Detroit Lions

Both Lions and Vikings look to rebound from underwhelming openers

Published Sep. 17, 2015 12:11 p.m. ET

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This is supposed to be the year Teddy Bridgewater and the Minnesota Vikings take a giant step forward, but they stumbled out of the gate.

They'll look to get on track Sunday against the visiting Detroit Lions, who figure to be equally as desperate to avoid an 0-2 start amid a brutal stretch in their schedule.

Bridgewater showed tremendous promise toward the tail end of his rookie season, posting a 103.0 quarterback rating over his final five games. His continued development, combined with the return of Adrian Peterson and a middle-of-the-road defense that looked poised to improve, made the Vikings a popular pick by many to reach the postseason for just the second time in six years.

But Bridgewater and Peterson underwhelmed, and the defense was ransacked by the run in Monday night's 20-3 loss at San Francisco.

Bridgewater was 23 of 32 for 231 yards but struggled to find a rhythm. Operating behind a banged-up offensive line without center John Sullivan and right tackle Phil Loadholt, Bridgewater was sacked five times and posted a 19.3 passer rating against the blitz. The Vikings struggled to protect the quarterback in 2014, too, surrendering 51 sacks - fifth-most in the NFL.

"I do not think that Teddy's going to throw another clunker," coach Mike Zimmer said. "I've never seen that side of him. I think it's probably just an enigma that this happened. But we're going to have to find out with what we see."

The Lions gave Bridgewater fits last season, picking him off five times as they won both meetings by a combined score of 33-17. He excelled at home, however, going 5-2, including wins in the last three with a 109.2 passer rating.

Peterson was equally lackluster Monday with 31 rushing yards, though it came on only 10 carries as the Vikings fell to 2-6 when he runs the ball fewer than 11 times.

He has averaged 128.2 rushing yards over six career home meetings with Detroit.

"Unfortunately, we didn't come out and play Vikings football offensively or defensively," Peterson said. "This is going to be a good learning experience for us."

Detroit also has a sour taste in its mouth after blowing a 21-3 lead last Sunday in a 33-28 loss at San Diego, surrendering 249 passing yards in the second half.

"You better get your problems corrected and move on," coach Jim Caldwell said. "The next opponent sees them and you can guarantee you'll see those things over and over again until you make certain that you have them ironed out."

The Lions have little margin for error early in their schedule if they want to reach the postseason for a second straight year for the first time since qualifying from 1993-95. They host Denver next week before visiting Seattle and hosting Arizona - all playoff teams a year ago.

The defense did little to assuage concerns about the losses of Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, surrendering 483 yards - its most in 38 regular-season games.

Linebacker DeAndre Levy, who led the team with 151 tackles last year, was also sidelined with a hip injury and could be out again.

Offensively, the Lions would like to get Calvin Johnson more involved after he had two receptions, his fewest ever in a season debut. He's no stranger to big performances in Minnesota, averaging 108.0 receiving yards with four TDs in his last five matchups, though he hasn't played there since a 207-yard performance at the Metrodome in 2012.

Ameer Abdullah continued to dazzle after a sensational preseason and led the league with 199 all-purpose yards in Week 1, taking a 24-yard carry to the end zone on his first touch from scrimmage. He's likely relishing the opportunity to take on what appears to be another porous Vikings run defense.

Minnesota, which ranked 25th against the run last season, yielded 168 yards to Carlos Hyde and the 49ers averaged 5.9 yards per carry.

"We practiced way too hard to go out there and put a show on like that," defensive end Everson Griffen said. "It's embarrassing, and we should take it personal. I take it personal. And we're going to go out there and we're going to do our job, and that's all I can say, and I'm done here."

Detroit's 17-3 victory at TCF Bank Stadium on Oct. 12 was just it second in its last 17 trips to Minnesota. This marks the first time the Lions have opened with two road games since 2002, when they lost to Miami and Carolina.

The Vikings have dropped four of their last five home openers but are 38-14-1 there in this series.

DETROIT (0-1) at MINNESOTA (0-1)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox

OPENING LINE -- Vikings by 2 1/2

RECORD VS. SPREAD -- Lions 0-1, Vikings 0-1

SERIES RECORD -- Vikings lead 69-36-2

LAST MEETING -- Lions beat Vikings 16-14, Dec. 14, 2014

LAST WEEK -- Lions lost to Chargers 33-28; Vikings lost to 49ers 20-3

AP PRO32 RANKING -- Lions No. 20, Vikings No. 25

LIONS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (23), RUSH (27), PASS (13)

LIONS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (32), RUSH (14), PASS (32)

VIKINGS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (29), RUSH (26), PASS (27)

VIKINGS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (22), RUSH (32), PASS (4)

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -- Lions have won six of last nine in series, rebounding from stretch when Vikings won 20 of 22. ... Lions QB Matthew Stafford, playing through injury to right upper arm, threw two interceptions in opener and wore protective sleeve in practice this week. ... Since start of 2013 season, Lions have held opponents under 100 yards rushing an NFL-best 23 of 33 times, averaging 84.8 yards allowed per game. ... Lions WR Calvin Johnson was held to two catches by Chargers for 39 yards. He hasn't scored vs. Vikings since Nov. 11, 2012, and over last three matchups with Minnesota totaled mere 13 catches and 144 yards. ... Eric Ebron, facing Vikings team that has had trouble defending pass-catching TEs in recent years, had career-high 53 yards in opener. ... Vikings RB Adrian Peterson will play first game in Minnesota since Dec. 1, 2013, and at temporary home TCF Bank Stadium for first time. He was held to 31 yards on 10 carries in opener. ... Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater's worst performance as pro came at home vs. Lions last year, throwing three interceptions and taking eight sacks in 17-3 loss. He also had career lows in passer rating (41.3) and yards per attempt (5.08) that afternoon. ... Bridgewater won last three home starts last season, with 70 percent completion rate, five TDs and two interceptions. ... Mike Wallace, facing tough secondary, had six catches for 63 yards in Vikings debut. ... Blair Walsh, whose FG rate was worst in league last year in first season at TCF Bank Stadium, missed six kicks for Vikings over five exhibition games and a FG in opener. ... Fantasy tips: Rookie Ameer Abdullah, who turned first carry for Lions into TD and finished with 50 yards on seven rushes, faces Vikings defense that allowed 230 yards rushing to 49ers, including 168 yards by Carlos Hyde.

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