requests hold on suspensions

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Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 pick in this year's NFL draft, made an impressive throw toward the end of Lions practice Monday.

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Lions sign Jansen, release Foster

Jon Jansen is in and George Foster is out. That became official Monday as the Lions went through another round of practices at their indoor facility.

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Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 pick in this year's NFL draft, made an impressive throw toward the end of Lions practice Monday.