The audience for this Tuesday Night Football matchup between the 1997 Detroit Lions and the 2012 Minnesota Vikings expected fireworks, with 4th overall season rushing leader Barry Sanders (2,053 yards) facing off with 2nd overall season rushing leader Adrian Peterson (2,097 yards), but instead football fans experienced carnage and spectacle reminiscent of a Roman circus.
After Detroit kicked a field goal to cap off the first drive of the game, Minnesota marched downfield only to have a field goal attempt blocked. The Lions could not capitalize on their special teams’ prowess, however, and after a punt the Vikings scored on a 24-yard Linebuck run by Peterson.
In the second quarter, Detroit drove 72 yards until Sanders fumbled on the Minnesota 8 yard line, and the Vikings recovered, but the Vikings didn’t get far when Peterson left the game with an injury and Ponder threw an interception. The Lions made hay by kicking a field goal, and then the Vikings split the uprights, too. Then with only 2:00 left to play in the half, Mitchell connected on two long passes to Moore to close out the half with a touchdown.
On the first drive in the second half, the Vikings proved they could move the ball without Peterson, with Harvin taking over the ground game and Gerhart taking passes from out of the backfield. The drive ended with Rudolph scoring on a short pass from Ponder, but in the process Gerhart left the game with an injury, and the Vikings were forced to switch from playing out of the full house offensive formation to the standard pro set, with Harvin taking over halfback instead of RB3 duties.
On the next drive, Sanders led Detroit’s 75-yard march downfield, and his efforts included a 38-yard Off Tackle run coupled with a personal foul penalty against Minnesota, but once again Sanders fumbled and lost the ball in the red zone, and the Vikings recovered at their own 5 yard line with 4:00 remaining in the third quarter. The Vikings failed to move the ball, however, and after an offsides penalty and two incomplete passes, Ponder found himself sacked in the end zone by Elliss for a safety.
Even though Amoradoshu stepped up his receiving game for the Vikings, Minnesota never fully reovered, and Detroit owned the last 18:00 of the game, kicking two field goals.
BOX SCORE
1997 DETROIT 03 10 02 06 – 21
2012 MINNESOTA 07 03 07 00 – 17
2012 MINNESOTA 07 03 07 00 – 17
SCORING
Q1 11:00 DET Hanson 37-yd FG
Q1 01:00 MIN Peterson 24-yd run, Walsh XP
Q2 05:45 DET Hanson 43-yd FG
Q2 02:00 MIN Walsh 20-yd FG
Q2 00:37 DET Mitchell 39-yd pass to Moore, Hanson XP
Q3 09:45 MIN Ponder 7-yd pass to Rudolph, Walsh XP
Q3 03:00 DET Elliss sacks Ponder for safety
Q4 12:15 DET Hanson 22-yd FG
Q4 01:15 DET Hanson 50-yd FG
Q1 01:00 MIN Peterson 24-yd run, Walsh XP
Q2 05:45 DET Hanson 43-yd FG
Q2 02:00 MIN Walsh 20-yd FG
Q2 00:37 DET Mitchell 39-yd pass to Moore, Hanson XP
Q3 09:45 MIN Ponder 7-yd pass to Rudolph, Walsh XP
Q3 03:00 DET Elliss sacks Ponder for safety
Q4 12:15 DET Hanson 22-yd FG
Q4 01:15 DET Hanson 50-yd FG
PLAY ATTEMPTS
DET – End Run (left) 6, Off Tackle (left) 6, Linebuck (left) 6, Linebuck (right) 6, Off Tackle (right) 6, End Run (right) 6, Flat Pass (left) 4, Look-in Pass 4, Flat Pass (right) 4, Short Pass 9, Long Pass 3
MIN - End Run (left) 8, Off Tackle (left) 6, Linebuck (left) 5, Linebuck (right) 5, Off Tackle (right) 6, End Run (right) 6, Flat Pass (left) 4, Look-in Pass 5, Flat Pass (right) 10, Short Pass 9, Long Pass 4
PASSING
DET - Mitchell 17-28 for 209 yds, 0 Int
MIN - Ponder 16-32 for 169 yds, 1 Int
MIN - Ponder 16-32 for 169 yds, 1 Int
RECEIVING
DET - FL Moore 8-10 for 136 yds, SE Morton 1-6 for 12 yds, HB Sanders 1-1 for 18 yds, FB Schlesinger 4-7 for 36 yds, TE Sloan 3-4 for 7 yds
MIN – FL Aromashodu 4-7 for 36 yds, HB Gerhart 2-3 for 27 yds, RB3/HB Harvin 4-8 for 42 yds, TE Rudolph 6-10 for 64 yds, SE Wright 0-4 for 0 yds
RUSHING
DET – HB Rivers 5 for 14 yds, HB Sanders 24 for 137 yds, FB Vardell 7 for 25 yds
MIN – HB Gerhart 3 for 5 yds, RB3/HB Harvin 22 for 72 yds, HB Peterson 11 for 90 yds
PUNTING
DET – Jett 3 for 141 yds
MIN – Kluwe 2 for 88 yds
MIN – Kluwe 2 for 88 yds
PUNT RETURNS
DET – None
MIN – Sherels 2 for 4 yds (1 FC)
MIN – Sherels 2 for 4 yds (1 FC)
KICK RETURNS
DET – Milburn 3 for 47 yds
MIN – Harvin 2 for 32 yds, Sherels 1 for 19 yds
MIN – Harvin 2 for 32 yds, Sherels 1 for 19 yds
SACKS
DET – Elliss 1 for -5 yds, Porcher 2 for -14 yds
MIN – Allen 1 for -11 yds
MIN – Allen 1 for -11 yds
TURNOVERS
DET – HB Sanders 2 fumbles, 2 lost
MIN – QB Ponder 1 Int (by Raymond)
MIN – QB Ponder 1 Int (by Raymond)
PENALTIES
DET – 6 for 50 yds
MIN – 8 for 62 yds
MIN – 8 for 62 yds
INJURIES
DET – None
MIN – HB Gerhart, SE Jenkins, OLG Johnson, HB Peterson, CB Winfield
MIN – HB Gerhart, SE Jenkins, OLG Johnson, HB Peterson, CB Winfield