Rice's Career Day Paces Vikings In Win Over Detroit

NFL News - November 15th, 2009 - Written by John

Sidney Rice became only the fourth Minnesota Vikings receiver to reach 200 yards in a single game, joining a short list of greats that includes Randy Moss. Anytime comparisons can be drawn with one of the most prolific receivers in history is a good thing.

Brett Favre made it possible, taking advantage of a depleted Detroit Lions' defense for a season-high 344 yards and the Vikings ran to 8-1 with a 27-10 win on Sunday. According to STATS, a company affiliated with ESPN, the Lions are now only the second team to lose 31 games in a 33-game stretch, tying the Houston Oilers of the early 80s. They haven't beaten a conference opponent in three years.

Rice is now somewhere in the top-10 of the league with 786 receiving yards, almost doubling his total yardage from his first two seasons combine. He is poised to reach the 1,000 yard mark for the first time in his career.

It also helps to have Adrian Peterson on your team. The All-Pro running back was his typical self, running for 133 yards and two scores. He did, however, have two fumbles, but he made up for them to kept this game from being a close as the last one against Detroit. Unlike earlier in the year, the Lions never really came close to tying or leading the game. They surrendered nearly 500 yards in total offense and only reached the red zone once. They did, however, take advantage of the rare occasion when Matthew Stafford threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Will Heller.

But by then, it was far too little. Peterson had already scored twice give the Vikings 17 points by the third quarter, and Jeff Dugan added a touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter.

Peterson's first touchdown came on a rumbling, physical run that fans have grown accustomed to seeing. He rushed up the middle, shed two tacklers and beat everyone in the second and third levels to the goal line.

The Vikings had a season-high 13 penalties in the win, keeping the game from really getting out of hand.

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