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Late field goal by Longwell lifts Vikings

Oct 12, 2008 - 10:27 PM By Mike Weimerskirch PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Ryan Longwell's 300th career field goal turned out to be a game-winner.

Longwell booted a 26-yarder with nine seconds remaining Sunday, lifting the Minnesota Vikings to a 12-10 victory over the Detroit Lions.

The field goal was set up after a questionable interference penalty against cornerback Leigh Bodden gave the Vikings a first down deep in Detroit territory. Replays appeared to show that Bodden did not make contact with receiver Aundrae Allison.

However, the critical 42-yard penalty on a second-down pass gave the Vikings possession at the Lions' 26-yard line.

"I thought it was definitely interference," Allison said with a smile. "We got our feet tangled. I was a little mad at myself for not catching the ball anyway. I definitely would have caught it if he didn't bump me."

Bodden, however, provided a different interpretation.

"I was underneath him," he said. "I looked back for the ball. It was overthrown. That's it. I talked to the official after. He said I ran up his back and didn't look back for the ball."

Adrian Peterson rushed for 10 yards and Chester Taylor tacked on 13 yards to put Longwell in position for the winning kick.

"We started off rough in the first half, but stuck with it," said Peterson, who finished with 111 yards on 25 carries after a slow start. We pulled through when we needed to."

For most of the game, Minnesota's offense sputtered as the Vikings came out flat following Monday's emotional 30-27 win in New Orleans.

Still, Gus Frerotte engineered a 72-yard drive after Minnesota took over at its 20 with five minutes remaining left in the contest.

"There's not a lot of sign of panic with our guys," Frerotte said. "We just said at that point, 'Let's go out and do what we do.'"

Minnesota had a chance to take the lead with 10 minutes left in the game, but defensive end Jared DeVries blocked Longwell's 38-yard field goal attempt.

"I told the guys, 'If we stop them, I'll block it,'" DeVries said. "I should have had the PAT before."

Dan Orlovsky made his first career start for the Lions (0-5), replacing Jon Kitna, who was declared inactive before the game due to back spasms.

Orlovsky did not do much, but he did toss a 12-yard touchdown to Calvin Johnson that gave the Lions a 10-2 lead with 8:32 remaining in the third quarter. Johnson later left the game with a head injury.

It was the first career touchdown pass for Orlovsky, a three-year player out of the University of Connecticut.

"I wasn't nervous, we had a good game plan going in," Orlovsky said. "At the end of the day, I didn't do enough to win."

Just under 3 1/2 minutes later, Bernard Berrian turned a short pass over the middle into an 86-yard touchdown, pulling the Vikings within 10-9.

"I saw the (middle linebacker) blitz," Berrian said. "I am taking that (crossing route) anytime the middle is open."

With more than a quarter remaining, Vikings coach Brad Childress decided against a two-point conversion that could have tied the game.

"Just a coach's decision," Childress said. "With a quarter left, there was still a lot that could happen."

Detroit managed just two first downs and 90 total yards in the first half, but took a 3-2 halftime lead.

The Lions' one big offensive play was a 50-yard rush by Kevin Smith that put Detroit in field-goal position late in the second quarter. Jason Hanson kicked a 40-yarder with two minutes remaining.

Minnesota dominated the first quarter, outgaining the Lions, 94-10. The Vikings missed an opportunity when Peterson fumbled at the Lions' 7 yard-line late in the period.

"We were upset with ourselves at halftime," Frerotte said. "We needed to play better on offense."

The Vikings got their only points of the half when Orlovsky inadvertently stepped out of the back of the end zone for a safety with 18 seconds in the first period.