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Vikings welcome winless Lions

Oct 7, 2008 - 7:14 PM DETROIT (0-4) AT MINNESOTA (2-3), 1:00 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Fresh off a season-saving victory, the Minnesota Vikings have a chance to build momentum within their division.

The Vikings play the first of back-to-back NFC North opponents when they host the woeful Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Minnesota thrust itself back into the NFC playoff picture by rallying for a 30-27 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Monday night.

Gus Frerotte's touchdown pass to Bernard Berrian tied the score and set up Ryan Longwell's 30-yard field goal with 13 seconds to play to cap the comeback, preventing the Vikings from dropping to 1-4.

Having faced one of the league's most grueling schedules through the first five weeks, the Vikings get a reprieve against the Lions, who have been outscored, 147-66, in their four losses.

Minnesota's defense did a stellar job bottling up the Saints' high-powered attack, limiting them to just one offensive touchdown.

Although Drew Brees threw for 330 yards, the Vikings intercepted him twice - returning one for a touchdown - and forced five fumbles.

The main blip on Minnesota's performance was allowing a pair of punt returns for touchdowns by Reggie Bush, drawing the ire of coach Brad Childress, who ripped his punter, Chris Kluwe.

"Because both of those kicks are supposed to be out of bounds, and when you say to someone to kick the ball out of bounds, that's what you expect to happen," Childress said "That's what I expect to happen from a professional football kicker.

"If he can't do that, then I'll find somebody who can kick the ball out of bounds."

As frustrated as Childress was, it pales in comparison to that of Detroit coach Rod Marinelli, who had to refute comments that he would consider quitting on the heels of the 0-4 start, including last weekend's 34-7 loss to the Chicago Bears.

"I'm going to fight every single day," vowed Marinelli. "I love the fight. In a fight right now? So be it. I love it. I actually embrace it. And I'm going to do better and better and better, because this is my arena."

Unfortunately for Marinelli, his team has not shown the same fight, having barely been competitive.

The Lions have allowed three touchdowns in each of their games before scoring one of their own. Detroit has led just once this season - by one point - and has yet to hold an opponent under 30 points.

The woes were compounded by an injury to quarterback Jon Kitna, who had to leave the game against the Bears due to back spasms.