Minnesota finally broke the longest in-division losing streak in the NFL, having lost 11 straight divisional games up to yesterday’s visit to Ford Field in Detroit. The Vikings never trailed after Percy Harvin took the opening kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown. Later in the game, punt returner Marcus Sherels went 77 yards to score a second special teams TD. Adrian Peterson got his first 100-yard rushing game of the season, and Christian Ponder continued his zero interception streak going for another game (but it was the defence and special teams players who won the game … with a lot of help from Detroit’s butter-fingered wide receiving corps).
Christopher Gates at the Daily Norseman (apparently now rebranded as SB Nation Minnesota):
Things got a little hairy for the Minnesota Vikings at the end of the game, but they held on to defeat the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday afternoon by a score of 20-13.
Minnesota won this game despite not scoring an offensive touchdown and, quite frankly, not looking that good on offense at all. The Vikings got the first score of the game when Percy Harvin took the opening kickoff and returned it 105 yards for a touchdown. The score for Harvin was the first time he’s found the end zone this season, and the fifth time in his career that Harvin has taken a kickoff back for a touchdown. He is the Vikings’ team record holder in that category.
The Vikings’ other touchdown came as a result of another return, this one a 77-yard return of a Nick Harris punt by Marcus Sherels. Other than that, the Vikings’ offense consisted of two Blair Walsh field goals, though Walsh missed his first kick as a member of the Vikings when he pushed one left from 46 yards in the fourth quarter.
1500ESPN‘s Tom Pelissero:
