• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Shorthanded Vikings set to tackle winless Lions

Dec 3, 2008 - 12:20 AM MINNESOTA (7-5) at DETROIT (0-12), 1:00 pm EST

DETROIT (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Vikings had little time to savor one of their best games of the season.

Two days after taking over sole possession of first place in the NFC North, the Vikings lost Pro Bowl tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams for the remainder of the regular season.

Both players were suspended four games for violating the league's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances, leaving Minnesota shorthanded for the stretch run, starting with Sunday's game at the winless Detroit Lions.

"In response to this afternoon's ruling, the Minnesota Vikings are very disappointed in the National Football League's decision and suspension of Kevin Williams and Pat Williams," the team said in a statement. "At the appropriate time, we will have further comment."

The Vikings turned in their most complete performance of the season in last weekend's 34-14 victory over the Chicago Bears.

It was the third straight stellar effort by the defense, which has allowed just four touchdowns in the past three games.

The suspensions of the Williamses leaves a gaping hole in the Vikings' interior line, which stopped the Bears four times at the 1-yard line to shift the momentum of the contest.

Gus Frerotte then connected with Bernard Berrian on a 99-yard touchdown pass to put Minnesota ahead to stay and alone atop the NFC North for the first time this season.

"We got a ton of things we cleaned up in this football game," Vikings coach Brad Childress said. "We have a month of football to go to see if we can play more. We need to get ready for Detroit, a team we didn't play very good against."

Minnesota likely will lean more on running back Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown against Chicago and leads the league with 1,311 yards.

Peterson ran for 111 yards but lost two fumbles in a 12-10 squeaker over Detroit on October 12.

The Lions turned in a dismal effort in a 47-10 drubbing at the hands of the Tennessee Titans on Thanksgiving Day, allowing both Chris Johnson and LenDale White to rush for over 100 yards.