Lions vs. Vikings: Impeding Peterson will level field
The Detroit News breaks down Sunday's Vikings-Lions game at Ford Field (1 p.m., FOX/97.1).
Vikings to watch
Adrian Peterson, RB: He’s back with a vengeance. Peterson had 134 yards and 29 carries, both season highs, last month at home against Lions. He is averaging 86.4 yards, fourth in NFL.
Teddy Bridgewater, QB: In his second season, he is still a work in progress. The Vikings passing attack ranks last in the NFL. Against the Lions in Week 2, however, Bridgewater completed 14 of a season-low 18 attempts, threw for a TD, ran for another and had second-highest career rating.
Stefon Diggs, WR: Want a fantasy sleeper? The fifth-round pick from Maryland has 13 receptions and 216 yards receiving the last two games.
Intangibles
Fantasy numbers: Matthew Stafford, coming off eighth game with four-plus TDs, might have his groove back after getting benched. He has 16 TDs, five INTs and is averaging 257 yards in 11 starts against the Vikings. The one-dimensional Lions need Stafford to throw a lot..
The old Calvin: Lions WR Calvin Johnson had 166 yards receiving, doubling his previous season high, and has an NFL-record 87.1-yard average among players with at least 100 games.
The old Tulloch: Lions LB Stephen Tulloch made team-high 13 tackles last week, nearly 11 months after tearing left ACL celebrating on field.
Top defense: Mike Zimmer was considered one of the top defensive coordinators before becoming the Vikings coach. He loves to blitz.
Opposites: The Vikings have one of the league’s best rushing attacks, ranking sixth; the Lions have by far the league’s worst. The Lions have the fifth-ranked passing attack. The Vikings defense ranks 13th, while the struggling Lions rank 27th.
Facts and figures
*The Vikings have dominated this series, winning 24 of 32 since 2000.
*Vikings second-year coach Mike Zimmer is 0-3 on road against the NFC North.
*Vikings S Harrison Smith is the only NFL player since 2012 with at least 11 INTs and four sacks.
*Lions WR Lance Moore has 11 receptions, 161 yards receiving and two TDs in two games.
*Theo Riddick has 33 receptions, most by Lions running back through six games since James Jones had 34 in 1984.
