Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions Match Player Stats On Sep 30, 2012

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 30, 2012

Vikings 20, Lions 13: Percy Harvin returned the opening kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown and Marcus Sherels had a 77-yard punt return for a score as visiting Minnesota snapped an eight-game losing streak in the NFC North.

The Vikings (3-1) totaled only 227 yards of offense, but held the Lions (1-3) to 55 yards rushing and wide receiver Calvin Johnson to five catches for 54 yards. Johnson left the game with 11:58 remaining after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Chad Greenway, but returned after taking a concussion test.

Christian Ponder was 16 of 26 passing for 111 yards and Adrian Peterson rushed for 102 yards on 21 carries for Minnesota, which had lost three straight to Detroit.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford finished 30-of-51 for 319 yards and had a 1-yard touchdown run with 2:56 left to make it 20-13. Detroit got the ball back at its own 2 with 1:42 left before Stafford was sacked on fourth-and-5 at his own 33 as time expired.

Harvin took Jason Hanson's kick in the left corner of the end zone, broke right, found a seam and streaked untouched down the right sideline. Sherels fielded Nick Harris' punt and just avoided Kassim Osgood, the first man downfield, before weaving his way through a maze of players down the middle of the field to give the Vikings a 20-6 lead early in the third quarter.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Johnson and TE Brandon Pettigrew dropped passes in the end zone on consecutive plays late in the second quarter which would have brought the Lions to within 13-10. ... Detroit RB Mikel Leshoure, who rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown in his NFL debut last week, was held to 26 yards on 13 carries and fumbled in Vikings' territory late in the third quarter. ... Vikings DE Jared Allen recorded a sack in his fourth straight game against the Lions and has eight during that span.