Sep 14, 2007, 18:05 GMT
- Two rookies with seemingly limitless futures will showcase themselves this Sunday at Detroit's Ford Field, where the Lions will hold their 2007 home opener against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings
It's not often that an early-season tilt between a team coming off a miserable 3-13 season and another that won just six times a year ago can be labeled an intriguing matchup. But the presence of Lions new wide receiver Calvin Johnson and Minnesota's young running back Adrian Peterson certainly adds some spice to a battle between teams poised to rebound from disappointing campaigns.
Peterson may have been selected five spots below Johnson, whom Detroit snatched up right after Oakland took LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell with the top overall pick, but the former Oklahoma star had the more stirring pro debut of the two. Peterson took over for an injured Chester Taylor late in the first quarter and rushed for 103 yards on 19 carries, while adding a highlight-reel 60-yard catch-and-run for his first NFL touchdown in last week's 24-3 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. He became the only player in league history to have over 100 rushing yards and a 60-yard receiving score in his initial game.
Johnson didn't disappoint in his first regular-season outing, however. The supremely-talented wideout had four receptions for 70 yards, including a 16- yard touchdown grab, to help the Lions topple the Raiders by a 36-21 score in last week's battle between the league's two worst teams of 2006.
But what could be even more eye-opening than a dazzling one-handed catch by Johnson or a tackle-breaking long run from Peterson is a possible 2-0 start for the perennial doormat Lions, a team that has won just 25 games since 2001. Detroit lost its first five contests during last year's three-win debacle.
That could be a tall order for the Lions, however, if recent history is any indication. Minnesota has won the last 10 meetings between these NFC North inhabitants and 14 of the last 15 encounters in the series.
SERIES HISTORY
The Vikings hold a 60-29-2 lead in the all-time series with the Lions, extending their lengthy win streak in the series with last year's home-and- home sweep. Minnesota picked up a 26-17 home victory over Detroit in Week 9, and a 30-20 triumph at Ford Field in Week 14. Minnesota has won five straight in Detroit since the Lions last won a game in the series, in 2001 at the Pontiac Silverdome. The Lions are 1-14 against the Vikings since 1999.
The Vikings' Brad Childress is 2-0 against the Lions as a head coach, while Detroit's Rod Marinelli is 0-2 against both the Vikings and Childress.
WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL
Peterson's dazzling debut overshadowed a rather mundane afternoon by the Minnesota offense in Week 1. Young quarterback Tarvaris Jackson had an erratic performance in his third career start, as the second-year signal- caller completed just 13-of-23 passes for 163 yards and was intercepted once in addition to his touchdown dump-off to Peterson. No one among an ordinary receiving corps stood out either, as Troy Williamson had just 19 yards on two catches and the other starting wideout, Bobby Wade, managed only a 28-yard grab for the game.
Taylor, who rushed for 1,216 yards during a breakout 2006 season, had 18 yards on three carries before leaving the Atlanta game with a hip contusion. The sixth-year back figures to be a game-time decision on Sunday and will probably only spell Peterson if he plays. If Taylor is out, Childress does have an experienced backup at his disposal in the versatile Mewelde Moore.
Look for the Vikings to test a Detroit defense that ranked 21st against the run in 2006 (125.6 ypg) and yielded 172 yards on the ground in last December's loss to Minnesota. The Lions held Oakland to only 92 rushing yards last week, although the Raiders don't field an offensive line as strong as the Vikings' excellent trench unit. Middle linebacker Paris Lenon had a team-best 11 tackles in the opener, while Detroit's tackle tandem of Shaun Rogers and Cory Redding ranks among the league's best.
Detroit's secondary appears to be far more suspect, as ex-Lion Josh McCown proved by throwing for 313 yards on 30-of-40 passing for Oakland last Sunday. Regular free safety Daniel Bullocks is out for the season with a knee injury, leaving the last line of defense in the unproven hands of raw rookie Gerald Alexander. The Lions did receive a good pass rush out of ends Kalimba Edwards and Dewayne White in Week 1, with Edwards taking down McCown twice and White recording one sack as well as an interception.
WHEN THE LIONS HAVE THE BALL
It's no secret Detroit offensive coordinator Mike Martz loves to spread the opposition out and throw the football, and when he's got a group of receivers like Johnson, 2006 Pro Bowl participant Roy Williams (4 receptions, 1 TD last week) and Mike Furrey (98 receptions in '06), there's no reason to argue with Martz's methods. And don't forget about slotman Shaun McDonald, who led Detroit with six catches for 90 yards in the Oakland win. Veteran quarterback Jon Kitna threw for 289 yards and three scores against the Raiders, although he also had a pair of interceptions.
Former Bronco Tatum Bell carried the bulk of the rushing load last week and compiled 87 yards and a touchdown on just 15 attempts in a strong first game as a Lion. Bell will be the main man in the backfield again this week, as projected starter Kevin Jones is still recovering from a broken left foot and short-yardage specialist T.J. Duckett will likely miss Sunday's game with an ankle sprain.
The Vikings' defense outscored the offense in last week's win over the Falcons, with All-Pro defensive tackle Kevin Williams and standout cornerback Antoine Winfield each returning Joey Harrington picks for touchdowns. Linebacker Chad Greenway, Minnesota's first-round selection in 2006 who missed all of his rookie season with a torn ACL, had 10 tackles and a forced fumble in his long-awaited debut. Minnesota sacked Harrington six times on the day, with middle linebacker E.J. Henderson (8 tackles) and rookie end Brian Robison each recording a pair of takedowns.
Don't expect Detroit to stray from its affinity for airing it out on Sunday, since Minnesota had the NFL's stingiest defense against the run last year. With Kevin Williams and fellow tackle Pat Williams leading the way, the Vikings surrendered a scant 61.6 yards per game on the ground.
FANTASY FOCUS
Most of Peterson's owners probably sat the blossoming young star in Week 1 because of Taylor's presence, but they likely won't make the same mistake this week. The first-year back will put up plenty of yards against Detroit's porous defense, even if he's forced to share time with either Taylor or Moore. Those who have the Vikings defense shouldn't expect such a bonanza of points this time around, but the unit's still not a bad play against a Detroit squad that has a tendency towards turnovers. Sunday's game also figures to be a good indicator of Jackson's future fantasy prospects. If the young quarterback can't put up good numbers against Detroit's secondary, he may never be able to.
Roy Williams and Johnson look to be good starts for a Lions team that will be throwing the ball an awful lot come Sunday. That creates the potential for good yardage totals out of Kitna, but he's a riskier play given the Vikings' knack for forcing turnovers and improved pass rush. Whoever is forced to start Bell against Minnesota's stout front seven this week probably won't have to worry about filling out playoff lineups later on.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
Detroit's opening day showing made Kitna's bold prediction of a 10-win season seem a little less outlandish, and the team's wealth of offensive playmakers does indeed make the Lions a weekly threat to light up the scoreboard. But it's a little premature to label Detroit a serious sleeper off one victory over the lousy Raiders. Defense is what wins football games, and the Vikings have a clear edge in that category. Minnesota's prowess in stopping the run will render the Lions a one-trick pony and keep the Vikings' dominance in this series intact.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Vikings 23, Lions 17
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