Vikings 27, Lions 13 – Reflections

AD's great run against Detroit

Kassie and I are vacationing in Michigan for the wedding of two parishioners. We were excited when we realized the Vikings would be in Detroit the same weekend we would be here, so naturally we bought tickets, which were pretty easy to come by – it is the Lions, after all.

We’re staying just two blocks from Ford Field, at the Hilton Garden Inn – a very nice hotel, especially for free (thanks, Hilton Honors!). It’s really an ideal place to stay for a football or baseball game (the Tigers play right across the street from Ford Field). We walked to the game in a manner of minutes. I was happy to see many Lions fans wearing jerseys or other Lions clothing walking to the game. After suffering such a long losing streak, there are many people here who still obviously love their team.

We had terrific seats – lower level, visitor’s side, on the 40 yard-line. Vikings fans were numerous in the stadium, including sitting next to me and in front of us. The Lions fans were really into the game, though – very loud into the third quarter. Here are some of the random thoughts I had during the game:

• This is the second game in a row the Vikings have started poorly. You can do that against the Brown or Lions and still survive – but that has to change, with the undefeated 49ers coming to the Dome, followed by the Packers.
• The O-line is not protecting Favre. He is getting hit a lot, and I don’t know how long he can take that kind of a pounding. I wish I knew the reason for our problems. Hutch and Loadholt, from what I can tell, are playing well, but we still are letting far too much pressure through.
• Adrian Peterson is a joy to watch. Besides the touchdown run, several times he took a seemingly certain loss and turned it into a gain.
• Percy Harvin gets open, makes catches in traffic without fear, and moves deftly once he gets the ball. It seems like he is growing every week. He made some obvious mistakes in the preseason games, but he isn’t playing like a rookie now, for the most part. He’s going to be a star.
• When the Vikings need to throw, Favre’s still got it. I think he’s going to keep getting better as he learns the receivers’ tendencies, if we can keep him upright.
• Two weeks in a row, the Vikings have come out of halftime a different team. I don’t know what Childress is doing, but I hope he keeps doing it.
• Sidney Rice is so close to a breakthrough. I hope the Vikes don’t give up on him.
• For a while at the end of the game, we had the second-team defense playing. Those guys are getting valuable experience, and hopefully it will help keep the first team fresh. We don’t get to play the Lions every week, ya know.
• The Lions fans were really into it throughout the first half. There were boos heard in the second half, though, and too many fans left before the game was really decided. I wanted to tell them to not give up. Stafford made some great throws, and it’s only his second game. Smith is a very good running back, and Calvin Johnson scares me.
• It’s hard for me to see the Lions having as bad a season as last year. They showed up to play today, and the fans are hungry for a win. They host the hapless Redskins next week – it won’t surprise me at all if the Lions win that game.
• Most of the Lions fans are friendly people. I’ve been to Vikings away games in other stadiums, and have felt intimidated, and once physically threatened in a restroom. People are just plain nicer in the Great Lakes area.
• After the game, we waited by the visiting team exit, where the Vikings buses were waiting for them. Chester Taylor, Pat Williams, Adrian Peterson, and Jared Allen all came over to sign autographs and pose for pictures. From my observation, there were all nice, classy people. A number of Lions fans were waiting around, hoping to see AD or Favre. I met one family who lives in Detroit who have become Vikings fans (the whole family of 4 had on Vikings jerseys) simply because the little boy has become an obsessed AD fan.
• It can’t last, but 2-0, in sole possession of first place in the NFC Central North, feels great. I’m giddy!

Tomorrow: Niagara Falls!

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